DX LISTENING DIGEST 17-01, January 4, 2017 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 1859 CONTENTS: *DX and station news about: Afghanistan, Albania, Andaman Islands, Antarctica non, Bolivia, Bougainville, Brazil, China, Cuba, Eritrea and non, Ethiopia, France, Germany, Guatemala, India, Indonesia, Kurdistan non, Myanmar, Perú, Seychelles non, Solomon Islands, Spain, Tinian, Turkey, UK, USA, Vatican SHORTWAVE AIRINGS of WORLD OF RADIO 1859, January 5-12, 2017 Thu 1230 WRMI 9955 6855? Thu 2130 WRMI 11580 [confirmed, ex-13695] Fri 0030 WBCQ 9330v-CUSB [confirmed] Sat 0030 WBCQ 9330v-CUSB Sat 0630 HLR 6190-CUSB Hamburger Lokalradio Sat 1531 HLR 7265-CUSB Hamburger Lokalradio Sat 2030v WA0RCR 1860-AM Sat 2330 WBCQ 9330v-CUSB [confirmed] Sun 0410v WA0RCR 1860-AM Sun 1130 HLR 9485-CUSB Mon 0030 WBCQ 9330v-CUSB Mon 0400v WBCQ 5130v-AM Area 51 [confirmed from 0402] Mon 0430 WRMI 9955 [confirmed] Tue 0030 WBCQ 9330v-CUSB [confirmed] Tue 0030 WRMI 7730 [confirmed] Tue 1200 WRMI 9955 Tue 2130 WRMI 15770 Tue 2300 WRMI 9955 6855? Wed 0030 WBCQ 9330v-CUSB Wed 1000 WRMI 5850 [NEW] Wed 1415 WRMI 9955 6855 Wed 2200 WBCQ 7490v Thu 0030 WBCQ 9330v-CUSB Note: Allan Weiner says that WOR will also be airing at variable unpredictable times during his Radio Jennifer service on expanded hours of WBCQ 5130v. Also, propagation has been so poor that one cannot always confirm the 9330 airings. 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. 6100, 26.12.16 1637-1659, R. Afghanistan, Kabul, Arabic: Talk, song. Ends with a song, 24222 by OM. 1659 into Russian with ID by YL, blocked by CRI in English (Antonello Napolitano in Taranto (Italy). RX: KENWOOD R-1000. ANT: inverted "V" + 20m wire, Dec DX Fanzine via DXLD) 6100, As monitored from Perseus site in E. Finland on 2 Jan, R Afghanistan had its problems today – apart from the killer QRM from CRI on 6105 (off at 1559:45), Kabul had transmitter issues. Strong carrier only at 1531 with English program starting late (1532.5) and entering in mid-sentence only to disappear sometime around 1550 in conjunction with appeared to be a gradual loss in transmitter power (exact signal performance at 1550 hard to discern due to the CRI splatter). Back on again with strong carrier at 1600 and Urdu (?) program starting in mid-sentence at 1600.5 – signal then disappeared for good at 1613 with only a weak KCBS [Korea North] heard on the channel. The transmitter provided a strong carrier presence at 1531 and 1600 but had issues maintaining power. Not heard at all from same site on 1 Jan. Unfortunately trying to log the English program at 1530 is a painful experience with the splatter from 6105 Posted by: ("Bruce Churchill", dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1859, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ALBANIA. Has anyone been hearing what sounds like an open carrier on top of CRI via Albania on 6020 during the 0100 Beijing Hour transmission the past week or so? Stronger than the CRI signal, which I can hear fading up and down underneath the steadier OC. There is some signal fade on the OC, so not something local; also Radio Romania International is in the clear on the same frequency at 0400. Not hearing the OC outside of the CRI transmission. Thought occurred to me that it might be another Cërrik unit running without audio, but that is just a guess. Meanwhile // 9570 is poor to useless given the lousy propagation conditions recently (Stephen Luce, Houston, Texas, 0444 UT Dec 29, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1859, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Cërrik appears to be transmitting the signal in FM; check the recording linked to here. Pirate / Free Radio: Radio China International On 6020 Using FM? http://members7.boardhost.com/PirateRadio/msg/1482454468.html (Mike Barraclough, ibid.) Thanks for that info. I will have to try slope tuning 6020 tonight to see if that makes a difference. It's a very odd signal; no hint of a SAH or the usual sound of a carrier clash (Stephen Luce, Houston, Texas, ibid.) 6020, Dec 30 at 0121, CRI English fair in AM Mode. Sorry I missed a switch to NBFM, rarely a chance to monitor a SW broadcast that way. Steve Luce in TX had been noting a carrier interfering with the Cërrik relay, but Mike Barraclough found a post and recording of Dec 23 showing it was in narrowband FM. Maybe it will recur: ``Posted by Mr Spock on December 23, 2016, 12:54 am --- I don't know if this is deliberate or a transmitter fault, but China Radio International is using FM on 6020 kHz at Midnight local time. It's a very strong signal and it sounds quite good in FM. It's definitely FM because in the centre of the carrier there is a hum and tuning either side of the carrier you can slope detect the audio. Here is a recording - the first 30 seconds is AM then I switch to FM http://www75.zippyshare.com/v/6zteS1kJ/file.html LLAP\\//.`` But you have to sign up for a free account to hear it (Glenn Hauser, OK, WORLD OF RADIO 1859, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ALBANIA. 7475 kHz empty channel. Dec 29, 0250 UT, no signal traced of RT Shijak North America service tonight, 73 wolfy (Wolfgang Büschel, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 7475, NOTHING signal noted Dec 29 of RT Shijak, registered English to NoAM at 0230-0259 UT. - but: RT German at 2055 UT on air 7464.975 kHz S=4 -98dBm in Germany tiny poor signal due of winter skip, instead 5.9 MHz frequency would be better solution in mid winter, 6 x 100 Hertz BUZZ peaks [selected SDR options, span 12.5 kHz RBW 15.3 Hertz] (Wolfgang Büschel, df5sx, Dec 29, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews, dxldyg via DXLD) 7464.975, Tiny signal of Radio Tirana English via Shijak broadcast center observed on remote SDR unit in Doha Qatar Middle East, at 2122 UT on Jan 3, S=7 or -82dBm tiny signal of backlobe out of Albania North America curtain beam [selected SDR options, span 12.5 kHz RBW 15.3 Hertz] (Wolfgang Büschel, df5sx, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Jan 3, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ANDAMAN & NICOBAR ISLANDS. AIR Port Blair 4760 kHz back on air. Jose Jacob, VU2JOS, who's currently busy operating special event station AT1BSG for 17th National Jamboree of Bharat Scouts & Guides at Mysuru, Karnataka, reports that All India Radio, Port Blair is back on air after being off air for weeks. Noted on 4760 kHz on 30th Dec 2016 (Alokesh Gupta, dx_india yg via WORLD OF RADIO 1859, DXLD) ** ANGOLA. 4949.73 kHz, which signed off (or dropped off) early the last two nights, is running later tonight. Signal is pretty good into Maryland -- not the best I've heard in the last month, but close to readable. Heard at 0253 with pop music; time beeps at TOH, and what seems like news; ID for Radio Nacional at 0305. Earlier in the evening the audio was barely there; I wonder if they're making adjustments as the evening goes on (Art Delibert, N. Bethesda, MD, 0306 Dec 29, HCDX via DXLD) For some strange reason, this message [above] didn't show up until two days after I sent it. So the reference to "the last two nights" refers to December 26 and 27, and the reference to "tonight" refers to December 28. Sorry for the old news! (Delibert, 2315 UT Dec 30, ibid.) Angola heard 0130, 29 Dec, with fair signal here. Signal strength seemed lower than before Christmas; likely [due to] propagation (Stephen Wood, Harwich, Mass., dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Only propagation matter last Dec 28 night? woke up midst on Germany nighttime: 4949.727, R. Nacional de Angola, Mulenvos, not bad signal here in southern Germany last Dec 29 night, S=6-7 and -85dBm at 0322 UT, nice sounding fast African pop music! [selected SDR options, span 12.5 kHz RBW 15.3 Hertz] (Wolfgang Büschel, df5sx, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews, 0144 UT Dec 29, ibid.) 4949.73, R. Nacional de Angola, Dec 29, back on the air after being silent yesterday; believe propagation was not a factor in yesterday`s non-reception, as there was not even a faint carrier heard; today nicely above threshold level audio; very respectable signal strength; 0243-0300 pop music; 0300 with time pips (4), news with sound bite and ending with clear ID; 0305 till tuned out at 0350, with non-stop music, all of which sounded to me like soca/calypso genre of Caribbean music; very entertaining (Ron Howard, Calif., dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 4949.7, Dec 30 at 0057, RNA is on with talk at S7; I gather it has been sporadic lately instead of steadily all-night (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ANGOLA 4949.726 R Nacional de Angola, Mulenvos Luanda, Angola, noted on Victor's remote installation of 4S7VK in Piliyandala, Sri Lanka - romantic Ceylon. At 2315 UT on Dec 30-UT, heard weak music signal, S=5-6 or -85dBm (Wolfgang Büschel, df5sx, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Dec 30, dxldyg via DXLD) ** ANGUILLA. 6090.002, Caribbean radio, totally overmodulated DISTORTED broadcast - at least last past 1 - 2 months duration NOW! S=9+20dB in MI, at 0357 UT on Dec 29 [selected SDR options, span 12.5 kHz RBW 15.3 Hertz] (Wolfgang Büschel, df5sx, Dec 29 from 0341 UT log of Detroit Michigan North America remote post, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews, dxldyg via DXLD) ** ANTARCTICA [non]. NEW DAILY TRANSMISSION *TO* ANTARCTICA According to posting on "Shortwave Airtime" facebook page yesterday: "Spaceline Ltd and Radio Nova News to start transmission to Antarctida for campaign for access of information to the Bulgarian Antractic base. Shortwave is the only media that can reach directly Antarctida at distance of 13000 km. Transmissions will start on 1'st of January, 0100-0200 UT daily on frequency 11600 kHz. For more information visit http://www.spaceline.bg " I couldn't find any more information at either the spaceline website or the Radio Nova news website at https://nova.bg/ (Alan Roe, Teddington, UK, Dec 31, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1859, DX LISTENING DIGEST) https://www.facebook.com/shortwave.airtime http://tinyurl.com/jfzxvso Revisiting: NOVA in the arms of Antarctica https://www.vbox7.com/play:f7df394db1 VLC: http://media08.vbox7.com/s/f7/f7df394db1/f7df394db1_720.mp4 ca. 29 MB https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5GBFp9M_NTc Zhivko Konstantinov and Blagoy Momtchilov tell about the experience. <==== !!!! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Very likely a fake. Just as it looks like a program reference to a broadcast with the subject of Antarctic on NOVA-TV (with the two guys as the source of information) (roger, germany, ibid.) I just missed the sign-on, but there is a transmission in progress now (1 January 2017 at 0104 UT) on 11600 kHz in a language which may be Bulgarian - awaiting an ID (Alan Roe, UK, ibid.) Checked with an Irish remote SDR and does sound Bulgarian. At least it is positively a Slavic language, but when rechecked a few minutes later (0115 UT initially), faded right down to almost nothing. Numerous other SDRs in Europe yielded nothing. Strange. 73 (Walt Salmaniw, BC, ibid.) The transmission only lasted a few minutes and then faded out with no trace even on the Twente WEBSDR - however, I did record what sounds like a "Nova News" sung jingle. Worth checking again tomorrow at 0100 UT (Alan Roe, Teddington, UK, 0138 UT Jan 1, ibid.) I checked the frequency tonight (3 January, 0120 UT) and did not find anything. (Dr Hansjoerg Biener 3 January 2016, Germany, WORLD OF RADIO 1859, DX LISTENING DIGEST) I think the monitoring reports by Alan Roe and Walter Salmaniw, as posted to the DXLD Yahoo group, provide sufficient evidence of such a transmission really going out. That nothing is audible in Central Europe is of course not surprising at dead of night around winter solstice. https://www.facebook.com/shortwave.airtime also looks like a profile set up by Spaceline. That nothing can be seen there without a Facebook account and that they do not post their news releases anywhere else appears to be mere incompetence. Also a HFCC registration of this slot exists, 0000-0200, 250 kW to 190 , meant for Brother Scare to southern Africa. Apparently not used by him but instead now activated for Nova TV. If really 250 kW it would be the transmitter once used for DRM, now hardly used anymore with most if not all other transmissions using the old Sneg's (Kai Ludwig, Germany, ibid.) Last night I made an unattended recording over a Brazilian KIWI-SDR. This is on the way (or near) to the potential target area. Until 0030z one could hear Taiwan in Vietnamese, 0030z was the shutdown of this transmitter. AOKI: kHz: 11600 UTC/PSN: 2330-0030 (EIBI: 2300-2400 is wrong) Days/PI: 1234567 (Mo-Su) Language: Vietnamese Station: R. TAIWAN INT. Country: TWN (Taiwan) Transmitter: Paochung Latitude: 23.7167 Longitude: 120.3000 Modulation: AM Power (kW): 100 Target: 205 Distance: 9156 (for my QTH, NOT for the Brasilian KIWI-SDR) Bearing: 61 Notes: RTI b16 Dec.1 Details: 25 m from Taiwan QTH locator: PL03dr62aa The next 3 hours was not heard on this frequency, then came at some time the IP swap and the WEB-SDR was silent (roger, Germany, ibid.) For New Year's Day a confirmation by a recording from Alan Roe, made at 0106 UT, exists. Revealing extract attached. So either it was a special and someone misunderstood this, or propagation is to blame, with 11 MHz prone to not propagate on paths with reflection points inmidst deep winter nights (Kai Ludwig, Germany, ibid.) This is Radio Nova News indeed. It's the radio outlet of the one of the three nationwide tv channels in Bulgaria - Nova TV. Here is a link for the live stream of the station: http://www.predavatel.com/bg/play/novanews_live Looking forward to hear them on shortwave here in Sofia. The signal should be pretty solid (Georgi Bancov, Bulgaria, June 4, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Hello Kai (and all), I received today the following from Spaceline. Regards, Alan ============================================== Hello Alan, The infromation on the facebook page is correct, and Space Line will start the transmissions of Nova News to Antarctica very soon. It was been planned to start the project on January the 1'st, but due to some logistic problems with the base, is postponed for middle or the end of January this year, but there was a test transmission on January the 1'st 2017 on 11600 kHz. After the test it appeared that here may be a frequency change from the announced one, due to some propagation anomalies. The retransmission of Radio Nova News on shortwave is a common project between Nova, Spaceline Ltd. and Bulgarian Antarctic Institute, for reaching the scientists in Bulgarian Antarctic Base on South Shetland Island with fresh news information feed about the social life in Bulgaria. Stay tuned to the shortwave.airtime FB page https://www.facebook.com/shortwave.airtime for more information about the project. Best Regards, (Ventsislav Georgiev | Manager R&D, SpaceLine Ltd. | http://www.spaceline.bg Mob : +359 888 554 297 E-mail: georgiev@spaceline.bg James Baucher blvd 71, Fl. 6, Office 5, 1407 Sofia, BULGARIA (Via Alan Roe, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1859, DXLD) Many thanks for this update, Alan. Due to very difficult propagation conditions between Europe and Antarctica this "Antarctic Summer Season" I would call this quite an "ambitious" project. I am in contact with the radio operator of Neumayer III research station and he told me that HF propagation conditions from Europe are extremely poor these days. The "Antarctic Summer Season" runs from early November till March of each year, when they have daylight in Antarctica and living conditions are a bit easier. Bulgarian Antarctic Base "St. Kliment Ohridski" is a "summer only" station. It will be closed again around early March 2017. So, I wonder why it takes them up to 4 weeks to find a new frequency if they are really serious about this project. 73 (Harald, DL1ABJ, Kuhl, Germany, BDXC-UK yg via DXLD) ** ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA. 1160, Caribbean Radio Lighthouse announces “soon 10,000 Watts” (Jan Edh, ARC via DXWW-II, IRCA DX Monitor Jan 7 via DXLD) WRTH 2017 already has it at 10 kW (gh) ** ARGENTINA. Conoce RadioCut | RadioCut http://radiocut.fm/features/ Archivo unificado de radios. RadioCut te permite escuchar programas de radio de hace horas o días. También podés crear recortes, describiendo segmentos de === This site records some radios of Buenos aires Argentina 24 hs/day. You can search a specific moment of any radio any moment any month to compare a reception to validate it (José LU8YC Kucher, Dec 18, mwcircle yg via DXLD) ** ARMENIA. 17695, SM Radio International - Gavar. Unfortunately, the 1200 service to Australia on this frequency was a poor signal. I also tried via Mark Fahey's remote SDR outside Sydney and it was about the same signal strength there, too. At this time when the smoothed sunspot numbers are getting quite low, reception on 17 mHz can be notoriously unreliable - one day good, next day poor, even on our summer evenings. I think they may have struck a bad day. 15 mHz MAY have been slightly better. Or perhaps use a transmitter site in Asia. Pity it couldn't be heard well because the program sounded quite entertaining, Dec 25. Best wishes for 2017. Cheers, all (Rob Wagner VK3BVW, Jan 2, http://www.medxr.blogspot.com.au ARDXC mailing list via DXLD) ** ASCENSION. 6005, Jan 2 at 0542, BBCWS in English, mentions that they are on 93.9 in Nairobi, S9+15 here better than usual, such that the ``generator hum/whine`` is quite audible as it was many months ago and they were supposedly looking into fixing it. Then I check some other ASC frequencies: 7415, Jan 2 at 0547 with Dandal Kura, has the same hum! 7445, Jan 2 at 0547, BBCWS in English is VG at S9+25, even better than 6005, but NO hum here, so it only affects certain transmitters. (12095 also checked and poorly audible, but it`s Meyerton) (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** AUSTRALIA. Australian MW DX. Hello Ydun, I just thought I would introduce myself and offer my services to you and your website followers: I work in the Sydney Radio Master Control center of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation in Sydney. Although the ABC no longer prints or issues QSL cards, I am happy to verify reception reports by email for listeners to our MW services. I have been doing this for some years now, with a great many reports coming in from Scandinavia in particular, but also parts of Europe, Asia and the USA. This is not an official service and therefore not advertised as such, but as a former DXer myself, and as I can access the off-air logs and programme schedules for all of our MW services, I am happy to verify reception reports for MW DXers anywhere. It has been gratifying in recent years to see the hobby being somewhat revived, thanks I think in large part to new technology such as Perseus SDR receivers and software. Listeners can email me at this address: Himmelhoch-Mutton.Graham @ abc.net.au and I will endeavour to respond as quickly as I can. Attaching an mp3 file is welcome, helpful, and recommended. (Graham Himmelhoch-Mutton, Radio Master Control, Australian Broadcasting Corporation, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia (4/12-2016) via mediumwave.info via DXWW-II, IRCA DX Monitor Jan 7 via DXLD) ** AUSTRALIA. Some people may not be aware of this but as of next Thursday, 15 December, most of the regional radio stations operated by Southern Cross Austereo will be rebranding. The following is a summary of the changes to their AM stations. The following stations will be rebranded as Triple M: 2WG Wagga Wagga, 2RG Griffith, 4GR Toowoomba, 5SE Mount Gambier. All of Radiowest's stations in Western Australia will also be rebranded as Triple M. This should help with identifying stations while DXing moving forward. (Paul Mech, ICDX, 7 Dec via DXWW-II, IRCA DX Monitor Jan 7 via DXLD) ** AUSTRALIA. As of the 9th January, 2017, metropolitan Australian Broadcasting Corporation MW services will be rebranded as follows: • 612 kHz 4QR Brisbane (50 kW), previously branding itself as "Six- twelve ABC Brisbane" will be known as "ABC Radio Brisbane" • 666 kHz 2CN Canberra (5 kW), previously branding itself as "Triple- six ABC Canberra" will be known as "ABC Radio Canberra" • 702 kHz 2BL Sydney (50 kW), previously branding itself as "Seven-oh- two ABC Sydney" will be known as "ABC Radio Sydney" • 720 kHz 6WF Perth (50 kW), previously branding itself as "Seven- twenty ABC Perth" will be known as "ABC Radio Perth" • 774 kHz 3LO Melbourne (50 kW), previously branding itself as "Seven- seven-four ABC Melbourne" will be known as "ABC Radio Melbourne" • 891 kHz 5AN Adelaide (50 kW), previously branding itself as "Eight- nine-one ABC Adelaide" will be known as "ABC Radio Adelaide" • 936 kHz 7ZR Hobart (10 kW), previously branding itself as "Nine- three-six ABC Hobart" will be known as "ABC Radio Hobart" This has been done to eliminate confusion for the ever-increasing number of DAB+ and online listeners, for whom the MW frequency reference has no meaning. For the moment there is no word on whether our regional transmitters will also be re-branding themselves, though the urgency for them is not so great (Graham Himmelhoch-Mutton, mwcircle via DXWW-II, IRCA DX Monitor Jan 7 via DXLD) ** AUSTRALIA [and non]. Re 16-52: ABC Cancels "Sunday Nights" This show was already scheduled to be canceled earlier this year. Religious programming across the board was being reduced. John Cleary is remaining at the ABC an will take up another position. A show that will replace Sunday Nights is coming in February Radio National's audience numbers are also falling during certain hours. Sunday Nights had an average weekly audience of fewer than 12,000 listeners during that slot. Compared to AM, PM, or The World Today, which have an average audience of 2.3 million (Keith Perron, Taiwan, Dec 30, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Not that listener numbers are immaterial, but the purpose of a public service broadcaster is to serve ALL audiences, including specialized and minority audiences. The purpose of a commercial broadcaster is to identify and serve MASS audiences to maximize advertising revenue. There is a difference — a real distinction between the missions of the two. The ABC has imported so many managers from the commercial sector that what distinguishes a public from a commercial broadcaster is being subsumed through application of the same metrics to measure success in public broadcasting as are applied in the commercial sector. This is wrong on several counts, not the least of which is that eroding the specialized mission of public service broadcasting, the essential reason for its existence is progressively eradicated. Programs in both sectors certainly have their life cycles and it may well be that Sunday Nights had run its course. Nonetheless, the moves being made by management on Radio National programming taken as a whole appears to bear witness to the observation that this management does not understand or is simply choosing to ignore the distinctive mission of the network (John Figliozzi, FL/NY, ibid.) It seems it was only publicly revealed last month. The Guardian, in an exclusive, reported that "[a]ll but one of RN's music programs expected to be cancelled, along with Afternoons and the religious affairs program Sunday Nights." Full story here: https://www.theguardian.com/media/2016/nov/16/radio-national-to-lose-eight-staff-as-abc-cuts-several-programs-from-2017-schedule The comments on this article are well-worth reading, too, including this one: "RN markets itself as the "'Ideas Network'. Seems that following this move to the right they will have to change their marketing to the 'No Ideas Network", or the 'Ideology Network'. "The ABC generally started the dumbing down process in the Howard era. Now with its ridiculous stuff-ups over global warming, the axing of Catalyst, and the IPA takeover of Sunday Extra it will be no better than your (very average) commercial radio station." Like many others in my age bracket, I'm getting fed up with the young programmers at public radio stations cutting some programs and replacing them with other fare in the hopes of attracting younger or mass market listeners to their stations. Those objecting to such cuts are often branded as elitists or leftists or both. I, for one, am proud to be both (Richard Langley, NB, ibid.) In a free and democratic society, people have the right to be dumb. What gets me, is when dumbness is proudly displayed as a badge of honor. Call me elitist, I don't care. :^)) Regards, (Vince Ferme, Ottawa, ON, ibid.) Part of the above article: RADIO NATIONAL TO LOSE EIGHT STAFF AS ABC CUTS SEVERAL PROGRAMS FROM 2017 SCHEDULE Exclusive: All but one of RN’s music programs expected to be cancelled, along with Afternoons and the religious affairs program Sunday Nights . . . Sources told Guardian Australia all but one of RN’s music programs will be cancelled as the network becomes a talk- only station. RN Afternoons, The Body Sphere, Soundproof, Daily Planet and The Live Set are expected to be cancelled along with the religious affairs program Sunday Nights with John Cleary. (via gh, DXLD) Re: ``Like many others in my age bracket, I'm getting fed up with the young programmers`` For that see this from the comments column: >>> Digital will offer Yoof Programming designed by middle-aged men with red-framed spectacles. <<< (Kai Ludwig, Germany, ibid.) Joe Pesci must be smiling. :^) (Vince Ferme, Ottawa, ON, ibid.) It's not 30 years ago anymore. Listening and viewing habits have changed as well as the media landscape. The mission has not changed, but public broadcasters like the ABC or CBC need to bring in a younger demographic. There is no point to continue with programs for an older audience who will be 6 feet under in a few years (Keith Perron, ibid.) Really? Then, why not just plow them all under now? I can’t think of more ridiculous argument. Talented managers are able to walk and chew gum at the same time. Serving a “younger demographic” is not mutually exclusive with serving an “older demographic”, a “minority demographic” or any other “demographic" you can name. You can program a linear schedule on traditional radio and provide online streaming of content and podcast access simultaneously. The budgeting excuse is a canard — especially when it comes to radio, perhaps the most cost effective media available. Your argument, Keith, implies an affinity for using commercial indices to judge the success of public media. That is a fool’s errand and just plays into the false assertion that there really is no difference between public service and commercially supported media and that only mass audiences are valuable and deserve service (John Figliozzi, ibid.) Agree, but not at any cost. If dumbing down is the only way to do it, then play rap videos 24/7. At least they may get some exercise with the twisted moves, instead of being hypnotized by their smartphones. :^)) Regards, (Vince Ferme, Ottawa, ON, ibid.) I disagree. But you are right that it is not 30 years ago anymore. People are now living longer. Many of those in their 60s can expect to live until their 90s. This is becoming an even more important demographic than before, which the "middle-aged men with red-framed spectacles" shouldn't ignore. It should be possible for public broadcasters to serve ALL age groups well. KCBS, San Francisco, had the good sense to call an old fart (= me) this morning for an on-air interview about the upcoming leap second. We still have our uses. ;-) (-- Richard Langley, ibid.) I wish they (broadcasters) would engage with the audience more often. Before a leap second, leap year, blue moon, etc., is not enough. :^)) When kids get too excited about how smart they are, and that we, "old farts", know nothing, I ask them who invented the whizz bang smartphone they use. :^)) Regards, (Vince Ferme, Ottawa, ON, ibid.) As someone involved in public broadcasting in the U.S. (I'm news director of WMUK-FM in Kalamazoo, Michigan, an NPR affiliate), I beg to differ with Keith on this. Our challenge - and it is a very big one in an era of constrained resources - is to continue serving our traditional audience while also cultivating a new and younger one. Here in the U.S., most public broadcasters depend rather heavily on contributions from listeners. They make up about a third of our revenue, for example. So, to ax shows the "about to be six-feet-under listeners" enjoy, hoping to - maybe - attract younger people - is a recipe for suicide. The trick is to develop programs, strategies, and platforms that appeal to the new audience while maintaining the "legacy" service, and that includes keeping "obsolete" transmitters on the air, for now. It's worth mentioning that the oldsters whose needs some programmers dismiss so casually these days have, on the whole, much more disposable income to support public broadcasting than their kids and grandkids do. Times, tastes, and technology are changing - but not quite as fast as some would have you believe. Audience surveys here in the U.S. consistently show that old fashioned over-the-air radio still has a huge edge compared to digital for those "consuming" audio "content" (we oldsters would just say listening to the radio). I can't speak to the situation in Australia. I'm tempted to think things there began to go wrong when the Australian Broadcasting Commission became the Australian Broadcasting Corporation years ago. As Keith points out, no program, however good, last forever. With a little luck, they may come up with one that covers the same ground that draws in younger folks while keeping those of us who are almost- dead engaged. 73, (Andy Robins, Kalamazoo, Michigan USA, ibid.) Excellent observations/comments, John. Regarding the very first sentence : "Not that listener numbers are immaterial, but the purpose of a public service broadcaster is to serve ALL audiences, including specialized and minority audiences." I agree, but it's not a 'done deal'. Politicians have a completely different view of what a public broadcaster should be. Those in office want it to be the administration's 'mouth piece', while those in opposition want it only as a weapon against the government of the day, until they themselves are in office. But in reality they would all be happy if the public broadcaster simply disappeared from the 'scene'. Commercial broadcasters are a lot more 'reliable' as far as politicians are concerned. The only thing saving the public broadcaster for now is the general public (at least here in Canada), but politicians still 'play' with funding, in an attempt to 'rein in' the public broadcaster. Regards, (Vince, Ottawa, ON, Ferme, ibid.) There is no working model for a broadcaster that serves all age groups. Even the BBC doesn't do that anymore with more commercial stations targeting those groups. We can't think of what pubic radio or television was. If you do that it will become more and more difficult to fund these services, which have small audience number and people asking questions like. Why should I have my tax dollars going to a service I don't use? (Keith Perron, Taiwan, ibid.) That’s an interesting, but largely misleading, question. My tax dollars go to all sorts of things you and I don’t use. Do I have need of a half trillion dollar a year “defense” (or war-making) establishment? Arguably not. What about that bridge/road/light rail system being built on the other side of the country that I will never personally use and that my federal tax dollars in part fund? Or the public health system that I don’t need because I am presently healthy? Or the public school system that I attended but no longer do, nor do my kids who have aged out of it? Should everything be pay as you go? Do some public institutions have overall social value that I can’t specifically point to you as “useful” because I don’t personally use it directly; but since it benefits society generally, I do benefit in some way even though I refuse to acknowledge that benefit. The public funding of public service mass media is a pittance compared to some of the ones named. The opportunity for public education through such a medium is value enough considering the small cost on a per capita basis. The argument that I shouldn’t be required to pay for something that has evident social value just because I don’t choose to avail myself of its benefit is valid only if one lives in a cave devoid of any social need or contact. If that’s where we’re heading, count me as a vigorous dissenter (John Figliozzi, ibid.) Well said, John! I wish people would look outside of their own belly buttons from time to time. There is a lot more out there than your 'small world'. Other people, other interests, other needs, other joys. Society, community, is more than a single person, or even a single family. This mindset seems more pronounced south of the border, I'm in Canada, and I really don't understand it. The 'me, myself, and I', and the 'my friends have not shortcomings, my enemies I'll sure make something up' is destroying the world. Sorry for the off-topic. Regards, (Vince, Ottawa, ON, ibid.) Yes, but broadcasting is different. Governments should not be in broadcasting. For years, those who work in public broadcasting had jobs where performance and numbers don't matter. Where did the money do? What`s to show for it? At the CBC the only way they can get rid of the old overpaid staff is by reducing budgets. Like my tax rate is very low. As someone who does not have kids, it's not required to pay any school tax. I also don't pay into the health care system as I have my own. The ROC's public radio network is not paid by the government, but rather by universities who are part of National Education Radio. Even Radio Taiwan International is no longer a government station. In 1999 it was switched from a government entity to a foundation. The government now supplies RTI with 20% of its budget with an annual reduction of 3%. RTI's budget is from its fund raising (Keith Perron, Taiwan, ibid.) I may be wrong, but I make a distinction between a public broadcaster and a state broadcaster. The way you are discussing this, it seems to me that you are talking about a state broadcaster, a.k.a., the 'regime's mouthpiece'. I also think you are confusing government money, with taxpayer's money. Governments don't make, or have money. They only manage our 'contributions', in the form of taxes, into the public trust fund for the commons. Please don't mix incompetent and/or absent HR management, and the protections a journalist needs to serve the public. If the CBC is incompetent in managing its staff, and I don't know if that's the case, it still is not a reason to ax the public broadcaster. The budget reductions were not to trim staff, to make the CBC more efficient. It was to reduce the 'problems' the CBC was causing the government of the day. Investigative journalism is not cheap, and it's usually the first to go when money is tight. Do you know what we would be left with here in Canada if the CBC, or TVO as is my case here in Ontario, were to close? The CBC is far from being perfect, likely has all sorts of other problems, but I still see value in it as a public broadcaster. All the best, and Happy New Year. Regards, (Vince, Ottawa, ON, ibid.) Correct, Vince. Keith is mixing apples and oranges. A public broadcaster is not a government broadcaster. If it were, the government wouldn’t be trying to strangle it. Commercial broadcasters serve business interests first and the public only so far as it has to to keep those business interests involved and happy. The principle remit of public service broadcasters — whether funded through taxation or direct listener and viewer contribution — is spelled out in their charters which in all cases specify that the interests of the public, individually and collectively, come first. We can and will and have argued over how best to define that mission and carry it out. That is a natural in a free and democratically representative society. But the raison d’etre for public service broadcasting is self-evident and its value is borne out by the awards it regularly receives of the high quality of the programming and—yes— the trust placed in the institutions which universally have been among the highest rated if not the highest of any in the nations they serve (John Figliozzi, ibid.) I think I put 2 and 2 together now. Is this Keith Perron we are engaging? If yes, I apologize profusely, and withdraw my comments. He is a professional, I'm not. Worse still, I'm a DXer sometimes. ROTFLM All the best! [Vince Ferme, ON, ibid.] Keith Perron never signs his posts. You have to know that ``madcute29`` is him. Of course, I attribute to real name and others needing it when quoting into DXLD. Vince didn`t sign his latest, either, and when he does, with no surname (gh, DXLD) Of Public and Commercial Broadcasters. File this under the 'I'm snowed in, I can't sleep, and I have nothing better to do'. :^) I canceled my cable TV service 6 and a half years ago. I don't have an external antenna for OTA. I use a 'dollar store' type indoor antenna. If I hold the antenna high, I receive around 15 channels, split between English and French language. If I leave the antenna next to the TV, but still positioning it in a way to maximize reception, I receive around 6 channels. Again, split between English and French language. Now the funny part. If I simply leave the antenna next to the TV, with no regard to maximizing the reception, the only channels received almost all the time are the two public channels (CBC and TVO). I can't help but wonder if their transmission plants only took into consideration their 'obligation' to serve as many taxpayers as possible, while the commercial channels had to balance cost against profit, leaving more gaps in coverage than the public channels. Regards, (Vince Ferme, Ottawa, ON, ibid.) I beg to differ. I used to (in days of analogue) receive 10-15 Canadian TV signals at my house on the shores of Lake Huron. With the switch to ATSC in all 'major markets' I lost London and Kitchener and TVO and CBC have eliminated the analogue signals that served northern Ontario (and me) so well and NOT replaced them. I can now receive CTV2 from Wingham. That's it. Indeed it is bell media not either of the 'public' broadcasters that is left. And not their good stuff. Just the seconds. Even on Anik this is true. Both CBC (English and French) and TVO are scrambled behind a paywall but CTV and CTV2 are 'in the clear'. It is almost as if Canada has fallen off the planet. I think it is more that broadcasters have bought the lie that over the air is not cost effective. Life is short. Buy a better radio. Posted by: (Kv Zichi, MI, ibid.) So, their engineers (CBC and TVO) are great. They cover all Canadian taxpayers perfectly, leaving the free loaders in the dust. LOL Point taken, Zichi. I wish I had PBS OTA here, but last time I checked TVFOOLS, it indicated that a tower would be required. Not gonna happen. I can always watch Frontline on the web. :^) A great 2017 to you and your family (Vince, Ottawa, ON, ibid.) ** AUSTRALIA. 4835, ABC, Alice Springs. 1419 “2000 Miles” Christmas song by The Pretenders, usual W host. 1430 fanfare and ID by M leading into the news. 1440 “I’ll Be Home for Christmas” by W vocalist. Most audible yet. Still able to hear the music at 1457 but not good enough to recognize songs. Last remnants of audio at 1501. 24 Dec (Dave Valko, Dunlo, PA, USA, Perseus SDR with Wellbrook ALA1530S loop and 153 foot Delta Loop, Hard-Core-DX mailing list via DXLD) ** AUSTRALIA. 9580, RA, 1451-1524, Dec 30. Pop music show, ABC's "Triple J Unearthed"; strong signal, but unable to hear 12065 nor 12085; program IDs between every song; "Triple J Unearthed. We love Australian music," "Triple J Unearthed, the best new sounds from your own backyard," "The best new music from your own backyard, Triple J Unearthed," etc. Break at 1500 for ABC news. Triple J Unearthed was established in 1995, and clearly aiming for the younger audience. Website - https://www.triplejunearthed.com/ which has audio streaming (Ron Howard, Calif., dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** AUSTRALIA. 17840, UT Fri Dec 30 at 2105, RA opening ``RN Summer`` on New Year`s Eve, by playing a year-old discussion at the beginning of 2016 and what it might bring; S5-S3. Dec and Jan are always full of summer replacement shows on RN and Radio Australia. So what does the online program schedule say? Nothing is shown for the 21-22 UT hour this day. Suspect they are not keeping that up-to-date, as for Sat at 13-15 London Time it shows ``ABC Xmas Special``! And more of that for Sunday at 01-11 --- and still shows `Sunday Night` for 11-15 UT, which has just been canceled, but maybe will be in reruns for a month? Hey, it does not give the dates, just the days of week, so we are presented with the past rather than the future (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 9580, Dec 31 at 1817, music at S8-S5, must be R. Australia still propagating later than usual, midday here. 12085, Jan 1 at 1353, R. Australia discussing religious aspects of Bob Dylan`s music and the man. Also // much weaker 12065 and much stronger 9580. Looks like they are still doing religion on `Sunday Nights`. Yes, recheck at 1405 after news, this ``final hour of our summer series`` intros ``John Cleary on ABC Local Radio and Radio Australia``, an interview by guest Rachel Kahn(?) with a gay Catholic theologian/poet originally from Belfast about the `Spirit of Things`. That`s ``final hour`` in terms of today`s 3-hour broadcast, rather than forever. I hope there was not a misunderstanding last week when it was reported that `Sunday Night` had been canceled. Anyhow it appears to be rerunning until Janend when RA itself is canceled. That led to an enlightening thread in the DXLD yg discussing the merits of public service broadcasting, vs commercial, and how it is NOT the same as government-controlled broadcasting (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Dear Glen[n], Happy New Year! With many others, I've written and posted emails about RA's proposed shutdown of shortwave services at the end of this month. As a theologian and textual scholar, I quite agree with you that John's programs on Sunday nights heard here on Sunday mornings were a real delight. Your description was so accurate about John's listening to his callers and guests. Some of his questions would keep an educated theologian on his/her toes. Hopefully, with BBC increasing their world service programming to Africa and the VOA increasing its shortwave coverage once again, maybe others such as Voice of Russia will jump in the international broadcast media again. I'm sure your program along with Wavescan will keep us informed of these coming events. Sincerely, In Christ, (Tom Roberts, PhD, DD, KF7PKG, Jan 1, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** AUSTRIA. 6155, R. Austria Int. Jan 01, 0650-0710*, 24322-33332 Germany, Talk and news, //Streaming (Kouji Hashimoto, JAPAN, RX, IC- R75, ANT, 130m Sloper Wire, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Its only remaining legacy broadcast starting at 0600, poorly audible here (gh, OK, DXLD) ** AZORES. QSL: 693, RDP Terceira, Azores (yeah, I know, it's MW, but I am happy with this one!) I sent out about 100 QSL follow-ups at the end of November, most of them FM, but a few MW. I've received about 30 FM responses since then. Today, on my return home from Christmas break I was pleased to find a QSL from 693 RDP Terceira, Azores, in my mailbox. My original report went out April 5, 2006, so this one took more than ten years to land. I sent my original report to the Azores, and follow-ups, too. This time I wrote directly to RDP in Lisbon. This is Country #61 verified out of 73 heard. I sent an IRC, but it was returned unused: Paula Carvalho Engenharia, Sistemas Tecnologia RADIO E TELEVISAO DE PORTUGAL, SA Av. Marechal Gomes da Costa, no 37 1849-030 Lisboa, PORTUGAL (Jim Renfrew, Clarendon NY, Dec 28, WTFDA gg via DXLD) So was it a card, a letter, or what? Would Lisboa really know what was broadcast on 693 Azores 10+ years ago? (Glenn Hauser, DXLD) ** BOLIVIA. 5580.2 tentative, Radio San José, San José de Chiquitos, 2245 to 2305 weak in Spanish - 2 January (Bob Wilkner, Pómpano Beach, Florida, Icom 746 Pro + noise reducing antenna, NASWA yg via WORLD OF RADIO 1859, DXLD) ** BOLIVIA. 5952.42, Radio Pio Doce. On Jan 1, extended broadcast; on long after their usual sign off (normally about 0230*); still being heard at 0304 with decent reception. My audio at http://goo.gl/a8N8dU (Ron Howard, Calif., dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) [and non]. 5952.46, Jan 4 at 0113, Radio Pio Doce with Andean music at S9+5 --- and now no QRM from 5950 as WRMI schedule is drastically contracted. 6134.81, Radio Santa Cruz, Jan 4 at 0113 is S9+5 as well, but with het from Brasil 6135.2. Usually they are separable by LSB/USB tuning, tight selectivity (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BOTSWANA. 11850, Sat Dec 31 at 2100, YDD and VOA ID cut off before ``signing off``, for dead air until 2101:30* It`s Hausa at 2030-2100 daily except Sundays (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BOUGAINVILLE. 3325, NBC Bougainville, 1119-1205*, Jan 3. DJ in Pidgin/Tok Pisin playing pop songs; too weak to be readable. Today was a first for me here, hearing a formal, official sign off format. For a long time now NBC normally ended about 1200+ by just suddenly going off the air (pulled the plug), but instead today at 1203 noted children singing the National Anthem and announcer in English with what sounded like station ID and frequencies (heard "kilohertz" mentioned several times); very tough copy; off at 1205*. The other change today was that they did not go to the usual Port Moresby audio feed about 1201, for the "NBC News in Brief." In the past, Bougainville normally started the news, but rarely got all the way through it before going off the air, but instead today they did their own sign off format. So today was a major change in their closing. In the past, I often heard this sign off format of children singing the National Anthem on both NBC Madang (3260) and NBC New Ireland (3905), so was a real treat for me to hear it again, as it had been over a year since I last heard it. Today's propagation did not favor RRI Palangkaraya, which was not a factor at all in hearing NBC. My poor quality audio at http://goo.gl/xaP33v (Ron Howard, Calif., dxldyg via DX WORLD OF RADIO 1859, LISTENING DIGEST) ** BRAZIL. EBC-Radio offers seven webstreams, including Rádio Nacional Amazônia: Nacional FM Brasília http://radios.ebc.com.br/sites/_radios/player_streamer/index.html?emissora=radio-nacional-fm-brasilia Nacional Rio AM http://radios.ebc.com.br/sites/_radios/player_streamer/index.html?emissora=radio-nacional-do-rio-de-janeiro# Nacional Alto Solimões http://radios.ebc.com.br/sites/_radios/player_streamer/index.html?emissora=radio-nacional-do-alto-solimoes Nacional Brasília AM http://radios.ebc.com.br/sites/_radios/player_streamer/index.html?emissora=radio-nacional-de-brasilia# Nacional Amazônia http://radios.ebc.com.br/sites/_radios/player_streamer/index.html?emissora=radio-nacional-da-amazonia#this MEC FM - Rio de Janeiro http://radios.ebc.com.br/sites/_radios/player_streamer/index.html?emissora=radio-mec-fm---rio-de-janeiro# MEC AM - Rio Rio de Janeiro http://radios.ebc.com.br/sites/_radios/player_streamer/index.html?emissora=radio-mec-am---rio-de-janeiro# (Dr Hansjoerg Biener 2 January 2017, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BRAZIL. 1280. December 29, 2016. 0330-0423, Radio Tupi, Rio de Janeiro-RJ. Fernando Sérgio presents "Supermadrugada Tupi" - A variety program with the following spaces: "Túnel do Tempo" - dedicated to Brazilian old hits; Newsletter, including Debbie Reynolds death and a original song "Singin´in the Rain"; "Concurso de Piadas" - Station troupe interprets the jokes sent by listeners. Call-sign, ID. Fair transmission, 35433. Note: I only got this log because Radio Sanhauá, on 1280 kHz, in João Pessoa-PB metropolitan area, has a transmitter off, this night (DXer: José Ronaldo Xavier (JRX), Cabedelo-PB, Brazil, Degen DE1103 & Tecsun S-2000, Antenna: Portable Telescopic, Hard-Core- DX mailing list via DXLD) Distance: 1985 km = 1233 statute miles. IIRC, 1280 used to be one of the few clear MW channels in Brasil, but now there is that one other station on it with 10/5 kW. 1220 for R. Globo, Rio is still totally clear, per WRTH 2017 (Glenn Hauser, DXLD) 1280 - Rádio Tupi do Rio de Janeiro após alguns anos! Colegas da Radioescutas. Após alguns anos, conseguí sintonizar a Rádio Tupi - Rio de Janeiro.Aquí na área metropolitana de João Pessoa-PB, temos a Rádio Sanhauá, que transmite pelos 1280 kHz, 10 kW, e tem excelente sinal em Cabedelo-PB, onde resido. Acontece que esta emissora tem desligado seu transmissor, nos últimos dias, no horário noturno (parece que a partir das 23:00 e/ou 00:00h local. Hoje, pela madrugada, fiz este log: 1280, 29/12/2016. 0330-0423, Rádio Tupi, Rio de Janeiro-RJ, em Português. Fernando Sérgio apresenta o programa" Supermadrugada Tupi", programa composto por vários e excelentes espaços, a saber: 1-Túnel do Tempo: espaço musical dedicado aos velhos hits brasileiros; 2-Noticiário: espaço dedicado as principais notícias, incluindo um comentário sobre a morte de Debbie Reynolds, mãe de Carrie Fisher (também morta no dia anterior a sua mãe) e uma canção original do filme "Singin´ in the Rain"; 3- Concurso de Piadas: espaço dedicado a interpretação, por uma trupe da emissora, das piadas enviadas por cartas, pelos ouvintes da Tupi. Sensacional programação. A transmissão estava com sinal e modulação satisfatórios, 35433 (DXer: Jose Ronaldo Xavier (JRX), Location: Cabedelo-PB, Brazil, RX (s): Degen DE1103, Antenna: Portable Telescopic, radioescutas yg via DXLD) ** BRAZIL. 4875.150, R Dif. Roraima, Boa Vista, RR, pop music, at 0330 UT, S=8 or -78dBm [selected SDR options, span 12.5 kHz RBW 15.3 Hertz] (Wolfgang Büschel, df5sx, Dec 29, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews, dxldyg via DXLD) ** BRAZIL. ?? 4894.92, R. Novo Tempo?? Found a signal here at 0856. Nowhere near enough for audio, but did find R. Novo Tempo on the exact same frequency using Artur Nogueira`s SDR.hu web receiver. Nice ID at 0901. 24 Dec (Dave Valko, Dunlo, PA, USA, Perseus SDR with Wellbrook ALA1530S loop and 153 foot Delta Loop, Hard-Core-DX mailing list via DXLD) ** BRAZIL. BRASIL, 5035, R. Educação Rural, Coari AM, 2335-2346, 02/1, bênçãos, canções religioisas; 35332. Para que não restem dúvidas, não se tratou da R. Aparecida ou doutra qq., mas sim da R. Educ. Rural de Coari, que não captava há imenso tempo. Good DX & 73, (Carlos Gonçalves, SW coast of Portugal, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BRAZIL. 5939. [sic, omitted the decimals], R. Voz Missionária. Was waiting and hoping to catch the full English ID announcement and was listening from 2255 and nothing. But at 2356 heard the same correspondence/report request by M in English as heard on the 28th at 2358 on 9664.95. So maybe it's a regular feature at the end of the program. For a Youtube video of the reception, use this link https://youtu.be/sEQ6f6NlClo (use 480p quality setting for best viewing) 30 Dec (Dave Valko, Dunlo, PA, USA, Perseus SDR with Wellbrook ALA1530S loop and 153 foot Delta Loop, Hard-Core-DX mailing list via DXLD) ** BRAZIL. 9664.92, R. Voz Missionária. Tuned in at 2325 and was surprised to hear the end of a full English ID by M “…(frequencies and meterbands) RVM radio, Brazil”. Beautiful signal too. Of course by the time I started recording, the ID ended. Will have to keep this in mind and hope they air this ID at this time again in the future. 24 Dec (Dave Valko, Dunlo, PA, USA, Perseus SDR with Wellbrook ALA1530S loop and 153 foot Delta Loop, Hard-Core-DX mailing list via DXLD) ** BRAZIL. 9674.89, R. Canção Nova. Heard 2110+ with ”Voz do Brazil” // other ZYs. Fair signal. 28 Dec (Dave Valko, Perseus SDR and BOGs on Micro-DXpedition, near Dunlo PA, Hard-Core-DX mailing list via DXLD) 9674.905, Poor signal of S=5 or -99dBm, probably sermon prayer in BrasPort., from Rádio Canção Nova, Cachoeira Paulista, 0413 UT on Dec 29 [selected SDR options, span 12.5 kHz RBW 15.3 Hertz] (Wolfgang Büschel, df5sx, Dec 29 from 0341 UT log of Detroit Michigan North America remote post, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews, dxldyg via DXLD) 9674.9, R. Canção Nova, Cachoeira Paulista SP, 2200-2217, 29/12, rubrica de propaganda religiosa, Direcção Espiritual; 35433. A emissora reactivou, portanto, o transmissor dos 31, mas o facto é que, entre 28DEZ e 03JAN, só nesse dia consegui captá-lo. Good DX & 73, (Carlos Gonçalves, SW coast of Portugal, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 9674.95, Dec 30 at 0123, two very weak signals making a low audible heterodyne, about 50 Hz, where there had been only one, CRI English via Kashgar this hour on 9675.0. As ZY stations are by nature off- frequency, now the new one must be Rádio Canção Nova, reported by Ed Santos in Bahia, radioescutas yg, to have reactivated as of Dec 15. I had sought this some times before without hearing it; hours may be irregular or limited. 9674.90, Dec 30 at 0711, now R. Canção Nova is on and in the clear, but weak S1-S4; do hear a timecheck for after ``5 horas`` = BDT; a bit better S5 at 0738 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 9675, Rádio Canção Nova, Cachoeira Paulista, 0555-0601, 31-12, Portuguese, religious talks, male and female, "A palabra de Deus...", "O Espíritu Santo...", religious songs, weak. 14321. 9675, Radio Cançao Nova, Cachoeira Paulista, 0755-0803, 31-12, improving signal now, Portuguese, comments, ID. "Cançao Nova, cancaonova.com", "Radio Cançao Nova...". "Cachoeira Paulista". 14321 (Manuel Méndez, Lugo, Spain, Log in Lugo, Sony ICF SW-7600G, cable antenna, 8 meters, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BRAZIL. 11764.63, Super R. Deus é Amor - Curitiba PR. I was surprised to hear this coming through at 0402 (3:02 pm local here) with preaching in Portuguese. A weak signal down in the local summer atmospherics, Dec 30 (Rob Wagner VK3BVW, Jan 2, http://www.medxr.blogspot.com.au ARDXC mailing list via DXLD) ** BRAZIL. 11780.005, RNB Brasilia - THE ONLY STN IN 25 mb at this hour, tiny weak S=5-6 at 0430 UT on Dec 29 [selected SDR options, span 12.5 kHz RBW 15.3 Hertz] (Wolfgang Büschel, df5sx, Dec 29 from 0341 UT log of Detroit Michigan North America remote post, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews, dxldyg via DXLD) 11780, Jan 1 at 0143, standing by for another New Year transition, which in the BDT area will be at 0200 UT. Normal programming from RNB/RNA, music, MPB, 0155 mentions Gilberto Gil, outro program `Acervo Origens`, about which scheduled at 01 UT Sundays: http://radios.ebc.com.br/acervo-origens ``Acervo Origens --- As raízes da música brasileira com base nas pesquisas e na coleção musical do pesquisador, músico e colecionador Cacai Nunes.`` 0159 ID for 300 kW on 980 kHz (SW not worth mentioning), PSAs, 0200 more PSAs with `Jingle Bells` in background, no timesignal, no announcement but then starts `Alô Brasil` show which is apparently live as YL DJ does say it`s primeiro de janeiro, 2017. I might have heard something more exciting, had I tried one of the few non-gospel- huxter private SW stations (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BRAZIL. 11894.95 [sic], R. Aparecida, Aparecida SP. Another summer surprise, noted at 0520 with mainly talk and occasional long pauses. Some quasi-military music at 0530 for several minutes, then back into talk. Possible live broadcast or recording of a live broadcast?? Not sure. Weak signal and faded by 0535, Dec 30 (Rob Wagner VK3BVW, Jan 2, http://www.medxr.blogspot.com.au ARDXC mailing list via DXLD) I suppose he mean 11854.95; the ZY around 11895 is Super Rede Boa Vontade (gh, DXLD) ** BRAZIL. 11895.07, Super R. Boa Vontade, 2143 “Voz do Brasil”, // to other ZYs carrying the program. Strong enough to ID surprisingly. 28 Dec (Dave Valko, Perseus SDR and BOGs on Micro-DXpedition, near Dunlo PA, Hard-Core-DX mailing list via DXLD) 11895, R. Boa Vontade, Pt.º Alegre RS, 1939-1950, 01/1, propaganda religiosa; 24442, QRM adjacente; sinal razoável, em 02/1, pelas 1720. 11895.1, idem, 1040-desvanecimento total 1210, 03/1, propag. relig., canções; 24442, QRM de sinal semelhante a "DRM", por vezes, bem forte, mas que se foi dissipando. Good DX & 73, (Carlos Gonçalves, SW coast of Portugal, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BRAZIL. 11925.02, R. Bandeirantes, São Paulo SP. Noted at 0536 with R. Aparecida relay, music programming, weak signal, Dec 30 (Rob Wagner, VK3BVW, Jan 2, http://www.medxr.blogspot.com.au ARDXC mailing list via DXLD) Really?? Unknown Bandeirantes ever to relay Aparecida. If so, it`s the beginning of the end (gh, DXLD) 11925.179, Jan 3 at 0705, JBA carrier as R. Bandeirantes appears to have reverted to its off-frequency spot, after a while much closer to 11925.0. 11925.0, Jan 4 at 0135, JBA talk here, not 11925.2, presumed R. Bandeirantes switching again. However, if no Brazuguese recognizable, one must beware of other 11925 occupants: CNR1 Lingshi 725 site China, until 0200; BBC Pashto via Oman 0300-0330. Then nothing until 0700- Turkey. 11925.179, Jan 4 at 0650, now I do hear a Bandeirantes promo back on the off-frequency, S8-S5 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BULGARIA. Additional Brother HySTAIRical via Secretbrod from 1500 probably until 1650/1655 UT on unregistered 9465 to WeEu or ME -- 73! (Ivo Ivanov, QTH: Sofia, Bulgaria, Equipment: Sony ICF-2001D 30 m. long wire, Jan 3, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) More Brother HySTAIRical via Secretbrod, Jan 4 from 1800 probably until 2100 on 9700 to WeEu - 73! (Ivo Ivanov, Jan 4, ibid.) See also ANTARCTICA [non]; SOUTH CAROLINA; USA: WRMI ** CANADA. 1580, CKDO, Oshawa, Ontario. 0930 December 29, 2016. Abruptly up strong over the others with male "... Classic Hits, CKDO" into "It's A Heartache" by Bonnie Tyler, then gone about 30 seconds into the song. A surprise catch (Terry Krueger, Clearwater FL, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CANADA. 1610 kHz, CHRN/R. Humsafar, Montreal. 1935 M with Canadian accent talk about traffic and weather, then going right into talk on fake news/reports in media, and lost at 1938. Voces Latinas [CHHA Toronto] playing Spanish version of “Jingle Bells” at 1940. 1944 Indian accented ads. ID at 1947. Quick deep fades. 29 Dec (Dave Valko, Perseus SDR and BOGs on Micro-DXpedition, near Dunlo PA, Hard-Core-DX mailing list via DXLD) ** CANADA. Another log from Puerto Rico 2x Es & Bandscan --- Fellow DX'ers: I hope everyone has enjoyed their holidays and best wishes for the New Year. Like some of you other "diehards", I'm enjoying the time off work partially by reviewing the countless hours of SDR data accumulated over the summer. And in finally wrapping up a bandscan of Puerto Rican radio from my trip --- https://youtu.be/-hjyrpfGLiQ I discovered a buried 2x Es fadeup to add to the list from this past August. I was trying to get an ID for a 92.3 in the Dominican Republic ("Estrella" HIJ77 Higuey, included in the bandscan), but in waiting for that ID, a signal popped up over the Dominican station that I missed on my first rounds of reviews. The new log is 92.3 CFRK-FM Fredericton, New Brunswick at ~1,920 miles from the receiving location in the northwestern tip of Puerto Rico. The audio clip has been added to the WTFDA Forum topic here and I'll attempt to update the video summary too. Cheers, (Bryce Foster, KG6VSW, Hermitage, TN EM66, Dec 31, WTFDA gg via DXLD) ** CANADA. CBC, TVO, public vs commercial broadcasting: see AUSTRALIA thread starting with ABC ** CHILE. 5824.992, Dec 26 -2356* Tentative, R Triunfal Evangélica in threshold level, deep fading. Only very weak audio on tops. Max S3-S4. Sign off corresponds to log above. Found this one at 2315 (Thomas Nilsson, Engelholm, Sweden, via SW Bulletin Jan 1 via DXLD) Radio Triunfal Evangélica memories --- The item from Arnaldo about Radio Triunfal Evangélica, Chile, brings back great memories, which I will try to reconstruct with the help of some old NUs. Radio Triunfal Evangélica was a 50 watt station on 5825. Gabriel Iván Barrera in Argentina first reported them in July 1996, heard up to 2400 UT on 5824.9, but badly QRMed by WEWN s/on after that. On October 16 he heard them again, on 5824.88, with what must have been a pretty good signal, as he was able to copy the ID text, which included a request for reports to the station address in Talagante, near Santiago. He then telephoned the station, which was run by Bishop Fernando González Seguro, who gave the then-current sked as 2100-2400 (except Thursdays and Sundays). Two weekends later, I and a few other members of the Boston Area DXers did a DXpedition to our usual oceanside site on the Pemaquid Peninsula in Maine. I had 5825 on my target list, and while listening on Saturday, October 26 at 2250 I started hearing what I called a "weak but persistent signal" on 5824.94, with religious songs, talk, "almost certainly Spanish." I listened intently to almost midnight UT and was hoping to get the s/off announcement on the hour, and a tuning signal, which GIB had reported, but the frequency was blocked by the WEWN s/on at 2358. Soon after this, WEWN started signing on at 2300 rather than 2400, so the 2300-2400 window for possible Triunfal Evangelica reception disappeared. I sent the station a report with a tape of my reception (no emails with MP3 attachments in those days). At the same time I sent a tape to GIB, who later confirmed that it was them, and that he could identify the voice of the bishop at various points on the tape. Around then, GIB also received a QSL letter from the station for his own reception, and my fingers were crossed. Seven weeks after sending the report, I received a full-data QSL from the bishop. (It had been in transit to me by registered mail for three of the seven weeks). GIB later advised me that he had visited the station after my report had arrived there and posted the reply himself. He reported hearing the station again in December, by which time it was on 5824.7. In January 1997 I received a second letter from the bishop, this time a thank you with an inspirational message. Such were the things that made it all worthwhile "in the good old days" (although 20 years seems not very long ago). We all have stories like this. Happy Holidays! (Jerry Berg via DXPlorer via via SW Bulletin Jan 1 via DXLD) ** CHINA. 5978.98, Dec 30 at 0044, JBA carrier as I am ChiCom-checking along with Chaski-checking on 5980. Even weaker than Perú, and still there at 0106 after Chaski has gone off. Aoki shows the PBS Gannan from Hezuo hours in Chinese and Tibetan, now under 5979 too, as 1020- 1410 and 2250-0100 via a 15 kW ND transmitter, instead of original 5970, where WRTH 2017 still shows it at exactly same hours. Better heard in our mornings (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CHINA. 11860, Dec 30 at 0130, bandscanning and hoping for a bit of Yemen [non], instead hear CRI theme, opening hour in Nepali, westward from Kunming, JBA at S2 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CHINA [and non]. 9900, Dec 31 at 2250, rechecking after Egypt would have quit at 2245*, now I hear one station in Chinese. HFCC shows nothing until *2300, IBB via Saipan. But Aoki has the answer: since Dec 1, RTI via Kouhu in Chinese has also been on 9900 at 2230-0030. Both it and RFA are subject to ChiCom jamming, but they are also colliding with each other (unless RFA has evacuated?). And listings from Taiwan, of course, are banned by the ChiCom from HFCC. (And please don`t tell me it`s offensive to refer to the Chinese as Communists, since that is exactly what they proudly are) (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CHINA [non]. 7530, UZBEKISTAN. Stream of Praise Ministries - Tashkent. Cantonese at s/on 2100, then into Mandarin at 2115 till a sudden s/off 2129 with very little fanfare. Fair signal on Dec 30 (Rob Wagner VK3BVW, Jan 2, http://www.medxr.blogspot.com.au ARDXC mailing list via DXLD) ** CHINA [and non]. 7445, Firedragon jammer here with huge signal at 2055 on R. Free Asia (Kuwait) in Chinese which could still be heard underneath. The Firedragon was // on 7415 although much weaker jamming RFA (Mariana Is.) also in Chinese. 28 Dec (Dave Valko, Perseus SDR and BOGs on Micro-DXpedition, near Dunlo PA, Hard-Core-DX mailing list via DXLD) ** CHINA. DID CHINESE MUSIC INFLUENCE WESTERN POPULAR MUSIC? or, Is the drum solo Chinese? Firedrake, described as “Chinese folk music” and “Chinese Classical Music,” is used for jamming radio transmissions, but it actually sounds a lot like what Western jazz and rock musicians describe as jamming, i.e. a jam session. Odd how words work, isn't it? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jam_session Firedrake – 4-minute sample https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HAKlWeamTEE Firedrake – full 60 minutes https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FHsSyfj6uEg&t=2143s Wikipedia says “The government of the People's Republic of China disrupts shortwave radio communications through this method, typically by broadcasting music, drumming, and other noise, On shortwave, the jamming sound is composed of Chinese folk music, specifically a composition known as The Firedrake,...” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radio_jamming_in_China Satdirectory describes Firedrake as “Chinese Classical Music featuring gongs, flutes and drums.” http://satdirectory.com/firedrake.html When I first enjoyed Firedrake on my shortwave radio, I immediately thought “that's the drum solo,” and, since then, it has been in my mind to find out why Chinese music is never mentioned as an influence, when, if you listen to musicians, everything and everybody is mentioned as an influence. Everybody knows China gave us the visual pyrotechnics of fireworks, and people should know that China might have given us – or, did give us? - the musical pyrotechnics of the drum solo. Pyrotechnics – 1. the art of...setting off fireworks; 2. a fireworks display; 3. a brilliant display...in the performing arts http://www.thefreedictionary.com/pyrotechnics A drum solo is definitely pyrotechnics, when we are lucky. I believe China gave us the drum solo, but it's not on the internet, although there is some circumstantial evidence, and, perhaps, a smoking gun: a quote attributed to Mr. Jazz himself, Louis Armstrong. “[Bebop is] Chinese music.” http://jazz-quotes.com/artist/louis-armstrong/#quote-932 Maybe it's a political thing. Westerners were in China, and not welcome. They brought their attitudes, and they probably also brought their attitudes towards the black American musicians that played in China. And, in America, black Americans were a discriminated-against minority, and, Chinese Americans were a smaller minority who were discriminated against, also. Yellow Music: Media Culture and Colonial Modernity in the Chinese Jazz Age, by Andrew F. Jones, provides us with some insight. https://www.amazon.com/Yellow-Music-Culture-Colonial-Modernity/dp/0822326949 On page 8, we read: “A second and less immediately obvious theme is the extent to which this disdain has blinded critics and historians to the close mutual intertwinement of yellow music with the officially sanctioned leftist mass music that has come to be seen as its historical and ideological `other.' […] Dismissed until recently in the Chinese academy on ideological grounds, yellow music has also fallen victim to neglect in the Anglo-American context, in part because it slips through a number of disciplinary cracks.” http://reader.dukeupress.edu/yellow-music/19?ajax And, on page 19, we read: “Chinese music is usually described by nineteenth-century Euro-American listeners as unintelligible noise.” http://reader.dukeupress.edu/yellow-music/30?ajax China gets no credit for influence in Western Wikipedia. In the China that Jones writes about black American jazz musicians surely would have been exposed to Firedrake-type Chinese music, or at least what “Euro-American listeners [described] as unintelligible noise,” and might have actually liked and been influenced by it, but Western Wikipedia tells us this: “Chinese popular music...was influenced by Western jazz artists like Buck Clayton.” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Music_of_China “Music of China refers to the music of the Chinese people,...Many pieces have influences from jazz and Western music,...” https://duckduckgo.com/?q=chinese+influence+on+jazz&t=opera&ia=web “Euro-American” bias against Chinese music for being “unintelligible noise” may have led a leftist writer to misrepresent Louis Armstrong. The British “International Socialism Journal” has an article by Charlie Hore entitled “Jazz – a people's music?,” and, under the heading “The politics of bebop,” he incorporates Armstrong's aforesaid quote in this statement: “Louis Armstrong, for instance, famously dismissed it [bebop] as `Chinese music.'” http://pubs.socialistreviewindex.org.uk/isj61/hore.htm “Black Americans Invented Jazz” is the heading under which Hore's article can be found at this different website: http://bangingonthebeast.com/name-one-positive-stereotype-about-black-people/black-americans-invented-jazz-period/ Louis Armstrong reportedly loved Chinese food, so the author, Hore, may be wrong when he suggests Armstrong was being dismissive when he described bebop as “Chinese music.” Chinese food-lover Armstrong would surely have heard, and might have enjoyed, Chinese music - including, maybe, Firedrake-type Chinese music - as he sat for many hours in Chinese restaurants – as possibly did many other city-dwelling jazz musicians who knew where to get good food as they travelled city-to- city in segregated America – so, rather than being dismissive, Armstrong might have been merely astutely recognizing the connection between Chinese music and bebop, the former influencing the latter, of course. Or, is it possible that, with this observation, he is telling us that bebop might have originated with jazz musicians who returned with it from China at the outbreak of World War II? The web blog “The Wonderful World of Louis Armstrong” has an article called “Cornet Chop Suey” (Cor-net, not Comet, as some computers might seem to make it read) that says “I think the title is a play on `Clarinet Marmalade' that works in Louis's love of Chinese food, something that started as a kid and continued until the end of his life.” http://dippermouth.blogspot.com/2011/02/cornet-chop-suey.html The familiarity of jazz musicians with the Chinese communities in the cities might be indicated by Cab Calloway's song “Kickin' the Gong Around.” http://www.metrolyrics.com/kickin-the-gong-around-lyrics-cab-calloway.html Continuing with the absence of recognition of Chinese musical influence on jazz, Wikipedia has a topic entitled “Jazz Drumming,” and, believe it or not, it begins by reaching way back to the Moorish invasion before bringing the discussion up to more recent centuries, where they find these influences: African, Caribbean, Cuban, French, Spanish, Afro-Cuban, Latin, and American. In this big long article, there is no mention of Chinese influence, but, near the end, there is a single mention of “Chinese tom-toms” as a component of the then- newly evolving drumset, just before we read, in the section under the heading “Bebop,” “To a small extent in the swing era, but most strongly in the bebop period, the role of the drummer evolved from an almost purely time-keeping position to that of a member of the interactive musical ensemble. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jazz_drumming The chronology of the development of the drumkit and bebop is very interesting. The Australian Drumtek website, in an article entitled “The Evolution of the Modern Drum Kit” tells us: “The universally accepted `Modern Drumkit' of today only began to take shape around 1930.” “In the mid 20's drummers began to realise [sic] the potential of tom-toms in creating and expanding the scope of sounds available to them. The development of the modern tom-tom began with the Chinese tom-tom. […] Usually small in size Chinese toms were hung from a bass drum lug with wire. As their popularity grew so too did the development of the “Trap-Tree or Console.” […] In the early 20's a craze began and lasted until World War II. Drummers everywhere began using Trap Tables, Trap Boards and Consoles designed to mount Chinese toms, triangles, tambourines, cowbells, temple blocks and cymbals. Consoles were the equivalent of modern day rack systems aided by the convenience of wheels.” http://www.drumtek.com.au/the-evolution-of-the-modern-drum-kit The website for the George H. Way Drum Company reports that “In 1927 George introduced the Chinese `sneeze' cymbal, easily recognized today as the modern China type cymbal.” Click on the “history” button at this link http://waydrums.com/main.htm Various websites report that bebop began in the 1940s, during World War II. https://duckduckgo.com/?q=when+did+bebop+begin&t=opera&ia=web The Woodshed Music jazz website has a page devoted to “Bebop Solos for Drumset.” http://thewoodshedmusic.com/2014/03/bebop-solos-for-drumset/ Chinese music could have influenced Western popular music with the drum solo like this: In America, you would have had jazz musicians in environments where they could have been exposed to and influenced by Firedrake-type Chinese music. In China, American jazz musicians could have been exposed to and influenced by Firedrake-type Chinese music. The American jazz musicians in China surely would have returned to America with the outbreak of World War II in 1941, bringing with them, dare we speculate, the influence of Firedrake-type Chinese music. Bebop – what Louis Armstrong called “Chinese music” - began in the 1940s, during World War II, shortly after the return of American jazz musicians from China. The evolution of the drumkit, including Chinese tom-toms and Chinese cymbals, as well as multiple other percussion instruments, would enable a musician performing a drum solo to make manifest the influence of Firedrake-type Chinese music on Western music. Mr. Jazz himself, Louis Armstrong, said that “[Bebop is] Chinese music.” What did he know? He probably knew, and if he were alive today he would probably tell us, that Firedrake-type Chinese music influenced Western music via the drum solo in bebop, and, later, in rock music. And, he probably wouldn't mind saying it. After all, giving credit to Chinese influence for the drum solo doesn't detract from the credit due to black Americans for creating jazz, it just shows that they heard something good, and weren't prejudiced, and were smart enough to let it influence their music. Copyright 2017 Kent D. Murphy All rights reserved kentdmurphy@gmail.com (for WORLD OF RADIO 1859, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CHINA. PROPAGANDA WITH A MILLENNIAL TWIST POPS UP IN CHINA By JAVIER C. HERNANDEZDEC. 31, 2016 Photo [caption] Members of the rap group CD REV, on the rooftop of a recording studio in Chengdu, China. The group has recorded music videos featuring songs about China's claims in the contested South China Sea and Mao Zedong's legacy. Credit Gilles Sabrie for The New York Times BEIJING -- The two-minute cartoon opens with a folksy jingle and a smiling bobblehead of President Xi Jinping, dimpled and cherubic. Then it cuts to a colorful montage praising his government for improving the lives of ordinary Chinese with what might seem like a mundane policy: regulations allowing taxis to be summoned online. With vivid animation and quirky sound effects, the video does not feel like propaganda. But its creators, a team of 15 people hired by the state-run media, spent months obsessing over the details, down to the shape of Mr. Xi's grin. Their mission: to promote Mr. Xi and the ruling Communist Party in a voice that resonates with China's digitally savvy millennials. . . http://www.nytimes.com/2016/12/31/world/asia/china-propaganda-communist-party-millennials.html?ref=todayspaper (NYT via Mike Cooper, DXLD) ** COLOMBIA. 5910.048, Alcaraván R, poor signal into Detroit MI, only S=4-5 or -94dBm at 0350 UT Dec 29 [selected SDR options, span 12.5 kHz RBW 15.3 Hertz] (Wolfgang Büschel, df5sx, Dec 29 from 0341 UT log of Detroit Michigan North America remote post, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews, dxldyg via DXLD) ** CONGO. 6115, R. Congo (tentative). Signal came on at 0535:45 and almost immediately talk by M in progress sounding like a remote. Different M briefly at 0540. Sounded like an interview. Just a little too weak to tell the language. Sign on time suggests Congo. Gradually faded. 24 Dec (Dave Valko, Dunlo, PA, USA, Perseus SDR with Wellbrook ALA1530S loop and 153 foot Delta Loop, Hard-Core-DX mailing list via DXLD) ** COSTA RICA. 2859.84 harmonic, TIRDVC, Radio San Carlos, Ciudad Quesada. 1145 January 2, 2017. Threshold pieces of music, 2 X nominal 1430 kHz. Thanks Tim Tromp and Glenn Hauser logs (Terry Krueger, Clearwater FL, NRD-535, IC-R75, roof dipole, active loop, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** COSTA RICA [and non]. 6090 ANGUILLA Caribbean Beacon at 2200 with OC to 2204 when the still very dead Dr. Gene Scott started preaching from the hereafter – Very Good Jan 4 Coady-ON – Is this one still licensed as The Caribbean Beacon in Anguilla? I remember when they used to ID as the University Network but that was when they were buying time from Radio for Peace International in Costa Rica and other stations (Mark Coady, ODXA yg via DXLD) Mark, Tnx for posting your logs daily here --- much more useful than holding them for a week. I can`t stand to listen long enough for an ID, but I believe they never ID on air as Caribbean Beacon, just University Network (probably in random phone-number IDs rather than hourtops). This NEVER bought time from RFPI -- I must defend its memory. TUN ran their own SW from CR for a while, having acquired what was originally Adventist World Radio there, 9725, etc. 73, (Glenn Hauser, ibid.) ** CUBA [and non]. 530, Dec 31 at 0300, Radio Rebelde IS of some notes from Cuban NA and then some electronic tones; presumably from the Isla de Juventud (ex-Pinos) transmitter, above Enciclopedia but not as dominant as last time, and also mixing with `K530AM` Vance AFB. Strangely, Fox ``news`` // 960 KGWA is cutting in and out, almost sounds like the Vance transmitter is doing it as the PSA loop stops when this happens. However, we have had high winds and some bimetal shorting may be causing anomalies like this and 15280 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Re Enciclopedia: ``Do they have any informational shows or segments when we don`t hear them? (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)`` No. I too recall the old days when Enci -- at least a couple times per hour -- aired brief "history" segments (Terry Krueger, Clearwater FL, Jan 3, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CUBA. 1140, Radio Maybeque, La Salud, Mayabeque. 0013 January 1, 2017. Under Musical Nacional with vocals, parallel clear and better 1450 kHz. 1150, Radio Bayamo, Pilón, Granma. 1115 January 1, 2017. Cuban ballads and tropical vocals, 0140 young female DJ ID. Co-channel Fox Sport Radio, probably WJEM Valdosta, and WJBO. 1450, Radio Maybeque, Santa Cruz del Norte, Mayabeque. 1130 December 31, 2016. In passing with canned station theme with male ID (Terry Krueger, Clearwater FL, NRD-535, IC-R75, roof dipole, active loop, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CUBA. Cuban on 1370?! Reviewing my recordings from the Border Inn (US 6/50 at NV/UT border), on one of my wires that was aimed at Mexico I had two Mexican stations running national anthems at 0400 UT (this was on Mon Oct 3 UT). While I was trying to figure out the identity of those two stations, I suddenly heard a third station with the very distinctive opening fanfare of the Cuban national anthem around 0401:20. I lost the signal around the end of the fanfare. The Cuban station lists I've been able to find do not list any major stations on 1370. One lists an unspecified "local station," and most others list no station at all. Has anyone else heard any Cubans on 1370? 73 (Tim Hall, Dec 28, ABDX via DXLD) Hi Tim, My September download of the FCC Database shows one listing for Cuba on 1370. CMHX Daytime/Nighttime in Nuevitas at 1,000 Watts. Nice catch. 73 (Art Jackson KA5DWI/7 Dewey AZ, Dec 29, ABDX via DXLD) Thanks Art. As reluctant as I am to count this, I guess it really would have to be them. After all, who else would run the Cuban anthem at midnight Cuba time? I've always expected a big catch on 1370 since there are relatively few stations in the western states to get in the way 73 (Tim Hall, CA, Sent from my BlackBerry 10 smartphone, Dec 29, ABDX via DXLD) I'll check the new WRTH for Cuba on 1370 when I get home. 73 (KAZ, ibid.) WRTH 2017: one Cuban 1370: CMMA, 1 kW, R. Playita, Imías, Guantánamo. It`s on Facebook 73, (Glenn Hauser, ibid.) Wow, all the way from far Eastern Cuba! Any chance that anything else could play this anthem then? I cannot imagine what would. 73 (KAZ, ibid.) It sure seems odd. The station Art mentioned earlier would seem a bit more likely (coastal location on the northern side of the island) but I would expect WRTH to be a lot more up to date than the FCC database. Sent from my BlackBerry 10 smartphone (Tim, ibid.) [Mauricio Molano`s reworking of official RadioCuba list, by province / city and also frequency, appending neat station maps of each province] https://app.box.com/s/rsal6ivl69oolusfw9slc4gaga6ylip9 (Neil Kazaross, ibid.) The FCC website isn't a reliable source for Cubans. The Cuban listings there represent what US licensees are required to protect under treaty, which in practice means "what existed before 1961." It's not meant to be a list of what's actually on the air there (Scott Fybush, ibid.) Thanks Scott. I suspected as much, based on the ridiculous information they have on file for Mexican stations, with which I'm much more familiar than Cubans. Over the years, some veteran DXers who don't understand Spanish have embarrassed themselves by claiming to log Mexican stations in those FCC listings which were actually just decades-old applications or CPs that never got on the air. Not wanting to suffer a similar fate, I think it's best to curb my enthusiasm and write off my mysterious alleged Cuban as a puzzling UNID. 73 (Tim, Sent from my BlackBerry 10 smartphone, Hall, ibid.) I think I have to write this off as a very interesting UNID. Thanks everyone for the help, especially Kaz for the updated station list. 73 (Tim, Sent from my BlackBerry 10 smartphone, Hall, ibid.) Ahhhh --- the plot thickens. For your info, Tim, WRTH in 2001 listed two Cuban stations on 1370. Maybe one of them been revived????? The one station I mentioned from the FCC database is listed, but with another call CMFA in Nuevitas, Radio Cadena Agramonte. The other was CMDV R. Siboney in Santiago. Both listed as 1,000 watts. Maybe some logic here. Anyway you look at it, a great catch. 73 (Art Jackson KA5DWI/7 High Desert AZ, ibid.) Thanks Art. I appreciate the help. I wish I could nail this down, but for now I have to call it "the one that got away". It would be interesting if it were the Agramonte station, because that would open up the possibility of finding a //. This year I had pretty good success finding new (for me) //s for Rebelde, Reloj, Progreso? and Guamá nets. 73 (Tim Sent from my BlackBerry 10 smartphone, ibid.) Tim, I don`t see why you are so reluctant to accept the latest info from WRTH and the same in official RadioCuba list via moladx, that the only current 1370 is Radio Playita. If another one has shown up it will probably appear in future updates. You could also ask Terry Krueger who keeps close track of Cubans from Clearwater. His historical roster does show three other 1370s in years past. I try to put a mere URL link to his site and it shows up with animation... Is that a QR? Cuba AM-FM Lists - Florida DX News https://sites.google.com/site/floridadxn/cubalist Introduction Audio, Images & Photos Bandscans CODAR Sites In Florida (Gulf Coast) Cuba AM-FM Lists Florida Keys Band Scans, October 2012 73, (Glenn Hauser, ibid.) I guess it just seems too good to be true, especially since this wire was aimed way down at Mexico, and relatively few of the high-powered Cubans were coming in on that wire. My eastern wire, on the other hand, did quite well with Cuba. The recording I'm listening to now (0304 UT Oct 2nd) has at least 22 Cubans on it, 5 of which were new catches for me. I love the looping feature on the Perseus playback. When I'm monitoring a network like Rebelde or Progreso, I tune in one of the stronger channels and find the most piercing bit of audio I can (with Rebelde I found a series of weather alert tones at the start of a Hurricane Matthew update; with Progreso I found a very shrill piccolo accompaniment on a vocal number) then I loop across those few seconds (adding a second or two on either side in case of delays) and check all the possible // frequencies. That piccolo melody just added 4 more Progreso stations to my totals - it felt like my own private DX test. Speaking of Progreso, I noted an unlisted Progreso station (// 640, 690, 890, 900 etc.) on 670, alongside the usual Rebelde (which was // 600, 710 etc.) I think I may have made an 0400 UT recording on the eastern wire one of the other nights I was there. If so, I'll make a very methodical review of 1370 with various sidebands and noise reduction levels. 73 (Tim Sent from my BlackBerry 10 smartphone, ibid.) ** CUBA. Radio Reloj oddities (or, going cuckoo listening to the clock station) This year at the Border Inn my E wire did a very nice job picking up Cubans (I think I've found 35 of them so far). For the past 3 months I've been listening intently to my recordings, finding as many //s as I could for the big Rebelde, Progreso and Reloj nets. From this I have a few observations about Reloj: Last night I found the signature Reloj pip and "RR" code signal on 1210 kHz, where no Reloj outlet is listed (this was at 0105 UT Oct 2nd). This is not the first time that's happened. Maybe some other stations occasionally run a Reloj newscast? (This was the weekend of Hurricane Matthew; Rebelde was running special weather alerts). Although the clock-ticking and top-of-minute pip on the Reloj feed appear to be automated, the "RR" seemingly is not! On a typical minute it can appear anywhere between 2 and 3 seconds after the pip. But on each of my last 2 or 3 DXpeditions, I have recorded at least one case where somebody messed up, and didn't give the "RR" until 25 or 30 seconds into the minute! The next minute everything was fine again. Furthermore, on one particular minute on 950 kHz I heard two sets of "RR" s about 2 seconds apart? I was about to count a second Reloj station when I tuned around and realized that EVERY Reloj station gave two RR's that minute. On the one channel where I really did have two Reloj outlets coming in (790 kHz, with the 2nd station running about 1 second behind the first) I actually had 4 RR's that minute (strong, weak, strong, weak, each about 1 second apart, making it obvious what was going on). Without the multi-channel recording capability of the Perseus I'd have no way of detecting this (unless I happened to be listening to 790), and would have mistakenly added a station to my totals. So, the next time you think your job sucks, think of the poor guy chained to his desk in Cuba staring at the clock and hitting the "RR button" every 60 seconds. 73 Tim (fearing I may never get the Mexican and Cuban anthems, Chihuahua state anthem, and di-dah-dit di-dah-dit out of my head...) (Tim Hall, Jan 3, Sent from my BlackBerry 10 smartphone, ABDX via DXLD) ** CUBA. 5010, R. Habana Cuba (mixing product of 5025 Rebelde and 5040 RHC) OC at 1156. 1200:18 usual piano theme song with M and W giving ID announcement, choral NA, 1202 W announcer with ID and sked announcement // 5040, 9640, 9850, 11760, 11840. Good signal but 5015 WRMI QRM and best in LSB. 28 Dec. 5055, R. Rebelde and RHC (mixing product of 5025 Rebelde and 5040 RHC) Found signal here at 1055 with piano music and then M and W announcers in Spanish. W over ToH // 5025, and mixing with second audio from RHC when it started. Heard on other web receivers around the country. Never heard this and 5010 mixing products before. 28 Dec (Dave Valko, Dunlo, PA, USA, Perseus SDR with Wellbrook ALA1530S loop and 153 foot Delta Loop, Hard-Core-DX mailing list via WORLD OF RADIO 1859, DXLD) I always check for these in evenings when 5025 and 5040 are on, but no matter how strong, do not hear them. Suspect because two different transmitter sites are involved. 5040 not supposed to be on in the mornings. Maybe this time it was from the same site as 5025, thus enabling the leapfrogging (Glenn Hauser, WORLD OF RADIO 1859, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CUBA. I sent a reception report to Havana for my 5040 kHz log and received an immediate reply from Arnie Coro indicating my report would be forwarded to the technical department for a QSL while providing the following interesting information: “At present Cuba has three stations operating on the 60 Meters Tropical Band. Radio Progreso on 4765 running 50 kW omnidirectional, Radio Rebelde on 5025 with 50 kW 24 hours service to Cuba as primary target area, and Radio Habana Cuba on 5040, during part of our local evening hours , also omnidirectional and running at 100 kW. In the not too distant future, as solar cycle enters into its deepest null in activity we may be adding possibly 3350 or near that frequency for Radio Habana Cuba, running at 25 kW or 50 kW with a simple full wave dipole antenna. (Prof. Arnaldo Coro Antich, Senior Consultant and Advisor to the Director General, also Frequency Manager for Cuban short wave services, Host of Dxers Unlimited radio hobby program)” (Rich D`Angelo, PA, NASWA Flashsheet Jan 1 via WORLD OF RADIO 1859, DXLD) Arnie has been predicting a 90m frequency from RHC for a few years now, with no results, but why not? (Glenn Hauser, WORLD OF RADIO 1859, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CUBA. 6000, RHC Titán Quivicán San Felipe site? OVERMODULATED signal, English at 0354 UT, S=9+20dB in MI. 6060, RHC Spanish, overmodulated Spanish service, S=9+20dB, like Latin American Mariachi music, at 0350 UT. 6165, RHC, nice clean signal no distorted, Cuban Jazz and piano player performance, S=9+20dB at 0359 UT. 9535, RHC Spanish service, fair S=8-9 winter propagation Detroit into Michigan, at 0411 UT Dec 29. 9710, RHC Spanish service, S=9 in Detroit, fast Cuban music, romantic guitar singer / player. -73dBm 'Bonita' song. 9790, CRI Titán Quivicán San Felipe relay site on Cuba island, much heavy carrier, S=9+25dB, some slight buzzy 60 and 120 Hertz either sideband peaks, but somewhat low modulation. At 0421 UT on Dec 29. [selected SDR options, span 12.5 kHz RBW 15.3 Hertz] (Wolfgang Büschel, df5sx, Dec 29 from 0341 UT log of Detroit Michigan North America remote post, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews, dxldyg via DXLD) ** CUBA. 5990, Dec 30 at 0054, S9+15 CRI relay with Chinese song is distorted, joining the club on 6060 and 6090 Anguilla. 9820, Dec 30 at 0128, no signal from RHC where I had heard it 48 hours ago, on a channel which in B-16 had been used only in local mornings and probably appeared evening by operator failure to change frequency on same transmitter. However, RHC 9710 is JBA, while 11840 is S3. 6165, Dec 31 at 0226, no signal from RHC, and 6000 is S9+30 of open carrier/dead air, so English listeners are totally out of luck, tsk2. 6060 however, S9+25 of Spanish is modulating OK, even without the usual distortion, and with lite Brazilian het. 6060, Jan 1 at 0030, RHC Spanish is S9+40 of dead air, still at 0055 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CUBA [and non]. Listened to Radio Martí on 6030 kHz to bring in the New Year, after some lively pop music, countdown from 10 in Spanish was heard at 0459:50 UT followed by "Happy New Year!" in English. Steady stream of contemporary music followed, ongoing at 0515. S9 +40 signal in Central Florida. Radio Rebelde on 5025 kHz heard with equally good signals, New Years greetings by male announcer followed by Cuban National Anthem. RW Observer (John Jurasek, Jan 1, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CUBA. 5040, Jan 1 at 0704, again this Sunday, RHC Esperanto is on this unscheduled frequency, but this week 6100 is off. 6165, at 0705 Jan 1 is still on with music, maybe from Spanish webcast, but shortly both of them are off. So much for Esperanto scheduled until 0730 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 15370, RHC at 2104 in French // 15140 with a man and woman with news with music bridges between items – Very Good Jan 1 – 15140 is listed in French at this hour but this one is listed in Spanish. Perhaps someone was asleep at the switch? I noticed by 2230 that the problem had been corrected - ed (Mark Coady, from January 2, 2017: The Final ODXA DX Report --- Thanks for the memories! via DXLD) 6000, Jan 2 at 0541, RHC English with modulation breakup, suptorted. 6060 at 0543 is better in English, but modulation still rough; 6100 is VG strength and mod; 6165 is fair. 6165, Jan 4 at 0108, RHC English is S9+5 but just barely modulated. // 6000 is S9+30 but suptorted modulation with strange intermittent talk QRM, as if relayed from mis-tuned studio-transmitter link rather than circa 6000 itself. It`s always something at RHC (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CUBA [non]. From the Isle of Music, Week of January 9-15, 2017 A Jazzy show this week - Leonardo Pérez shares more of Una Mecánica Diferente, and we have two other special guests: pianist Alejandro Falcón and saxophonist Carlos Miyares, part of the new generation of Jazz stars in Cuba. Also, a tribute to the recently-departed Carlos Averhoff, who was a key figure in both Cuban Jazz and early Timba. Three options for listening on shortwave: WBCQ, 7490 kHz, Tuesdays 0100-0200 UT (8-9 pm EST Mondays in the Americas) Channel 292, 6070 kHz, Fridays 1100-1200 UT (1200-1300 CET) and Saturdays 1200-1300 UT (1300-1400 CET) See the From the Isle of Music Facebook Page for more information. https://www.facebook.com/fromtheisleofmusic/ (Bill Tilford, Jan 7, DX LISTENING DIGEST via dxldyg in advance) ** EAST TURKISTAN [and non]. 7480, Dec 30 at 0117, I am again hearing nothing but a humwhine, during the hour when Radio Free Asia in Uyghur via TAJIKISTAN is scheduled. Jamming, or malfunxion? (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ECUADOR [non]. 5920.03, GERMANY, HCJB Deutschland (presumed). Had a signal here at 2050. Little soft religious-like music at 2057 and more so on 2058 peaks. W in definite German at 2100:35 and went off the air at 2101:00. Just when it was starting to come up. For a Youtube video of the reception, click on this link https://youtu.be/G5yHN7xYvl4 (use 480p quality setting for best viewing) 29 Dec (Dave Valko, Perseus SDR and BOGs on Micro-DXpedition, near Dunlo PA, Hard-Core-DX mailing list via DXLD) ** EGYPT. 9900, Sat Dec 31 at 2156 after Romania has failed to come thru at its New Year, I`m trying Cairo`s English broadcast. Poor as usual talk I can`t be sure is even English, with crackle, but certainly no timesignal or notice at 2200 when the UT+2 zone welcomes 2017y (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** EQUATORIAL GUINEA. 5005, R. Bata (tentative), 0556-0616, decent signal here and thought heard bits of audio at times. Until they fix their audio, this will be impossible. 29 Dec (Dave Valko, Dunlo, PA, USA, Perseus SDR with Wellbrook ALA1530S loop and 153 foot Delta Loop, Hard-Core-DX mailing list via DXLD) ** ERITREA. 7174.99, V. of the Broad Masses of Eritrea (presumed) M continuously talking in [unknown] language from 1635. Faded by 1649 but still barely audible. Sounded audible again at 1737 with possible music, Gone at 1742 check. 20 Dec. 7175, V. of the Broad Masses of Eritrea, 1337 HoA music, then M announcer at 1339, music bridge, and M again. More HoA music at 1342 briefly and continued talk. Not as strong as Hargeisa. No sign of 7146.56 as Jim Young observed independently as well. 22 Dec (Dave Valko, Perseus SDR and BOGs on Micro-DXpedition, near Dunlo PA, Hard- Core-DX mailing list via DXLD) ** ERITREA [non]. 11670, Sat Dec 31 at 1525, HOA music, good S9+10, from the twice-weekly R. Adal broadcast via FRANCE (Glenn Hauser, OK, WORLD OF RADIO 1859, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 11670, Jan 3 at 1504, S9+20 music then Arabic exhortations, sounds like preaching, yes, then alleges ``Allahu Akhbar``. This is the weekly Tuesday broadcast of Radio Al-Mukhtar, via FRANCE, per Ivo Ivanov: 1500-1530 on 11670 ISS 100 kW / 125 deg to EaAf Arabic Tue 1530-1600 on 11670 ISS 100 kW / 125 deg to EaAf Tigrinya Tue Shared with sibling station Radio Adal in same languages on Wed & Sat 11670, Wed Jan 4 at 1503, R. Adal, in Arabic, with same electronic fanfare every few seconds, between headlines? S9+10 via FRANCE as scheduled Wed & Sat only (Glenn Hauser, OK, WORLD OF RADIO 1859, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ESTONIA [and non]. FORMER CLANDESTINE STATION RADIO NADEZHDA Former Estonian DXer Andres Aule sent me a particularly interesting contribution to Interval Signals Online in the form of audio clips of a clandestine station which was thought to operate from a Soviet military base in Tallinn, in the politically turbulent 1900/1991 period. Andres writes: ""Radio Nadezhda was a clandestine (or semi-clandestine) station that operated [broadcasting in Russian] from Estonia in 1990 and 1991. Estonia was then formally still a part of the USSR but already striving for independence. The station was operated by the so-called Intermovement or Interfront --- you can read more about it here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intermovement --- a predominantly Russian pro-Moscow organization that was directed against the independence movement in Estonia (including the independence-minded Estonian authorities). The station had its building in Tallinn (I was there to interview the editor – cannot remember the address though but it seemed like a military facility). The Intermovement may have had some kind of permission to operate the radio station, issued from the central government in Moscow, but from the viewpoint of the Estonian government, the station was clandestine. However, the law was not clear in those times." Andres went on to explain the content of the clips [I've adjusted his timings to reflect my merging and editing]: "0:33: The lady asks people to support the Intermovement and the radio station financially. She also offers radio advertising services and provides a contact telephone number in Tallinn. 1:28: Programme-end announcement, times and frequencies: On 25 metres short wave: 06.30-08.00 18.30-20.00 On 401.6 metres [747 kHz] medium wave 06.30-08.00 12.30-14.00 18.30-20.00 All times are local (which was then UTC +3 in winter and UTC +4 in summer). 2:04: Signoff interval signal." A station using the same name later popped up in Moscow, its first World Radio TV Handbook appearance being in the 1993 edition. The entry listed several mediumwave frequencies and unspecified shortwave frequencies for various locations in Russia, and stated: "The station's purpose is to serve as a mouthpiece for women's public organisations". So an apparent change of agenda from the Estonian station of the same name, although both stations used the same interval signal with slightly different musical arrangement! Many thanks to Andres for providing (and explaining) the clips from such historical time! You can hear the merged 1991 clip on the Estonia page of Interval Signals Online at www.intervalsignals.net, and the clip of the apparently reincarnated Radio Nadezhda on the Russia - Vintage Clips page (the site also has a Search facility). (David Kernick, Jan 4, Interval Signals Online, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Nadezhda means hope --- (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Interestingly, google returns a single search result for Andre Aule as a DXer: Andres of DX-Kuuntelija, whatever that means, is credited as the author of Radio Nadezhda related article in ADDX Kurrier, edition 21 of November 1st, 1991... http://www.addx.de/textarchiv/inhalt-radiokurier-1991.php Many mentions of him as a musician, but not too active either (given his band's discography)... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zl1rLU0cJPw (Leo Barmaleo, Moldova, ibid>0 DX-Kuuntelija (DX-Listener) was a magazine of Finnish DX Association. Still alive, nowadays called "Radiomaailma" (Radioworld). In 1991 Andres wrote an article about Radio Nadezhda to this magazine. Radio Nadezhda offices were located at Sole Street (Sole 64-5), Tallinn. Transmitters were owned and operated by Soviet Army and located at army base near Keila, some 25 km SW of Tallinn. Transmitters were installed on the trucks, the 747 kHz "Burya" transmitter was rated 20 kW and shortwave 12055 kHz was 250 Watts. Future plan was a 2,5 kW transmitter at Kohtla-Järve, also on 747 kHz and a foreign service on shortwave. Nadezhda TV was operating on ch. 40 from Tondi Army Complex, Tallinn. 73, (Jari Savolainen, Kuusankoski, Finland, ibid.) Ironically, in Moldova, albeit it lost quite a noticeable part of its territory because of those interethnic conflicts with the 'titular' nation striving for 'independence' from the Soviet/Russian 'oppression', Tiraspol-deployed ex-Soviet (read - Russian) army got an approval from the legal Moldovan government to operate a radio and a TV station in Tiraspol. This is the text I posted over a year ago (in Russian): http://forums.frocus.biz/index.php?showtopic=2688&view=findpost&p=169538 It happened much later though (namely, in 1994) under different circumstances but some parallels are still there. Noteworthy - their signal on 73.43 MHz was receivable in Chisinau (the capital of then- sovereign Moldavia, we even got it QSL-ed back then. I believe this station must have been mentioned in WRTH, too (Leo Barmaleo, Moldova, ibid.) Yes, I can see it mentioned in WRTH 1996 and 1997 under Moldova/Pridnestrovye as a 14th Army station on 73.43 MHz with 100 Watts. 73, (Jari Savolainen, Finland, ibid.) ** ETHIOPIA. 6090, Amhara R. Beautiful signal at 2003, almost as good as that one day in Oct. 25th. M announcer including several. IDs at 2008:00. HoA song cut out once at 2021, then deadair going past 2043. For a Youtube video of the reception, click on this link https://youtu.be/gYWGwty0lnc (use 480p quality setting for best viewing) 29 Dec (Dave Valko, Perseus SDR and BOGs on Micro-DXpedition, near Dunlo PA, Hard-Core-DX mailing list via DXLD) ** ETHIOPIA. Re: ``Well, at least the Arabic transmission between 1400-1500 sounded the same as before. Maybe they are just unable to produce English and French 1600-1800 for some reason and play other programming instead? BTW, have you heard 0700-0800 Somali broadcast reported by Wolfy recently? 73, Mauno`` No, I did not specifically listen to that one - but via a Near East remote receiver I found that 7235v signs off at 0900 straight. Observed last week, from 0800 there seemed to be some 10 minutes of news followed by music and announcements, but there seemed to be no R.E. IS at 0800 or 0830 anything else characteristic to R. Ethiopia Ext. Sce. afterwards. Language unidentified but I believe a song I heard was also used by one of the Anti-ERITREA ones. Should try 0700 for opening next time. 73 (thorsten hallmann, germany, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 7236.7v (varied from 7236.67 to 7236.905) - hearing this on 29 Dec from Mauno’s site in Finland – at 1620 tune was heavily QRM’d by Saudi Arabia on 7240 and a carrier at about 7235 which I notched out. Best in LSB to avoid 7240 QRM. Signal was Fair at tune-in (about S-7 on the Perseus meter) but at about 1647 the carrier dropped momentarily and the signal came back at S-9+. Clearly something was done at the xmtr site. The signal disappeared at 1701. HOA music to 1623.5 followed by a man in vernacular to 1630. At 1634 drums and HOA music resumed to 1657. At 1658.5 more HOA music then a man at 1700 in presumably Amharic before the station signed off. There were two apparent gaps in the program at 1630-1634 and 1657-1658.5 (Bruce Churchill, CA, ibid.) R. Ethiopia (presumed), continuing to drift around on Dec 29. At 1443, seemed about 7236.25v, with HOA music, while at 1540, seemed about 7236.63v; much better reception today than on on Dec 27 (Ron Howard, Calif., dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Varies transmitter frequency from HoA area: ETH or ERI origin? Tuned- in at 0353 UT, interval signal start --- listen to pause signal at 0353 to 0401 UT, when daily program start. Tuned in at Doha Qatar around 0353 UT on 7233.074 kHz, carrier only S=9+20dB noted in Doha Qatar, start of UNID station pause signal with 3 ... 4 announcements around 0354 UT till 0400, then reached 7233.156 kHz, played 0403-0409 HoA music, at 0410 reached 7233.252 kHz S=9+25dB, some political comment on Afghanistan, Pakistan could be noted till 0418. At 0415 reached 7233.354 kHz S=9+25dB, always limited bandwidth. At 0418 HoA music started again, reached 7233.423 kHz frequency. At 0430 reached 7233.564 kHz S=9+25dB, and !! WHITE NOISE !! audio broadband started 7223 - 7243 kHz, hit as noise also 3 kHz range of adjacent V of Turkey Emirler English program on 7240.004 kHz, Question of the Month at 0436 UT, latter reaches S=9+35dB strength, \\ TRT Emirler 6080.002 S=9+5dB. Signal heard always at remote SDR units at Doha Qatar, Moscow Russia, various in Italy, Madrid Spain, Grenoble France, Belgium, The Netherlands, Liverpool England, Ireland, central Sweden. When checked again at 04.45 UT - the signal had been dis-appeared totally (Wolfgang Büschel, Dec 30 dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1859, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Thanks a lot! From 01:40 of the recording, several IDs can be heard, followed by a number of times and frequencies given (would like to understand that!). This is the one usually referred to as "Voice of Peace and Democracy (of Eritrea)" - not Voice of Eritrea / Dimtsi Ertra. So the EiBi list is wrong here, noting this one for 2,4,7 and Voice of Eritrea for 1,3,5 [days of week] Had the impression of white noise on the frequency recently after 0700/0800. Today, no signal around 7235 at 0710, 0740+. 7234.3v s/on around 0800! 73 (thorsten hallmann, germany, Dec 30, DX LISTENING DIGEST) "Dimtsi Salam i dekomkratsi Ertran" (phonetically) - Voice of Peace and Democracy of Eritrea. 73, (Patrick Robic, Austria, ibid.) Danke, als Rentner hört man das gar nicht mehr --- mit anderen Worten, man sollte halt das neue WRTH 2017 auf Seite p511 nachlesen, da steht ja alles drin. Auch die Abendsendung 1800-1830 UT genannt. Heute früh hat der ETH-EBC Techniker dann nach 0430 UT auf White Noise jamming audio Ausgabe aus Gedja umgeschaltet, zumindest um 0446 UT war der Sender OFF (Wolfgang Büschel, ibid.) Thank you, as a pensioner you can not hear it anymore --- in other words, You should just read the new WRTH 2017 on page p511, there everything is in it. Also called the evening broadcast 1800-1830 UT. This morning the ETH-EBC technician switched over to 0430 UT on White Noise jamming audio output from Gedja, at least around 0446 UT was the station OFF (Wolfgang Büschel, Google translated, ibid.) ** ETHIOPIA [non]. Radio Xoriyo (France Relay), 11970, 1608 3 JAN - RADIO XORIYO (CLA). SINPO = 35323. ?African Language?, male announcers w/lengthy african music interludes. s/off at 1630z. QSB=rapid-to-ff rate, fluttery modulation mostly above the noise floor with frequent fades to mixing with it for very short durations. sf72.5, a7, k3, geomag: unsettled. 500kw, beamAz 130 , bearing 37 . 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, 8889KM from transmitter at Issoudun. Local time: 0808. Video: https://youtu.be/dMBBJRpJHf4 (Rodney Johnson, NV, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** FRANCE. Re: 162 kHz will be still be on air on 1 January! ``Libération did suggest the last "howl" would be this coming Sunday: "Le loup de mer poussera son dernier hurlement dimanche soir à 20 h 04". I suspect the Libération article was written last week, held over from publication (?because of the holidays?) and they forget to change the tense from future to past.`` As said, I think they simply got fooled by the ambiguous announcement of a closure "1 Jan 2017". It's by no means the first case where you can not tell from the wording if they refer to the last day on air or the first day the service is gone. It happens almost always on closures that take place at midnight. ``But what use is a once-a-week weather forecast?`` Was it really? I would proceed from the assumption that it was a daily routine. There is another explanation for its cessation on Dec 25: Apparently Radio France earlier intended to air only a "Retune!! Now!!" loop anymore for the last six days and changed its mind only at short notice, at a point when the sea weather read-outs were already terminated from the France Inter workflow effective Dec 26, the date they had announced instead of Jan 1 as recently as Dec 22, cf. https://xa.yimg.com/kq/groups/nkpfehvteNLAHwXoXg--/PLQtsdboetmrhnsYgYY-/name/162+kHz+closure+advice.mp3 or via [members only] https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/dxld/attachments/219128971 What's the whole story, anyway? RFI used to still have a single hour at noon on 6175, years after they had otherwise cancelled it, listed as "Météo Marine". Was their airing on longwave a replacement for shortwave or had the sea weather forecasts always been put on longwave as well? (Kai Ludwig, Germany, Dec 29, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b085hs4c From 54:50. Try clicking on the larger black square under the date if no audio appears on this page itself. They found a studio recording of the French sea weather forecast from 1992 and make an, in my opinion, not that funny joke of it, in doing so, confusing France Inter with Radio France Internationale which, nowadays being a part of FMM, has nothing to do with this all (Kai Ludwig, Dec 30, ibid.) France Inter en grandes ondes, c'est fini Nicolas Madelaine Le 29/12 `a 15:41Mis `a jour `a 15:52 Partager par mail 0 Imprimer La station generaliste Radio France cesser d'emettre grandes ondes (ou ondes longues) partir dimanche minuit La station generaliste de Radio France va cesser d'emettre en grandes ondes (ou ondes longues) `a partir de dimanche minuit - AFP Le maintien de cette diffusion devenait trop couteux pour Radio France. Seuls 3 `a 4 % des auditeurs ecoutaient encore la radio publique sur ces frequences. Le temps ou l'on pouvait traverser la France en estafette sans avoir `a changer l'aiguille des frequences de l'autoradio sera bientot definitivement revolu. . . http://www.lesechos.fr/tech-medias/medias/0211641858760-france-inter-en-grandes-ondes-cest-fini-2053415.php (via Mike Cooper, DXLD) Comment les grandes ondes permettent aux trains d'arriver `a l'heure Romain Gueugneau Le 29/12 `a 17:28 Le signal horaire transmis grandes ondes France Inter permet synchroniser 200.000 horloges l'Hexagone, SNCF. Le signal horaire transmis sur les grandes ondes de France Inter permet de synchroniser 200.000 horloges dans l'Hexagone, dont celles de la SNCF. - Shutterstock [caption --- what means Hexagone in this sense? gh] France Inter arrête d'émettre en grandes ondes, mais le signal horaire qui transite sur la même frequence reste diffusé. . . http://www.lesechos.fr/tech-medias/hightech/0211642094767-comment-les-grandes-ondes-permettent-aux-trains-darriver-a-lheure-2053424.php (via Mike Cooper, DXLD) FRANCE INTER MET FIN AUX ONDES LONGUES ET DIT BON VENT A SA MÉTÉO MARINE A partir du 1er janvier, la station va cesser d'émettre sur les grandes ondes, marquant la fin de la fameuse météo marine. Le Monde | 28.12.2016 à 15h49 o Mis à jour le 30.12.2016 à 09h59 Une carte de meteo marine de Meteo France du 28 decembre 2016. C'est la fin d'une ère d'un peu plus de cent ans. A partir du 1^er janvier 2017, le service public n'émettra plus sur les grandes ondes. France Inter va stopper la diffusion de ses programmes sur la fameuse fréquence 162 kHz, marquant la fin d'un mode d'émission de la radio lancé au debut du XX^e siècle. Également appelée basse frequence, cette technique permettait d'atteindre la quasi-totalité du territoire, notamment les zones maritimes. . . http://www.lemonde.fr/actualite-medias/article/2016/12/28/france-inter-met-fin-aux-ondes-longues-et-dit-bon-vent-a-sa-meteo-marine_5054918_3236.html (via Mike Cooper, DXLD) Note that Le Monde considers ``stopper`` the French word for ``to stop``! Marchons, l`impérialisme anglais (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Listening to a remote receiver in Italy for the end of France Inter. Time pips up to 2300, and cut suddenly within a second or two of the TOH. A sad end. Seems to have a mixing product or something, as I'm still hearing a much weaker French broadcast on the channel, which was heard under France Inter up to its sign-off. The transmitter remains on with an OC, though (at 2302). 73, (Walt Salmaniw, Victoria, BC, Dec 31, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Audio just cut during a countdown a few seconds after 2300 UT. Carrier still there (Gareth, Sent from my iPad, Westfield? UK? Dec 31, BDXC-UK yg via DXLD) Have this recorded via Twente and will archive later. Are we sure that it is French that is still on the channel? There are a few other eastern European stations on the frequency (Richard Langley, NB, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ?? 162 kHz? Nothing but France anywhere (gh, DXLD) Yes, French. Who else remains on 162? (Walt Salmaniw, BC, ibid.) Listening via the University of Twente receiver to 162 kHz, France Inter counted down to the new year, but could not even say bonne année when the audio was cut off. Ignominieux! Two channels of audio still slightly audible, muffled, in the background. Not sure if generated by the transmitter or receiver. Big carrier still on 162 kHz at 2322 UT. Audio attached (Kim Elliott, DC, ibid.) Sounds to me like the same France-Inter modulation was incompletely suppressed (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) I don't understand French. In all fairness, did the presenters know, or care, about what was happening with 162 kHz? I doubt it. Regards, (Vince Ferme, Ottawa, ON, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) From what I hear on Twente at 2355 UT, the audio is definitely a mix of Europe-1/183 and Luxembourg/234. The Allouis carrier would still have to be on, to produce the "Luxembourg effect" -- true to its name in this case – (GREG HARDISON, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1859, DXLD) ``Ignominieux!`` Yes, but in my opinion by Radio France. I would have expected France Inter to make this story the closer of the 15 minutes news magazine at 11 PM. But not a single word about it therein. So I expected the presenters of the following live show to give a short farewell to longwave immediately before midnight. You guessed it: Not a single word there either. So either they were in the wrong impression that they were gone from longwave already for six days, or they did not care at all. > Two channels of audio still slightly audible, muffled, in the background. Not sure if generated by the transmitter or receiver. By neither of them. It's the ionosphere, with the so called Luxembourg effect. And now compare the cross modulation on 162 kHz with 234 kHz... > Big carrier still on 162 kHz at 2322 UT. Of course, just as announced. In short, if you have not seen the previous reports: 162 kHz also carries a time signal in phase modulation. So simply turning it off would have knocked 200,000 clock systems, including critical applications, off. Now someone else has to pay TDF for the transmitter. > Audio attached A third version, probably even of better audio quality, can never hurt. Happy new year! Attachment(s) | View attachments on the web 1 of 1 File(s) End of France Inter on longwave.mp3 Posted by: (Kai Ludwig, Germany, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Check at 0102 UT in western Germany and Belgian remote post shows there are very strong outlets of S=9+25dB or more depending of the antenna. [and non] 162 Allouis? or UNID French location?, ONLY DATA small band modulation, of 2 kHz wide visible, but include some tiny 3% modulated low strength audio, in French news reader language at 0100 UT. S=9+25dB. 198, BBC S=9+15dB on the continent, 2 x 5.3 kHz wide signal. 183, EUR1 S=9+25dB 2 x 5.7 kHz wideband in French 234, RTL S=9+25dB 2 x 5.7 kHz wideband in French. 252, RTE S=9+10dB 2 x 5.7 kHz wideband. RTA S=3-4 in Doha Qatar and the usual lower then S=9 signals 153, Romania S=7-8 171, Morocco S=6, S=7 instead on Doha Qatar remote unit. 207, Iceland S=7-8 225, Poland S=6-7 243, very tiny S=2 string, mayby exciter in Kalundborg. 279, TKM S=3-4, very low talk modulation in Doha Qatar. 162 kHz audio at 0155 UT, music at 0159 UT from RTL LUX, and EUR1 talk on 183: in French language is a Luxembourg effect mixture signal of - stronger - RTL 234 kHz, - and lower EUR1 183 kHz signal strength. 73 wb df5sx (Wolfgang Büschel, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) The program on 162 kHz (very low modulaton) S+20 dB in Belgium (with EWE antenna) is RTL same as on 234 kHz (Roger Duym, 1000 UT Jan 1, Hard-Core-DX mailing list via DXLD) I posted this to another list, as the topic came up there as well: "This is all very interesting! I thought the same way, how are they saving money? This even led to jokes about switching the transmitter only at the top of the minute, just for the time pips. :^) Now we read that Europeans use the same accounting scam North Americans do, shift the expense to a different budget, and claim you are a good manager, that you reduced costs. Must be the 'invisible hand' of the market. However the tax payer continues to get the 'invisible finger'. :^) (Vince Ferme, Ottawa, ON, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) One poster wrote: >>>>I understand this is not unmodulated, it carries the French time signals. Phase modulation? >>>>A strange circumstance, the AM broadcaster has left to save money but no money is saved... Another added: >>>>Actually Radio France saves €13Million in the process. >>>>Now it's up to the government to pay. This does not save the tax-payer any money, but those 13 >>>>million euros are no longer written on Radio France's budget sheet, which was what RF wanted." This discussion treats Radio France as if it would be a part of the governmental apparatus. But it is not. It is a separate company (indeed a stock company, just with the state being the only shareholder). Radio France terminated the contract for the 162 kHz outlet, for which they had to pay 13 million Euros per year to TDF, the transmitter operator which again is an independent company, nowadays owned by financial investors. It is not the business of Radio France whatsoever that a third party (!) uses the same carrier for its time signal. It's now up to this third party to have someone else pay TDF for keeping it on air. Simply ordering TDF to do so is no solution at all, unless the legal situation in France is very different from Germany, because an authority issuing such an order would have to compensate the operational costs, i.e. to pay for it just as well. It has nothing to do with accounting scam, unless you apply this description to France as a nation in its entirety. This all is the result of the usual neoliberal bulls... of splitting up and privatizing public services. In this case the situation has its roots in 1974, when ORTF had been split up for whatever reasons (I have so far not seen a real explanation for this move). (Kai Ludwig, Jan 2, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Hi Kai, >>>>>This discussion treats Radio France as if it would be a part of the governmental apparatus. Thank you for the education. I ass-umed Radio France was still a government operation. >>>>>It has nothing to do with accounting scam, unless you apply this description to France as a nation in its entirety. This all is the result of the usual neoliberal bulls... of splitting up and privatizing public services. I did not mean it in any way, shape, or form to the country of France. I was focusing exclusively on the "usual neoliberal bulls" you mentioned, the likes of "best-in-class", "best practices", "evergreening", etc. double speak/mumbo jumbo that would make George Orwell proud. Also, I did not mean it to the accounting profession either. My wife is an accountant, I always joke with her about these things. Not taking into account the destruction that materialized in 2008, that affected everybody, I have no problems with the "dog-eat-dog", "each-man-for-himself", "survival-of-the-fittest" "philosophy", when it applies exclusively to the "free market", and its willing participants. My 'beef', so to speak, is when tax payers are taken for a ride. They are no willing participants. HNY (Vince Ferme, Ottawa, ON, ibid.) I have read on the Web that the power of the 162 kHz transmitter was reduced to 1,000 kW during the hours of darkness. Does anyone know if that was the case during the days just before France Inter signed off 162 kHz? And what about now when just the carrier is being transmitted? Would it have been the case that say if the total power transmitted was 2,000 kW (correct assumption?) that at 100% modulation that each sideband would contain 333 kW and the carrier 1,334 kW? And the latter is now the transmitted power, at least during daytime? Might have forgotten my AM modulation theory so please correct me if I am wrong (Richard Langely, NB, ibid.) Even when France Inter audio was present on 162 kHz, I could always hear low level audio below from other French language longwave stations. I had assumed this was due to cross-modulation in the receiver, but now see others are observing the same effect. Do we think it is reverse intermodulation in the Allouis transmitter? (David Freeborough, G1JLE, HCDX via DXLD) It`s the so-called Luxembourg Effect, ionospheric cross-modulation. Search on that for all about it. 73, (Glenn Hauser, ibid.) The effect is also quite good to hear on the WEB-SDR in Twente. This receiver is in an ideal position for this constellation. Here you can see the way of the waves on a map: http://www.rhci-online.net/radiogram/VoA_Radiogram_2017-01-07.htm#LX (I always need maps for better understanding ..... ;-) (roger, ibid.) Hello, here is a recording of the end of transmissions of Radio France Inter, that left the longwave frequency of 162 kHz at the end of 2016, with the audio abruptly cut at midnight of 31 December, not even leaving the time for the happy new year wishes: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XBd5MNiAAyM But. The carrier is kept on the air, at least on the time being, for the diffusion of time signals. And it seems that some Radio France Inter's audio is still leaking on 162 kHz, especially if you listen in SSB mode and especially in LSB: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dE3IJzcpe1Q A zombie radio signal is walking on long waves :-) Happy new year, everybody! (Fabrizio Magrone (Italy), Jan 1, MWCircle yg via DXLD) The audio of France Inter was switched of right at midnight. From then on I hear on 162 very strong 234-RTL, and 183-Europe 1. The "Luxemburg Effect" finally came back to its original. Just had a listen again and first thought RTL is now being carried, the audio is close to excellent, only a bit weaker. But checking other remote Rx's it is clear 162 does not transmit any audio. This was just recorded at 1100z http://dx.3sdesign.de/unid/162-Lux-Eff-RTL-Europe1-170101-noon.mp3 This uses 8 kHz BW, and I switch briefly to 234 and 183 in between http://dx.3sdesign.de/unid/162-Lux-Eff-RTL-Europe1-170101-1208.mp3 Surprisingly Europe-1's audio is much weaker, despite their transmitter sites are not very far apart from each other. The 162 Lux Effect can he heard in a wide area accross Europe via remote receivers (Jurgen Bartels, Suellwarden, N. Germany, mwdx yg via DXLD) Got it: It's a Luxembourg effect, but I hear RMC from 216 kHz! A difference on a geographical basis? Heard with a Perseus connected to a Miniwhip antenna (Fabrizio Magrone (Forlì, Italy, ibid.) Fabrizio, the ionosphere-modulation transmission (burner) must sit near your midpath to Allouis. RMC fullfills that requirement for you. This is my path, midpath is close to Luxemburg (you can generate this plot with Stationlist.exe) [graphic] (Jurgen Bartels Suellwarden, N. Germany, ibid.) ** FRANCE. L'émetteur situé à Allouis (dans le Cher, à peu près au centre de la France) developpe une puissance de 2 MW dans la journée et 1 MW dans la nuit (0 à 6h) pour la radiodiffusion en AM de France- Inter. Les signaux horaires sont diffusés en PM. Sa disponibilité est excellente; une interruption de maintenance periodique le mardi entre 0 et 5 heures. Codage --- La modulation de phase est de +/- 1 radian, avec une pente de +/- 40 rd/s, soit +/- 6.36 Hz. A chaque seconde, on transmet un bit 0 avec un aller retour simple, et un bit 1 avec un aller retour double en phase. Les deux premières tranches sont pour les info horaires; les 7 suivantes pour des données numériques (non utilisées), la dernière tranche de la seconde n'est jamais modulée pour permettre la synchronisation. Le tableau ci-joint detaille la composition du message (cliquer dessus pour agrandir). Dans les deux systemes, la seconde 59 n'est jamais modulée pour permettre la synchronisation. Cette pause dure au moins de 58.850 jusqu'à 59.950, soit un silence de 1100 ms. On dispose ainsi de 59 bits d'information, dont seulement 42 sont utilisés. Les bits des secondes 0 à 15 inclus sont utilisés pour des informations internes sans rapports avec l'heure ou la date. Les champs principaux sont protégés par une parité paire, c'est à dire que la somme de tous les bits du champs y compris la parité doit être paire. Le message code indique l'heure valide a la seconde suivante, par exemple si un message transmet 22:00, il sera 22h00 à la minute suivante (thanks via Kai Ludwig-D, Jan 1 via BCDX via DXLD) ** FRANCE. The Maximum Power of the DRM transmissions on 1071 kHz from Quimerc'h, France, is 8 kW, not 20 kW. This information has come to me directly from the Project SmartCAST team, who are conducting the transmissions. (Neil Savin, Administrator, DRM Reception Project, http://www.drmrx.org via mediumwave.info 27 Dec via DXWW-II, IRCA DX Monitor Jan 7 via DXLD)) ** FRANCE [and non]. Remaining stations on AM in France and Monaco. (2017) 162 kHz Allouis 2000/1000 kW Syrte – obspm Time signal (24h) in PSK mode 216 kHz Roumoules 1400/900 kW RMC (04.56–00.08) Local time 1071 kHz Brest Quimerc’h 20 kW France Bleu Breizh Izel (24h) DRM mode 1467 kHz Roumoules 1000 kW TransWorld Radio (22.00–00.15) Local Time 1593 kHz St Gouéno 10 kW Bretagne 5 (off the air for technical problems) (Christian Ghibaudo (22/12-2016) via mediumwave.info via DXWW-II, IRCA DX Monitor Jan 7 via DXLD) ** FRANCE. 9800, Norddeutscher Rundfunk (via Issoudun) Signal on 1859:48 and audio up at 1900 with W announcer in German with mention of NDR and presumed news, then Christmas Eve program for sailors at sea with men and W hosts. 1906 “The Christmas Song” in English. Poor signal and fady but did improve. Found // to 6125 (Nauen) at 1923 with ”Oh Holy Night”. 24 Dec (Dave Valko, Dunlo, PA, USA, Perseus SDR with Wellbrook ALA1530S loop and 153 foot Delta Loop, Hard-Core-DX mailing list via DXLD) ** GERMANY. 5930, Norddeutscher Rundfunk (via Nauen). 2156 pipe organ music, 2158 M in German with contact info and ID leading up to ToH news by M. 2204 back to the special Christmas Eve program with M and W announcers hosting. Mentions of people`s names and included a message from a crew member in English at 2209. Good signal here at this time. For a Youtube video of the reception, use this link https://youtu.be/Wi7IBLrcx24 (use 480p quality setting for best viewing) 24 Dec (Dave Valko, Dunlo, PA, USA, Perseus SDR with Wellbrook ALA1530S loop and 153 foot Delta Loop, Hard-Core-DX mailing list via DXLD) see also FRANCE just above ** GUATEMALA. 4055, Dec 31 at 0235 tune-in, dead air at S9+25, then Radio Truth starts playing ``Harbour Lights``, nice. 4055, UT Monday January 2 at 0534, surprised to find Radio Truth still on with nice Xmassy piano+ music, S9+25. Sunday night sign-off had been just after 0400, two hours earlier than on weekdays. Maybe extension for NY day only, if not NY eve? At 0559, hymn harmony in Spanish past 0600, then ``La Biblia dice``, unclear whether a program title or merely quoting the Bible; 0601 ``How Great Thou Art`` hymn in Spanish. I had been wondering how that lyric would convert to Spanish, sounds like ``Cuan grande sois``, and checking Google translate back to English, it comes out as ``how big are you``, not exactly grandiose as intended. Searching on letra for hymn in Spanish, there are other versions, as ``Qué grande eres!`` and ``Cuan grande es Él!``, switching to third person, not nearly so intimate. STILL on at final 0708 UT check, with Spanish ID for 4.05 MHz, QSL info, etc., maybe about to close? I measure it on 4054.991 (Glenn Hauser, OK, WORLD OF RADIO 1859, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GUINEA. 9650, R. Guinée. Nice signal with Afro Pop music at 1857. 1900 3 IDs during ID/promo by M in French over music, intro, and into presumed news headlines with music between items. Pleasant listening. For a Youtube video of the reception, click on this link https://youtu.be/EY1n1g8nD1I (use 480p quality setting for best viewing) 28 Dec (Dave Valko, Perseus SDR and BOGs on Micro-DXpedition, near Dunlo PA, Hard-Core-DX mailing list via DXLD) GUINÉ-Conacri, 9650, R. Guinée, Sonfonia, 1931-1943, 01/1, francês, canções locais e notícias também de carácter local; 34433, QRM adjacente. 9650 idem, 1127-..., 03/1, francês, chamadas de ouvintes, música pop' local, emissão em língua local, canções cubanas (?); 55544, ou seja, pelo menos para a minha localização, a recepção diurna, mesmo a meio do dia, é incomparàvelmente melhor do que à noite. Good DX & 73, (Carlos Gonçalves, SW coast of Portugal, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** HAWAII. Lots of power line noise in Hawaii. Little good grounding with Lava rock, I was over there several times and in having dinner with engineer Alan Roycroft complained that the local coverage of AM stations was poor. The station(s) could be heard thousands of miles away, but could not always cover their locals. The rental cars I had, driving out of Hilo up into the Volcano area, after I got 25-30 miles away, even KIPA 620, KPUA-670 were not all that great. Yet at night, San Francisco was heard, better than some locals. Ground conductivity there is not great either, unless the towers are in the ocean. Richard Wood DXed off local power with running his house off batteries to get rid of noise (Patrick Martin, Seaside OR, Jan 3, IRCA via DXLD) Not much better now - even Oceanside, the MW dial is a wall of noise with virtually nothing standing out - much less any DX. Four years ago, Tahiti, Tonga and Marshalls would be booming in by 9 PM local; Last couple of nights - just power line hash. Will keep trying (Colin Newell - CoffeeCrew.com - VA7WWV - Victoria - BC, visiting Kona, ibid. TAHITI 738 has closed down! Details next DXLD (gh) ** ICELAND. RUV is considering abandoning LW for MW. Radios with LW are just too hard to find now-a-days, and the transmitter sites are too expensive to maintain and run, they say. RUV's technicians have for a year been experimenting with an AM transmission system, and there are indications that it could replace the two powerful LW transmitters at Eiðar and Gufuskálar. The transmitter at Gufuskálar is Iceland's tallest manmade structure, about 412m tall, roughly equal to 5.5 church towers. [The reference tower is that of Hallgrím's Church that is visible from much of Reykjavík.] The mast at Eiðar is Iceland's third tallest structure, just shy of 220m. The LW transmitters are intended to transmit to ships around Iceland and plug holes in the FM distribution system. LW, however, is found on only a minority of radios sold today, and running the system is expensive. The LW masts need a lot of electricity and maintenance is expensive, not least fixing the strobe lights on the mast at Eiðar which have repeatedly been damaged by weather. They also disturb the people living at Eiðar. Gunnar Örn Guðmundsson, manager of RUV's technical division, says that an experimental AM transmitter at Vatnsendi has worked beyond expectations. Although it runs at only quarter power, its signals have been measured all the way to Eyjafjöll. AM masts are considerably lower and cheaper to run, and most, if not all, new radios can receive them. Further tests are needed before a decision can be made, but Gunnar thinks it likely to end with the LW transmitters will be taken down (Reynir Heidberg Stefansson (20/11-2016), mediumwave.info, via DXWW-II, IRCA DX Monitor Jan 7 via DXLD) ** INDIA. AIR National Channel on very odd frequency 9381 kHz, Dec 22 1320-0040 on 9380 ALG 250 kW / 188 deg to SoAs Hi/En, low modulation http://swldxbulgaria.blogspot.bg/2016/12/air-national-channel-on-very-odd.html (Ivo Ivanov, Bulgaria, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1859, DXLD) 9381, AIR, National Channel, Aligarh Found here again off-frequency at 1346 with subcontinental music weakly, then W in presumed Hindi to at least 1352. No better than at home. For a Youtube video of the reception, use this link https://youtu.be/59CiAr6s3Fo (use 480p quality setting for best viewing) 22 Dec (Dave Valko, Perseus SDR and BOGs on Micro-DXpedition, near Dunlo PA, Hard-Core-DX mailing list via DXLD) 9380, AIR, National Channel, Aligarh Noted this was off-frequency on 9381 before Christmas, found they had readjusted it back on 9380 the past few days. Came on at 1320:23 and subcontinental music start at 1325:17 briefly followed by W announcer. Strength isn’t too bad but modulation is low. For a Youtube video of the reception, use this link https://youtu.be/59CiAr6s3Fo (use 480p quality setting for best viewing) 30 Dec (Dave Valko, Dunlo, PA, USA, Perseus SDR with Wellbrook ALA1530S loop and 153 foot Delta Loop, Hard-Core-DX mailing list via WORLD OF RADIO 1859, DXLD) ** INDIA. 9445, AIR Delhi. Big signal at 1857 with program “One Film” of movie music soundtracks, 1900 M in English with ID mentioning they were taking a break in the program, then W with English news starting with ID. End of program at 1943 with M in English giving ID, tomorrow`s sked, then into Hindi ID and sked by W. Went off sometime between 1946 and 1950. For a Youtube video of the reception, click on this link https://youtu.be/B4wnc6en_78 (use 480p quality setting for best viewing) 28 Dec (Dave Valko, Perseus SDR and BOGs on Micro-DXpedition, near Dunlo PA, Hard-Core-DX mailing list via DXLD) ** INDIA. 13695. December 29, 2016. 1914-1942, All India Radio, Bangalore, in English. Indian song; Man announcer talks, ID. Man and woman talks about India: Science and Technology and other themes. Today, AIR with a fair transmission, 45433 (DXer: José Ronaldo Xavier (JRX), Cabedelo-PB, Brazil, Degen DE1103 & Tecsun S-2000, Antenna: Portable Telescopic, Hard-Core-DX mailing list via DXLD) WRMI evacuated from 13695, so try for this in North America (gh, DXLD) ** INDIA. TUNING INTO NEIGHBOURLY BONDING, COURTESY ALL INDIA RADIO AMRITA NAYAK DUTTA | Mon, 2 Jan 2017-06:50am , New Delhi , DNA AIR's Urdu service for Pakistani listeners is the most popular of the external services division's language services followed by Akashvani Maitree, dedicated to Bangladeshis The medium and the message have both hit home. Aimed at audiences in neighbouring Pakistan, All India Radio's (AIR) Urdu service is the most popular of all its 27 language services broadcast outside India, shows data, reaffirming the language-culture connect between the two countries. Source/Full story at : http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-tuning-into-neighbourly-bonding-courtesy-air-2288471 --- (via Alokesh Gupta, New Delhi, Jan 1, dx_india yg via DXLD) Now, how about quitting threatening each other with nuclear annihilation? (Glenn Hauser, DXLD) ** INDONESIA. 3325, RRI Palangkaraya (presumed) Could just barely hear music when found at 2209. Too weak to tell what kind. M announcer at 2215. Tried to confirm using SDR.hu web receivers but one in Japan was tied up and the one in South Korea wasn’t on line. Australia was already into daylight. This is a near perfect grayline the whole way. The quick fade indicates it’s Palangkaraya. Would be the first evening Indo in years. 24 Dec. 3325, RRI Palangkaraya (presumed). Signal came on at 2156:16. Like yesterday, it faded out around 2250. 27 Dec (Dave Valko, Dunlo, PA, USA, Perseus SDR with Wellbrook ALA1530S loop and 153 foot Delta Loop, Hard-Core-DX mailing list via DXLD) 3325, RRI Palangkaraya On at 2156, and some sort of droning music (IS??). 2158:30 fanfare music and 2159 soft-spoken W announcer and immediately into what sounded like a ballad. 2202 W returned. A little stronger and a little more audio than at home but getting splash QRM from both South Africa and CHU. 28 Dec (Dave Valko, Perseus SDR and BOGs on Micro-DXpedition, near Dunlo PA, Hard-Core-DX mailing list via DXLD) Re 3325 0800-1700 INS RRI Palangka Raya, Indonesian, Palangka Raya. Thanks, Ron, noted Dec 29 at 1413 UT, in remote SDR unit at Uwe's place in eastern Thailand, close to CBG border: 3324.999 kHz exact, aligned Perseus with Time signals of CHU Ottawa Canada 3330 kHz and WWVH Hawaii TS 2500 kHz / CHN. S=9+10db or -61dBm strength around 1416 UT in Dec 29 (Wolfgang Büschel, df5sx, wwdxc BC- DX TopNews Dec 29, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 3325, RRI-Palangkaraya, Jan 02, 1347-1408, 33433, Indonesian, Music, ID and IS at 1403, Local news (Kouji Hashimoto, JAPAN, RX, IC-R75, ANT, 130m Sloper Wire, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 3325, Pro 1 RRI Palangkaraya, 1212-1228, Jan 3. Jakarta news relay already in progress, in Bahasa Indonesia; ending the news at 1228 with patriotic song (too weak to ID song); clearly // Pro 1 RRI Wamena (4869.88) till 1230. Unable to confirm // to RRI Ternate, as only an open carrier on 3344.86 (Ron Howard, Calif., dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1859, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INDONESIA. 4869.9, Pro 1 RRI Wamena, 1256, Thursday, Dec 29. Tentatively with the Kang Guru Indonesia ("KGI") program, but with very poor reception due to strong OTH radar (Ron Howard, Calif., dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 4870, RRI Wamena, Propinsi Papua, at 1439 UT Dec 29. Nothing noted on remotes in Brisbane Queensland, Thailand or various Tokyo Japan units on Dec 29 [selected SDR options, span 12.5 kHz RBW 15.3 Hertz] (Wolfgang Büschel, df5sx, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Dec 29, dxldyddg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INDONESIA. Jan. 3: Voice of Indonesia in English from 1300 on nominal 9525.0 kHz, instead of 9526.1 khz -- 73! (Ivo Ivanov, QTH: Sofia, Bulgaria, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1859, DX LISTENING DIGEST) At 1438 UT measured singer on exact 9524.939 kHz. They have kept still 3 out of their disposal, of formerly 6 transmitters built up in 1995 - 1996 year at Cimanggis. 73 wb (Wolfgang Büschel, Jan 3, ibid.) 9524.940, Jan 4 at 1420, VOI, VP carrier shifted down to here after a while around 9526.1. 24 hours earlier, at 1438 Jan 3, Wolfgang Büschel measured it on 9524.939, within margin of error (Glenn Hauser, OK, WORLD OF RADIO 1859, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INTERNATIONAL. UPDATED WINTER B-16 OF CLANDESTINE BROADCASTS BY TIME ORDER Radio República 0100-0300 on 9490 ISS 150 kW / 285 deg to Cuba Spanish Radio Payem e-Doost 0230-0315 on 7460 KCH 500 kW / 116 deg to WeAs Farsi Denge Kurdistan 0330-0600 on 7350 KCH 300 kW / 130 deg to WeAs Kurdish Radio Tamazuj 0330-0400 on 7315 SMG 250 kW / 146 deg to EaAf Juba Arabic 0400-0430 on 7315 SMG 250 kW / 151 deg to EaAf Juba Arabic 0330-0430 on 9600 ISS 250 kW / 138 deg to EaAf Juba Arabic 0330-0430 on 15540 MDC 250 kW / 335 deg to EaAf Juba Arabic Radio Dabanga 0430-0600 on 7315 SMG 250 kW / 151 deg to EaAf Juba [sic] Arabic 0430-0530 on 15540 MDC 250 kW / 335 deg to EaAf Juba [sic] Arabic 0530-0600 on 15540 SMG 250 kW / 151 deg to EaAf Juba [sic] Arabic Eye Radio 0400-0500 on 7250 ISS 250 kW / 130 deg to EaAf Arabic/English* *including other languages Dinka/Nuer/Shilluk/Bari/Zande/ Lutoho Radio Dandal Kura International 0500-0700 on 7415 ASC 250 kW / 055 deg to WeAf Kanuri Republic of Yemen Radio 0600-0900 on 11860 JED 050 kW / non-dir to N/ME Arabic Radio Dandal Kura International 0700-0800 on 15480 WOF 300 kW / 165 deg to WeAf Kanuri Denge Kurdistan 0600-1300 on 11600 KCH 300 kW / 130 deg to WeAs Kurdish Republic of Yemen Radio 0900-1800 on 11860 unknown tx / unknown to N/ME Arabic Radio Free North Korea 1100-1300 on 9355 TAC 100 kW / 076 deg to NEAs Korean Suab Xaa Moo Zoo, Voice of Hope 1130-1200 on 11570 TSH 100 kW / 250 deg to SEAs Hmong Voice of Khmer M'Chas Srok 1130-1200 on 17860 TAC 100 kW / 122 deg to SEAs Khmer Thu/Sun Voice of Tibet 1200-1230 on 11513 DB 100 kW / 095 deg to EaAs Chinese 1230-1300 on 11507 DB 100 kW / 131 deg to CeAs Tibetan Que Me 1200-1230 on 9930 HBN 100 kW / 318 deg to EaAs Vietnamese Fri Radio ERGO 1200-1300 on 17845 DHA 250 kW / 225 deg to EaAf Somali National Unity Radio 1200-1500 on 7520 DB 100 kW / 071 deg to NEAs Korean Denge Kurdistan 1300-1600 on 11600 KCH 300 kW / 116 deg to WeAs Kurdish [but see 1500-1600 entry below from ISS] Shiokaze Sea Breeze 1300-1330 on 6145 YAM 300 kW / 280 deg to NEAs Chinese Mon 1300-1330 on 6145 YAM 300 kW / 280 deg to NEAs Japanese Tue 1300-1330 on 6145 YAM 300 kW / 280 deg to NEAs Korean Wed 1300-1330 on 6145 YAM 300 kW / 280 deg to NEAs English Thu 1300-1330 on 6145 YAM 300 kW / 280 deg to NEAs Korean Fri 1300-1330 on 6145 YAM 300 kW / 280 deg to NEAs Japanese Sat 1300-1330 on 6145 YAM 300 kW / 280 deg to NEAs Korean Sun Nippon no Kaze 1300-1330 on 9465 TSH 300 kW / 002 deg to NEAs Korean 1300-1330 on 9950 TSH 100 kW / 002 deg to NEAs Korean Voice of Tibet 1300-1330 on 11513 DB 100 kW / 131 deg to CeAs Tibetan 1330-1400 on 9508 DB 100 kW / 131 deg to CeAs Tibetan Shiokaze Sea Breeze 1330-1400 on 6145 YAM 300 kW / 280 deg to NEAs Korean Mon 1330-1400 on 6145 YAM 300 kW / 280 deg to NEAs Japanese Tue 1330-1400 on 6145 YAM 300 kW / 280 deg to NEAs Korean Wed 1330-1400 on 6145 YAM 300 kW / 280 deg to NEAs English Thu 1330-1400 on 6145 YAM 300 kW / 280 deg to NEAs Korean Fri 1330-1400 on 6145 YAM 300 kW / 280 deg to NEAs Korean Sat 1330-1400 on 6145 YAM 300 kW / 280 deg to NEAs Japanese Sun Furusato no Kaze 1330-1400 on 9705 TSH 300 kW / 002 deg to NEAs Japanese 1330-1400 on 9950 TSH 100 kW / 002 deg to NEAs Japanese Voice of Wilderness 1330-1530 on 7615 TAC 100 kW / 070 deg to NEAs Korean Shiokaze Sea Breeze 1405-1435 on 5935 YAM 300 kW / 280 deg to NEAs Japanese Furusato no Kaze 1430-1500 on 9560 TSH 300 kW / 002 deg to NEAs Japanese 1430-1500 on 9960 HBN 100 kW / 345 deg to NEAs Japanese Radio Tamazuj 1430-1500 on 13800 NAU 125 kW / 152 deg to EaAf Juba Arabic 1430-1500 on 15540 ISS 250 kW / 138 deg to EaAf Juba Arabic 1500-1530 on 13800 MDC 250 kW / 340 deg to EaAf Juba Arabic 1500-1530 on 15540 SMG 250 kW / 151 deg to EaAf Juba Arabic North Korea Reform Radio 1430-1530 on 7590 TAC 100 kW / 076 deg to NEAs Korean Nippon no Kaze 1500-1530 on 9800 TSH 300 kW / 002 deg to NEAs Korean 1500-1530 on 9975 HBN 100 kW / 345 deg to NEAs Korean Denge Kurdistan 1500-1600 on 11600 ISS 250 kW / 090 deg to WeAs Kurdish Radio Al-Mukhtar 1500-1530 on 11670 ISS 100 kW / 125 deg to EaAf Arabic Tue 1530-1600 on 11670 ISS 100 kW / 125 deg to EaAf Tigrinya Tue Radio Voice of Adal 1500-1530 on 11670 ISS 100 kW / 125 deg to EaAf Arabic Wed/Sat 1530-1600 on 11670 ISS 100 kW / 125 deg to EaAf Tigrinya Wed/Sat Radio Warra Wangeelaa-ti 1500-1530 on 15515 SCB 050 kW / 195 deg to EaAf Afar Oromo Sat Radio Biafra 1500-1600 on 15325 SCB 100 kW / 195 deg to WeAf English Nippon no Kaze 1530-1600 on 9465 TSH 300 kW / 002 deg to NEAs Korean 1530-1600 on 9965 HBN 100 kW / 345 deg to NEAs Korean Living Water Ministry Broadcasting 1530-1630 on 9650 unknown probably PUG to NEAs Korean Wed Radio Dabanga 1530-1630 on 13800 MDC 250 kW / 340 deg to EaAf Juba [sic] Arabic 1530-1630 on 15540 SMG 250 kW / 151 deg to EaAf Juba [sic] Arabic Voice of Martyrs 1530-1700 on 7510 TAC 100 kW / 076 deg to NEAs Korean Shiokaze Sea Breeze 1600-1630 on 6110 YAM 300 kW / 280 deg to NEAs Chinese Mon 1600-1630 on 6110 YAM 300 kW / 280 deg to NEAs Japanese Tue 1600-1630 on 6110 YAM 300 kW / 280 deg to NEAs Korean Wed 1600-1630 on 6110 YAM 300 kW / 280 deg to NEAs English Thu 1600-1630 on 6110 YAM 300 kW / 280 deg to NEAs Korean Fri 1600-1630 on 6110 YAM 300 kW / 280 deg to NEAs Japanese Sat 1600-1630 on 6110 YAM 300 kW / 280 deg to NEAs Korean Sun Denge Kurdistan 1600-1930 on 7455 ISS 250 kW / 090 deg to WeAs Kurdish Furusato no Kaze 1600-1630 on 9690 TSH 300 kW / 002 deg to NEAs Japanese 1600-1630 on 9975 HBN 100 kW / 345 deg to NEAs Japanese Radio Xoriyo Ogaden 1600-1630 on 11970 ISS 500 kW / 130 deg to EaAf Somali Tue/Sat 1600-1630 on 17870 ISS 500 kW / 130 deg to EaAf Somali Mon/Fri Eye Radio 1600-1700 on 15250 ISS 250 kW / 130 deg to EaAf Arabic/English* *including other languages Dinka/Nuer/Shilluk/Bari/Zande/ Lutoho Radio Voice of Independent Oromiya 1600-1630 on 17850 ISS 250 kW / 130 deg to EaAf Oromo Sun Shiokaze Sea Breeze 1630-1700 on 6110 YAM 300 kW / 280 deg to NEAs Korean Mon 1630-1700 on 6110 YAM 300 kW / 280 deg to NEAs Japanese Tue 1630-1700 on 6110 YAM 300 kW / 280 deg to NEAs Korean Wed 1630-1700 on 6110 YAM 300 kW / 280 deg to NEAs English Thu 1630-1700 on 6110 YAM 300 kW / 280 deg to NEAs Korean Fri 1630-1700 on 6110 YAM 300 kW / 280 deg to NEAs Korean Sat 1630-1700 on 6110 YAM 300 kW / 280 deg to NEAs Japanese Sun Radio Sagalee Qeerroo Bilisummaa 1630-1658 on 17840 ISS 250 kW / 130 deg to EaAf Oromo Tue/Thu/Fri Radio Ranginkaman/Radio Rainbow 1700-1730 on 7580 KCH 500 kW / 116 deg to WeAs Farsi Mon/Fri Voice of Oromo Liberation 1700-1730 on 11810 NAU 100 kW / 139 deg to EaAf Afar Oromo Wed/Fri/Sun 1730-1800 on 11810 NAU 100 kW / 139 deg to EaAf Amharic Wed Dimtse Radio Erena 1700-1730 on 11965 SCB 050 kW / 195 deg to EaAf Tigrinya Mon-Fri 1730-1800 on 11965 SCB 050 kW / 195 deg to EaAf Arabic Mon-Fri 1700-1800 on 11965 SCB 050 kW / 195 deg to EaAf Tigrinya Sat/Sun Radio Front for Independence of Oromo 1730-1758 on 17765 ISS 150 kW / 125 deg to EaAf Oromo Sun Radio Payem e-Doost 1800-1845 on 7480 KCH 500 kW / 116 deg to WeAs Farsi Radio Publique Africaine 1800-1831 on 11550 MDC 250 kW / 295 deg to SoAf Kirundi 1831-1858 on 11550 MDC 250 kW / 295 deg to SoAf French Radio Itahuka 1800-1900 on 15420 MDC 250 kW / 320 deg to CeAf Kirundi Sat Radio Biafra 1800-2000 on 15325 SCB 100 kW / 195 deg to WeAf English Radio Dandal Kura International 1800-2100 on 12050 ASC 250 kW / 065 deg to WeAf Kanuri Republic of Yemen Radio 1800-2300 on 11860 JED 050 kW / non-dir to N/ME Arabic Lutheran World Federation/Voice of Gospel/Sawtu Linjilia 1830-1858 on 9800 ISS 500 kW / 180 deg to WCAf Fulfulde Sedoye Bahar Voice of Spring 1900-1930 on 7510 KCH 500 kW / 116 deg to WeAs Farsi Thu/Fri Denge Kurdistan 1930-2130 on 7455 KCH 300 kW / 116 deg to WeAs Kurdish North Korea Reform Radio 2030-2130 on 7500 TAC 100 kW / 076 deg to NEAs Korean Stream of Praise Music Ministries 2100-2115 on 7530 TAC 100 kW / 090 deg to EaAs Cantonese 2115-2130 on 7530 TAC 100 kW / 090 deg to EaAs Chinese Suab Xaa Moo Zoo, Voice of Hope 2230-2300 on 7530 TSH 100 kW / 250 deg to SEAs Hmong Republic of Yemen Radio 2300-0600 on 11860 unknown tx / unknown to N/ME Arabic (DX RE MIX NEWS #985 from Georgi Bancov and Ivo Ivanov, December 30, 2016 via DXLD) ** IRAN. 6040, VOIROI Went off abruptly in mid-program at 2020:12. Very strong but usual low modulation. 29 Dec (Dave Valko, Perseus SDR and BOGs on Micro-DXpedition, near Dunlo PA, Hard-Core-DX mailing list via DXLD) :20 past hours is nominal end for most VIRI broadcasts (gh) 9700, Jan 4 at 1429, S Asian language at S9; HFCC shows VIRI in Bengali at 1420-1520, 100 kW, 98 degrees from Sirjan. RNZI is also registered here but currently on 7355 instead. 11675, Dec 29 at 1405, fair signal in Russian, interspersed with dramatic stingers, mentioning Iran, as appropriate since it`s VIRI, 1320-1420, 500 kW, 336 degrees from Sirjan. which is somewhat SE of the center of Iran. As you might guess, that azimuth is dead-on Moskva, and beyond crosses Greenland exiting at what was Sondrestrom Air Base until 1992, Americans on the DEW line --- and right on to Enid! (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 11780, VOIRI - Sirjan. Strong carrier at 0415, then dropped off significantly at 0420 when it was schedued to start the Hebrew service. Finally came up to a full booming signal at 0424 with the transmission well underway, and noted till s/off 0450. Dec 30 (Rob Wagner VK3BVW, Jan 2, http://www.medxr.blogspot.com.au ARDXC mailing list via DXLD) No Amazon QRM for him, but blocking it here (gh, DXLD) ** IRAN [non]. 12005, Jan 1 at 1426, nice pop music, S9 to S7, Radio Farda ID and 1430, 4-pip timesignal about 5 seconds late, into presumed news. HFCC claims this is 100 kW, 105 degrees from the Biblis, GERMANY site all the way from 0630 until 1800. A quick look thru HFCC shows Biblis used only for services in SW and central Asian languages (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** IRAN [non]. 7480, MOLDOVA, R. Payam e-Doost. Really nice signal 100% copy with end of feature by W in apparent Farsi and closing by M over instrumental mid-east music. W again, classical music bridge, then feature by M with break for MOR vocal song 1823-1825. More of the same. Had the usual trumpet fanfare song at sign off but no ID announcement. Signal off at 1845:11. Wish I would have been here for sign-on. 20 Dec. 7480, MOLDOVA, Payem e-Doost. *1800 on with usual trumpet and dramatic music -fanfare, opening announcement by W but didn’t hear any mention of Payem e-Doost, though. 1840 talk by M in Farsi with mentions of Dushanbe ending with e-mail. 1842 M over music with mentions of Iran, usual sign-on s/off fanfare, no W announcer this time, then the Babcock instrumental music and signal off. For a Youtube video of the reception, click on this link https://youtu.be/XV05xsdzmZU (use 480p quality setting for best viewing) 29 Dec (Dave Valko, Perseus SDR and BOGs on Micro-DXpedition, near Dunlo PA, Hard-Core-DX mailing list via DXLD) ** IRAN [non]. 7510, CLANDESTINE, Sedaye Bahar (V. of Spring) (via Moldova). Audio up before 1900, M announcer with mention of Afghanistan, vocal song, then long talk by M. 1906-1908 mid-east music with short voice-over talk by M in Farsi. M at 1908 again with mention of Iran, and feature with remote reporter talk percussion instrumental and talk by different M at 1911, then another remote report. 1913 more percussion and M announcer. 1914 more remote talk. 1915 studio M announcer, 1916:15 mention of “Sedaye…” possible ID over mid-east vocal music which continued to 1920:55 sounded like ID by M. 1921-1922 M continued along with another M. 1922 simple vocal music and stringed instrumental Gregorian chant-like vocal at 1928 cutoff, Babcock music started very briefly at 1929:30 and signal off without closing ID. For a Youtube video of the reception, click on this link https://youtu.be/BlrKTfGo1ac (use 480p quality setting for best viewing) 29 Dec (Dave Valko, Perseus SDR and BOGs on Micro-DXpedition, near Dunlo PA, Hard-Core-DX mailing list via DXLD) 7510, MOLDOVA. Sedoye Bahar (Voice of Spring) - Grigoriopol. Farsi to Iran at 1920, massed choral item at 1925 to s/off 1929. Still only offers a Thurs/Fri service, a strong signal on Dec 30 (Rob Wagner VK3BVW, Jan 2, http://www.medxr.blogspot.com.au ARDXC mailing list via DXLD) ** IRELAND. "THE WIRELESS," THE HISTORY OF IRISH RADIO --- Hello, "The Wireless" is a 2-part documentary recently shown on UTV – Ulster Television. It is still available for the next week or so, on the UTV Player. It looks at the history of Irish radio from 1916 to the present. It covers Radio Eireann (RTE,) the pirate scene of the 70s / 80s, as well as Commercial Radio. It is Well worth viewing. Regards, and a very happy New Year (Eamonn in Dublin O`Connor, Dec 30, BDXC-UK yg via DXLD) Hi Eammon, do you have a link to the programme. And will it work outside Eire. Regards (David, Sent from my iPhone, Thorpe, ibid.) ** ITALY. 1062 kHz MW, Italian behaviour, motorboat sound blocker: Right, motorboat sound heard on various remotes tonight, at Italy, Madrid Spain, Grenoble France, Austria/Hungary border, Greece The motorboat signal were REAL BROADCAST - not defunct transmitter unit, heard on various nights around 2304 til 0459 UT time range. Seems a like frequency blocker - but origin not heard of all RaI installations -, on the frequency heard \\ the motorboat sound blocker a n d also different real regional RaI programms in \\ around 2312 UT, and at 0458 - 0500 UT [selected SDR options, span 12.5 kHz RBW 15.3 Hertz] (Wolfgang Büschel, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Dec 30, via DXLD) 1062 mess previously thought to emanate from Syria/Turkey radio war (gh) ** JAPAN. 6055, Dec 31 at 1500, nothing but dead air from R. Nikkei I --- in the past several NYE`s I have learnt that R. Japan is a bust if you can even get it at local midnight, but so is RN1. NHK used to welcome the western NY with pop song performances and bell-ringing or gonging (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** KOREA NORTH. Hello! Today (Thursday, 29 Dec 2016) Voice of Korea, Pyongyang, DPR Korea (North) have changed their website to: http://vok.rep.kp/CBC/index.php?CHANNEL=6&lang='English' Vy73s & best wishes for the New Year, (Arnulf Piontek, Berlin, Germany, Dec 29, DX LISTENNG DIGEST) Be wary of NK websites (gh, DXLD) ** KOREA NORTH [non]. 6145, Shiokaze/Sea Breeze via Yamata (Japan), on Dec 29 (Thursday). Special year end program in Japanese, recorded back on Dec 10 --- Youtube at http://goo.gl/sMw2Id preempted the usual English on Thursday; *1300-1400*, with first half announcers and monologues, with second half an orchestra playing variety of music (Xmas song "Jingle Bells," etc.); nice reception with no N. Korea jamming; IDs "JSR Shiokaze"; program co-sponsored by "Furusato No Kaze" ("Wind of Hometown"). After Shiokaze sign off at 1400*, clearly heard the start of RTI, later joined by CNR1 jamming; both of which totally blocked PBS Qinghai. BTW - As always, very much appreciate Hiroshi's website in Japanese, with daily details about stations dealing with abduction issues http://goo.gl/xKHNum (Ron Howard, Calif., dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** KOREA NORTH [non]. 7500, CLANDESTINE, North Korea Reform R. (presumed) Very weak with audio right at threshold, W announcer in Asian language at 2056. Wiped out by 7490.09 WBCQ sign-on at 2057. 28 Dec (Dave Valko, Perseus SDR and BOGs on Micro-DXpedition, near Dunlo PA, Hard-Core-DX mailing list via DXLD) 7500, UZBEKISTAN. North Korea Reform Radio - Tashkent. S/on 2030 with Haydn's Trumpet Concerto, station ID and talk in Korean. Fair signal with local noise, Dec 30. Initial broadcasts were in December 2007. The English version of this website is http://eng.nkreform.com/ Frequency details on the site are incorrect! (Rob Wagner VK3BVW, Jan 2, http://www.medxr.blogspot.com.au ARDXC mailing list via DXLD) ** KOREA SOUTH. 1566, Jan 1 at 1332, FEBC/HLAZ, Jeju Island is the only TP MW carrier audible, enough to tell that it cuts off again at 1344:31.5* for beam switch from Japan to China; and back on weaker before 1345 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** KURDISTAN [non]. 11600, Dec 30 at 1455, Kurdish music good at S9, stops at 1500 for a sesquiminute of dead air but I do not hear any carrier break, then some more music, finally at 1503.5 Denge Kurdistanye ID and talk. Latest info from Ivo Ivanov Dec 30, DX ReMix News #985 schedule of clandestines in time order, has 11600 D.K. at 13-16 via PRIDNESTROVYE but also at 15-16 via FRANCE, so there must be some uncertainty about the 15-16 hour: there was definitely no echo but there could have been a smooth site switch at 1500 during the dead air. 7455, Dec 30 at 2129, ME music at S6, unseems Qur`an. NO RTTY now which infests this frequency all-night here. HFCC shows BRB has registered 7455 at 1600-2130 via KCH in Kurdish, and Aoki shows 1930- 2130 is Denge Kurdistanye via Moldova = PRIDNESTROVYE, as well as at 1600-1930 via France. And DX ReMix agrees. I didn`t realize it must have been about to sign off, until *0330 on 7350. 11600, Jan 3 at 1500, dead air for a minute or so after which it seems weaker, so site change by Denge Kurdistane? Might be PRIDNESTROVYE, FRANCE or BULGARIA. I haven`t tuned in early enough to track it more carefully (Glenn Hauser, OK, WORLD OF RADIO 1859, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** KUWAIT. [Re 16-52, refurbishing SW transmitters:] Shortwave programs of Radio Kuwait was stopped around the end of May 2015. Here the last A15 schedule 0200-0745 on 5960 KBD 250 kW / non-dir to N/ME Arabic General Service 0500-0900 on 15515 KBD 250 kW / 059 deg to EaAs Arabic General Service 0800-1000 on 7250 KBD 250 kW / non-dir to WeAs Persian 1000-1200 on 21580 KBD 250 kW / 084 deg to SEAs Filipino 1015-1600 on 11630 KBD 250 kW / 230 deg to CeAf Arabic Holy Qur'an Sce 1100-1600 on 9750 KBD 250 kW / 286 deg to NEAf Arabic General Service 1215-1545 on 21540 KBD 250 kW / 310 deg to WeEu Arabic General Service 1600-1800 on 15540 KBD 250 kW / 100 deg to SoAs Urdu 1615-2100 on 6050 KBD 250 kW / non-dir to N/ME Arabic General Service 1700-2000 on 13650 KBD 250 kW / 350 deg to ENAm Arabic General Service 1800-2100 on 15540 KBD 250 kW / 310 deg to WeEu English 2015-2400 on 17550 KBD 250 kW / 350 deg to ENAm Arabic General Service My last 5 videos of Radio Kuwait, recorded from May 15 to May 29, 2015 http://swldxbulgaria.blogspot.bg/2016/12/ampegon-to-update-shortwave.html (DX RE MIX NEWS #985 from Georgi Bancov and Ivo Ivanov, December 30, 2016 via DXLD) 15540 English broadcast ended months earlier (gh, DXLD) ** KYRGYZSTAN. 4010.222, Radio Birinchi, Bishkek in Kyrgyz, S=7 at 0333 UT, MOST probably in \\ 4819.907 kHz, -81dBm [selected SDR options, span 12.5 kHz RBW 15.3 Hertz] (Wolfgang Büschel, df5sx, Dec 29, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews, dxldyg via DXLD) ** LAOS. 6129.97, Lao National R., Vientiane, Jan 02, 1153-1202, 32432-22432 Laotian, Talk, Theme music at 1159, Seven points of bells at 1200 (Kouji Hashimoto, JAPAN, RX, IC-R75, ANT, 130m Sloper Wire, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** LESOTHO [and non]. 891, Ultimate Radio heard While Algers still is absent. Here and there western soul music came out of the noise on the channel during the last weeks. Pretty good this evening. At 2128 UT female announcer giving frequency of 99.8 FM in English then into more pop music. At best SIO: 333 (Zeljko Crncic, Germany, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Dec 29 via DXLD) 891, RTA Algiers only very irregularly on air these days (Wolfgang Büschel, ibid.) ** LIBYA. [Re 16-52:] ``Libya powerhouse again back on rather even 675.002 kHz channel, S=9+45dB -28dBm in Greece at 0236 UT Dec 26. Nothing near 1053 kHz tonight. 73 wb (Wolfgang Bueschel, Hard-Core-DX mailing list via WORLD OF RADIO 1858, DXLD) They keep switching between 677.5 and 675? (gh)`` Re Libya 675 and 677.5 TX units: Yes, they use sometimes the 200-500 kW unit, and sometimes the reserve 50 kW unit instead from transmitter site km8 away from Tripoli harbour, on westerly coastline. 73 wolfy (Wolfgang Büschel, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MADAGASCAR [non-log]. 5007v, R. Madagasikara, at 1539 & 1550, Dec 29, not hear anywhere around 5010, only AIR on 5010.0 (Ron Howard, Calif., dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 5008v, Dec 31 at 0215 and later chex, no sign of RNM, nor the last night or two (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) [probably Ambohidrano service] 5010.200 .... x.300 kHz range. Tiny S=4-5 signal. Hit also at times by steady CW traffic on v5008 kHz noted at 2102-2105 UT. [selected SDR options, span 12.5 kHz RBW 15.3 Hertz] (Wolfgang Büschel, df5sx, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Jan 3, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MADAGASCAR. MWV Radio Feda (non-log), 11790, 2210 25 DEC - MWV RADIO FEDA (MADAGASCAR). no signal present. Local time: 1410. MWV Radio Feda, 2245 (non-log), 11790, 2245 26 DEC - MWV, RADIO FEDA (MADAGASCAR). no signal present. Local time: 1445. Greetings and Happy Holidaze from Nevada! The conditions here have seemed to be poor to fair over the last couple of days with the Solar Flux ranging in the low-to-mid-70s and the Geomagnetic Activity ranging from Minor Storm (Dec 26) to Very Quiet. It seems either R. Feda is either on holiday hiatus (odd for a supposedly xtian broadcaster) or has decided to quit their 11790 kHz frequency at the 2200z hour. The two times I tried to hear it this week found no carrier or signal of any kind on an apparently clear channel. I may email them my logs and video links to let them know how strong they were heard here. By far is it the strongest signal I've heard here from Madagascar. This Morning (29 Dec ~1500z) there seemed to be many signals on 25m during my short opportunity to listen, so it looks like conditions are improving. Happy New Year from Nevada! The conditions here have seemed to be relatively poor over the last several of days with the Solar Flux ranging in the low-70s and the Geomagnetic Activity ranging from Active to Quiet. I'm going to assume that R. Feda on 11790 frequency at the 2200z hour is permanently off the air as I have been spot checking it frequently to no avail. I believe I will send them an Email with my reports and videos linked and tell them how good their signal was here and if they ever considered a N. American service that frequency and time would certainly do the job. MWV Radio Feda (non-log), 11790, 2242 1 JAN - MWV RADIO FEDA (MADAGASCAR). no signal present at Las Vegas, United States. Local time: 1442 (Rodney Johnson, NV, Jan 3, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 17640, Dec 30 at 1830, MWV is the SSOB by far yet from the other worldside, much stronger than 17775 KVOH and 17790 WRMI, at the moment playing secular song in a break between proselytizing. I think it was the same a bihour later, tuning in a bit later in the English hour. 17640, Dec 31 at 1812, MWV English is S9-S6, as usual the 16m SSOB. Also Jan 1 at 1834 with `This Day in History` capsule ending with introduxion of the Euro in *1999y, slickly morphing into something about Romans trying to trick Jesus with coins?? Tune-out (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MADAGASCAR. Adventist World Radio (Madagascar Relay), 6055, 1447 2 JAN - ADVENTIST WORLD RADIO (UNITED STATES OF AMERICA). SINPO = 35323. ?African Language?, music, gospel-sounding. female DJ. QSB=rapid-to-ff rate, modulation mostly above the noise floor with occasional fades mixing with it. sf72.7, a214, k2, geomag: quiet. 100kw, beamAz 20 , bearing 39 . 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, 17418KM from transmitter at Talata Volonondry. Local time: 0647 (Rodney Johnson, NV, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Rodney, it seems to me R. Nikkei 1, Japan would be much more likely, scheduled until 1500 unless it was off early for some reason. Aoki shows a third much closer possibility during the 14-15 hour: CRI in Cambodian via Nanning. Unless you are sure talk wasn`t in Japanese; Nikkei plays a wide variety of music. 6055 ADVENTIST WORLD R. 1400-1500 1234567 Malagasy 100 20 Talata-Volonondry 3 MDG 1843S04737E AWR b16 6055 CHINA RADIO INTERNATIONAL 1400-1457 1234567 Cambodian 100 200 Nanning CHN 2247N10811E CRI b16 6055 RADIO NIKKEI 1 2155-1500 1234567 Japanese 50 64 Chiba-Nagara J 3528N14013E RNIKKEI JOZ2 73, (Glenn Hauser, ibid.) Glenn, I had considered those possibilities but I was pretty sure it was an African language. The reason for the question marks is that I'm pretty terrible at telling the various African Languages apart as I know very few words in only a couple of them (Swahili and Afrikaans, if the latter can even be considered African). On the other hand, I am able to tell several of the Asian Languages apart; such as Chinese (although I'm terrible at identifying even the two major dialects), Japanese, Korean, Vietnamese, Thai, and Filipino. That combined with the type of music heard made me think it had to be AWR, but I would agree it would seem unlikely as Madagascar is on the wrong side of the grey line for that band at that time. 73s (Rodney Johnson, NV, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) It`s not so far from the grey line, and seems to me it might propagate by long path (rather than short path you calculate) if Nikkei were not in the way. But I have never noticed anything under JOZ2 around this time (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MALI. 9635, R. Mali, Kati, 1125-..., 03/1, língua local, texto, chamadas de ouvintes, canções tradicionais; 45444, modulação algo fraca, mas perfeitamente audível. Good DX & 73, (Carlos Gonçalves, SW coast of Portugal, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MEXICO. 650, Dec 31 at 0304, Spanish atop WSM which is easily nulled. Whenever this happen, I hope it`s something other than XETNT, but soon promoting the Noticiero Altavoz from Radio 65 en Sinaloa (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MEXICO. 790, XERC Formato 21, México, DF. 1135 January 2, 2017. In passing with double newscasters, ID (Terry Krueger, Clearwater FL, NRD-535, IC-R75, roof dipole, active loop, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MEXICO. 1170, XERT Ke Buena, Reynosa, Tamaulipas. 1201 January 1, 2017. End of national anthem, male ID string, female chatter. (Terry Krueger, Clearwater FL, NRD-535, IC-R75, roof dipole, active loop, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MEXICO. A few miscellaneous Mexican updates Here are a few odds and ends I've noted while listening to XE stations on my Border Inn [NV/UT] recordings: XEDY-1080, XEMX-1120 and XEMW-1260 are all IDing as XHDY-107.1. So far I haven't been able to log these stations simultaneously so I can't confirm they're actually simulcasting. The announcer in the pre- recorded IDs uses a very corny deep scratchy voice which seems to be very common on Sonora stations these days. XEBH-590 uses a very similar voice. Others do as well. [1080 & 1260 in San Luís Rio Colorado, Sonora; 1120 in Mexicali BCN] XEUBS-1180 [La Paz BCS] s/off time is 0200 UT. The pre-recorded announcement is rather quaint. The announcer yawns, says "es la hora de cansar", gives a brief ID and slogan "radio uaas" (probably an acronym for Universidad Autonoma al Sur or something like that), then you hear some snoring sounds followed by a loud national anthem. [Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua:] XEJ-970 "Pancho 970" slogan/format didn't last long. Sometime in 2016 they became "Radio México Noticias" and although they do air quite a few long droning Radio México news blocks, they also do play a wide variety of music. Power had been reduced to 1 kW when they were Pancho, but the signal is noticeably stronger this year. Wonder if they're back to 5 kW? XEP-1300 announces 40 kW and sounds like it. Although quite a few stations appear to be missing lately, it's often difficult to discern where some stations are in the migration to FM. Web searches for XEUS-850 [Hermosillo, Sonora] seem to imply that they abandoned AM a few years ago and are only on FM now. But Wikipedia inaccurately states that many stations known to still be active on AM are only on FM now. Even some station web sites (XEREV-770 [Los Mochis, Sinaloa] is one example) only list the FM even though the AM is still active. More later; 73 (Tim Hall, CA, Sent from my BlackBerry 10 smartphone, Jan 2, ABDX via DXLD) ** MEXICO. This 1370 hodgepodge was interesting. I also had two XEs which I'm trying to identify? The first one was running the Radio Fórmula program "Estilo de Vida" (that's the show that runs the "I Dream of Jeannie" theme at 0400 UT every night). By monitoring the Radio Fórmula Monterrey web streams, I see that this program, which I associate with ORF1 (XEQN-740, XEACH-770, XEKAM-950, XERFR-970 etc.) also airs (at least in Monterrey) on ORF2 (XEMON-1370) but not ORF3 (XEIZ-1230, which I'm surprised I haven't logged from here since they get out well). So this could be unneeded XEHN-SON (on the main beam of this antenna, but not usually this loud) or needed XEMON-NL (possible since XEACH-770 was coming in at this hour). It occurs to me that if it was XEMON I should be able to find the end of the NL (half) hour at the beginning of the recording (0358) whereas if it was XEHN I should get the end of La Hora Nacional. (Some states including NL and CHIH, replace the second half hour of La Hora Nacional with a state program). I'll take another listen today. [later:] Well, I solved one part of this. The "XECS" ID I'm hearing at 0401:36 is actually "XEDF" - the station on 1370 was running about 1 second behind XEDF-1500, which would be the ORF2 network feed. XEDF was also running "Estilo de Vida" so that would imply I did indeed log XEMON. 73 (Tim Hall, CA, Sent from my BlackBerry 10 smartphone, Dec 29, ABDX via DXLD) ** MEXICO. RAYMIE`S MEXICO BEAT this week --- [including DTV] Get your new social stations! Stations will be landing in new areas soon. One of them has an impressive and historic callsign! SOCIAL UNTYPED http://www.ift.org.mx/sites/default/files/contenidogeneral/industria/concesionessocialesdic2016.pdf XHJUX-FM 94.7 Santiago Juxtlahuaca, Oax. - Rutilio Carlos Méndez Martínez XHTXP-FM 89.9 Tuxtepec, Oax. - Asociación de Medios de Comunicación Comunitaria, A.C. XHAGP-FM 92.7 Agua Prieta, Son. - María de Lourdes Robeson Chávez (1 kW) XHGYM-FM 103.7 Guaymas, Son. - Organiden, A.C. (2.95 kW) XHTRES-FM 97.9 Tres Valles, Ver. - Veracruz Social Wolfpack / Comunidad, Educación y Valores, A.C. (2.88 kW) XHGPE-FM 96.1 Guadalupe, Zac. - Rate Cultural y Educativa de México, A.C. COMMUNITY http://www.ift.org.mx/sites/default/files/contenidogeneral/industria/concesionessocialcomunitariasdic2016.pdf XHOLP-FM 93.3 Santa Rosalía, BCS - Ondas en la Playa, A.C. XHDOM-FM 100.9 Iguala, Gro. - Domi Bella de Tenorio, A.C. XHTRO-FM 94.1 Santa María, Oax. - Asociación Tlaxiaqueños Radicados en Oaxaca, A.C. XHEJU-FM 95.3 Ejutla de Crespo, Oax. - Codiculta XHDCA-FM 100.5 Miahuatlán de Porfirio Díaz, Oax. - Codiculta XHÑUC-FM 88.1 Chalcotongo de Hidalgo-San Agustín Tlacotepec, Oax. - Ñucuaha, A.C. XHIKE-FM 89.1 Salina Cruz, Oax. - Ike Siidi Viaa, A.C. XHVOC-FM 105.7 Bahía de Kino, Son. - Voces Colectivas, A.C. XHÑUC-FM is the first Mexican broadcasting station to have an Ñ in its callsign! (It's also the first David Eduardo can recall in more than 50 years of Latin American broadcasting, so this is a real something.) http://www.radiodiscussions.com/showthread.php?699394-I-think-this-is-a-first&p=6130522&viewfull=1#post6130522 ——— Information on the new stations is fairly difficult to find. A good chunk have been simmering for years, even up to a decade as XHTXP and XHDOM attest. The Social Wolfpack now has seven stations, four of them awarded this year, though the sites for its existing three (XHPAPA-XHALAM-XHTLAC) have disappeared. XHJUX brings up a similarly named guy who's some sort of artisan in Santiago Juxtlahuaca, and probably the father of the concessionaire. XHAGP's owner apparently helped to found a religious association in Agua Prieta, "Centro Evangelístico Agua Viva" which was Pentecostal and located at Calle 18 y Avenida 4 #398, Colonia Nueva, Agua Prieta, Sonora. I have a real feeling XHAGP is a rare religious wolf. They do have a religious bookstore! And an online TV-radio service! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OvrlrHtTJsQ We know XHOLP is Radiokashana, XHVOC is Contexto Radio http://contextoradio.org/mi-colonia/voces-colectivas-a-c-bahia-de-kino-sonora/ (also an AMARC member) and of course that XHEJU's owners run an annual sausage fair in Ejutla each spring. As to Ike, we have an item on them too that mentions Epigmenio Fidel Bautista Ramírez is their legal representative and he writes for a local newspaper called El Sol del Istmo (and it's not an OEM paper). Last edited by Raymie; 12-31-2016 at 12:36 AM (Raymie Humbert, Phœnix AZ, originally Dec 30, WTFDA Forum via DXLD) Quote Originally Posted by SnoopyFan93: `Raymie, from which site do you obtain the information about the location of that sites?`` Cuando una estación migró de AM a FM, se adjuntó al folio (en casi todos los casos) una autorización técnica total. Estos documentos fueron expedidos por la Cofetel y cuentan con una hoja técnica completa de la estación FM. Se pueden acceder a través del RPC donde aparecen bajo el título "Modificación de Concesión". Un ejemplo, para la XHAR-FM: http://rpc.ift.org.mx/rpc/pdfs/090252648002ce32.pdf Tenemos más de 600 autorizaciones de ese tipo y es por eso que mi documento de coordenadas casi no trata de estaciones que migraron (Raymie, Dic 30, ibid.) In the middle of XHÑUC fever, we lost sight of this story. Today marks the end of analog television in Mexico, after more than 66 years of service. http://mediatelecom.com.mx/index.php/radiodifusion/television/item/127441-termina-en-m%C3%A9xico-el-apag%C3%B3n-anal%C3%B3gico The last analog laggards (looking at you, Sistema Michoacano) must shut off their stations and begin digital service, and if they don't, they will face sanctions and could lose their concession entirely (Raymie, Dec 31, ibid.) Quote Originally Posted by Raymie: ``XHÑUC-FM 88.1 Chalcotongo de Hidalgo-San Agustín Tlacotepec, Oax. - Ñucuaha, A.C. XHÑUC-FM is the first Mexican broadcasting station to have an Ñ in its callsign! (It's also the first David Eduardo can recall in more than 50 years of Latin American broadcasting, so this is a real something.)`` I was going to ask how the FCC will deal with it, but I guess being in Oaxaca they won't have to. Are there any towns with Ñ in their names that are close enough to the border that they will have to worry about it some day? (Doug Smith W9WI, Pleasant View, TN EM66 http://www.w9wi.com ibid.) Ciudad Acuña, though I truly think this is going to remain a one-off and that this won't wind up being a problem for them. ——— With the year pretty much over, it's time for a review of everything that's gone on here in this crazy 2016. 2016 - A La Mexicana 2016 turned out to be an eventful year in Mexican broadcasting as the country (mostly) left analog television behind and set in motion a series of new auctions, television networks and radio stations. Here are some of the stories that made 2016 a year to remember: Adiós al Duopolio Imagen Televisión launched on some three dozen transmitters the night of October 17, finally bearing fruit to its concession award nearly 19 months before. While Imagen has not been terribly innovative with its program lineup, giving viewers the most hours of telenovelas per day on Mexican television and featuring many broadcast veterans in its talent pool, it deserves attention and merit for bringing new TV transmitters on air at a record clip. Our first hints dropped in June, when the RPC began listing the new network’s transmitters, all bearing calls beginning in XHCT (for Cadena Tres I, S.A. de C.V., the concessionaire). In August and September, we got technical information on most of the launch transmitters, which revealed that Grupo Imagen had been shrewd in finding homes for its new repeaters. Aside from several transmitters colocated with existing Imagen Radio stations, Imagen used nearly a dozen SPR towers and rounded out its network with a few new builds and sites owned by the IPN, MVS Radio, Multimedios, and Intermedia in Mexicali and Ciudad Juárez. One site was even brought back to broadcasting use after a former radio station occupant moved. New transmitters are likely to keep coming on air over the next few years as Grupo Imagen works toward building all 123 stations and meeting its coverage targets in 2018 and 2020. VC-Day: Azteca’s the One When the draft of the virtual channel guidelines dropped in December, you could see this happening from a mile away: the consolidation of national networks onto single channel numbers in all but a few border areas, forcing some local stations to find new numbers. What nobody saw coming was a shrewd business decision by Televisión Azteca to leapfrog Televisa and Imagen and stake a claim for channel 1. In a story first broken on the Mexico Beat, Azteca’s use of channel 1 for the entire Azteca 13 network (and Proyecto 40 in most areas, as subchannel 1.2) emphasized that Mexico was breaking with the ATSC custom. A handful of local stations that would have otherwise been evicted from channel 13 jumped at the opportunity to not rebrand. On VC-Day, SPR transmitters and rural Televisa and Azteca transmitters (more on that shortly) began transmitting as many as five major virtual channel numbers at the same time. The third-wave SPR sites now have channels 11, 14, 20, 22 and 45. Multiprogramming Multiplies in Rural Mexico Televisa and Azteca also did rural viewers a favor by beginning to multiplex as many transmitters as they could with national networks that were not being seen in all areas. While Televisa was barred from doing this everywhere because of its status as the preponderant economic agent, both broadcasters took advantage of the move to extend coverage of their networks, particularly Canal 5 and Azteca 7, in areas where they had just one transmitter to work with. Other stations also jumped into the fray, with a mixed bag of results. In another story seen first here, Multimedios and MVS signed a deal to bring 52MX to viewers in northeast Mexico — marking the latter’s first long-coveted steps into broadcast TV. Imagen Televisión, meanwhile, announced a less inspiring mux of two timeshift channels and Excélsior TV, and XHTV underwhelmed by bringing Mexico City-area viewers a home shopping channel (which did not sit well with some IFT commissioners). Not to be outdone, there was some HD Radio activity, namely at XHUIA. This station, which has been a technical guinea pig in a variety of ways, was cleared in November to carry an HD3 alongside its existing HD2; it was also the first time since the current guidelines were published that a radio station had asked to add a subchannel. 400 Kilohertz: A New Frontier, with Some Limits It finally happened in May: the IFT reduced the station spacing limit to 400 kHz in areas where 800 kHz had been tapped out long ago. That has already opened the door to some new station awards, such as XHSBE-FM. It will also open the door to 47 new commercial and public AM-FM migrants in various areas and to 22 new community and indigenous stations in the Article 90 reserved band. The battle for the former will be an interesting story to track in major metropolitan areas as we head into 2017, especially given that just one commercial migrant will be cleared for FM in the Mexico City area given the reserved band, interest from public broadcasters and the need to protect stations operating in the surrounding major cities. Community and Indigenous Progress Community and indigenous stations either hit the air or got concessions at a record clip in 2016. After being greenlighted in November 2015, XHSILL-FM 106.7 Hermosillo, the first ever station expressly authorized for the Article 90 reserved band and the first social-community station, got its concession in February 2016 and began testing in July. Another new community station, XHÑUC-FM in Chalcatongo de Hidalgo, Oaxaca, is the first Mexican broadcast station with an Ñ in its callsign. The IFT also made its first award of a new social-indigenous station, to the indigenous communities of San Bernardino Tlaxcalancingo and Santa María Zacatepec, Puebla, who will soon be bringing XHSBE-FM 107.1 to listeners on the northwest side of the Puebla metropolitan area; there are three in total, the other two being permit transfers. There were also a large number of permit transfers as the IFT seeks to finally fulfill the obligations of the constitutional reform and new LFTR by transitioning permits to concessions. These also resulted in stations transitioning to community and indigenous concessions, such as XHTYL-FM in Monterrey and XHJP-FM in Oaxaca. However, many permit requests remain to be approved by the IFT as it struggles with the backlog of radio station applications it inherited from Cofetel. That was clear this year when XERAM-AM Betania, Chiapas, which had been requested a decade ago, finally got a concession. Domi Bello de Tenorio, A.C., which had wanted a station as far back as 2008, finally got one this December in the form of XHDOM- FM Iguala, Guerrero. Not to be outdone, new untyped social and public stations got approved in 2016. Of the social stations, the most notable are four from the same close family of permitholders that has been tied to a former spokesman for embattled (and fugitive) Veracruz governor Javier Duarte, the first in a number of years with the potential for more of their station requests to be approved in the near future. A handful of new public services also made it to authorization, such as a new university radio station for Matehuala, San Luis Potosí and extensions of the radio and TV services of the Universidad de Guadalajara. The latter two are each noteworthy: the new radio station at San Andrés Cohamiata will feature a bilingual format in Spanish and Wixarika, while the TV station is on VHF (the fourth such station in Mexico) at Ciudad Guzmán and represents the first such expansion of a university TV system not based in Mexico City. In December, the IFT approved 26 new broadcast stations, one of the highest single-month totals in a long time, including resolutions to the permit discontinuities affecting the Quintana Roo state TV network and the AM stations of C7 Jalisco; a fifth wave of SPR TV transmitters and three new FM stations bringing the agency’s totals to 40 and 5; and various new social and social community stations in Guerrero, Oaxaca, Sonora, and Zacatecas. New and On the Air New stations on the air in 2016, besides Imagen, were primarily on the radio side. In Guasave, Sinaloa, the radio station of a former federal deputy and STIRT head finally took shape as XHGVE 94.5 “La Interesante de Guasave” came to air in October, and it was joined by a fellow 2015 award when Rey Tariacuri, A.C. brought on XHUET-FM 103.5 “La Guacha” at Huetamo, Michoacán, the town’s first new local station since 1969. A milestone moment came in October when XHLUV 96.5 brought legal radio to Luvianos, Estado de México for the first time. XHLUV previously had operated as a pirate and was the unfortunate victim of a 2014 attack that claimed the owner’s 12-year-old son. Guerrero saw two new stations come to air with unusual permit histories already in the books. XHUTG Iguala began testing in August despite being one of about a dozen radio stations that failed to seek a transition of its permit to a public concession; it is the first noncommercial station to operate in that town, and a second is soon on the way. On the other end, along the Costa Grande, Radio y Televisión de Guerrero delivered a major surprise when it finally signed on XHZTA-FM 92.1, permitted some 16 years ago, in October. It is the first expansion of the Guerrero state network in two decades and just its second FM. Two new public TV stations also added variety to the airwaves. Zacatecas became the 26th state to operate a TV station when XHZHZ channel 24 signed on in mid-February as the TV portion of the new Sistema Zacatecano de Radio y Televisión (SIZART). November saw Villahermosa viewers pick up an option with the launch of XHUJAT channel 35 —*in just five years, the Universidad Juárez Autónoma de Tabasco has built a radio and TV station, with the latter being the first of its kind in southeastern Mexico. A few digital laggards also managed to make the finish line. Most notable were XHACG in Acapulco, XHABC in Chihuahua Capital, and XHUS in Hermosillo (in that order). The fate of the 12-station TV network of the Sistema Michoacano de Radio y Televisión, however, remains murky; it took them until December 27 to begin promoting their forthcoming entrance into the world of digital television. We also bid farewell to a major, properly licensed commercial television station in Mexico for the first time since the 1950s. XHK channel 10 in La Paz, Baja California Sur, the state’s first TV station which actually predated its status as a state, was financially unable to make the digital television transition, and as workers went on strike in an attempt to collect back pay, it went into liquidation. The valuable land the station sat on appears to be going to a large creditor and will probably see use for upscale residential development. Looking to the Licitación The IFT in 2016 also set up big stories that will unfold throughout 2017 by setting in motion two different auctions: IFT-4, for 191 FM and 66 AM stations across the country, and IFT-6, which will make available 148 TV stations on an individual basis. IFT-4 should end in February, while the verdicts of IFT-6 will be made public in the first week of October 2017. Taken together, IFT-4 and IFT-6 open up local commercial broadcasting to new entrants for the first time since the early 1990s, when the SCT in the sexenio of Carlos Salinas de Gortari was licensing new stations left and right. The per-transmitter availability of the TV stations leaves a door open to the creation or expansion of regional networks and local stations serving individual communities — something badly needed in a country with such a centralized television landscape. Other Odds and Ends There were other stories in 2016 that took up less time and attention. For one, the IFT got the repacking ball rolling by approving several moves of stations in the border region to post- repacking channel assignments, as well as by letting the Edomex state network relocate its digital transmitters below channel 37. We also were stunned when XHVX-FM concessionaire Moisés Dagdug was murdered in February by a group of robbers. XHCAN-FM Cancún, whose lengthy and convoluted history only manages to get weirder, made its third frequency change in under two years by returning to 97.5 in late September. In Pinotepa Nacional, neighbors unhappy with Televisa and seeking higher annual rents forced the broadcaster to shutter its transmitter there serving some 150,000 viewers. Further Historical and Technical Research As is the case every year, I spent a significant amount of time and energy investigating the often poorly documented history and technical contours of Mexican radio and television. In 2016, a particular theme of my research was finding coordinates. Using old authorizations for broadcast auxiliary services, studio addresses, Street View, a few old permits and good old-fashioned digging, I released a first (and now a second) edition of Mexican FM Station Coordinates. This document now covers more than 530 total stations — roughly 40% of all licensed FMs in the country, a significant figure given that the more than 600 migrants almost all have such authorizations on file. This extended to an investigation of the shadows of Radio Turquesa XHNUC, which convert an already potent 100 kW powerhouse into a state network with seven additional transmitters in Quintana Roo. Thanks in large part to Turquesa’s propensity to sign its facilities and the dearth of FMs in some of the rural areas, all seven shadows of XHNUC were located, from Kantunilkín to Chetumal. More shadow research ended up turning up information about all of the remaining unknown shadows in Mexico: two of XHZER-FM in Fresnillo and Jerez, Zacatecas, and one for XHFL-FM Sonora, probably in Navojoa. Additionally, to compensate for a lack of accurate official listings, I produced a map of HD Radio stations in Mexico, referencing stations that the HD Radio Mexico page promoted, such as XHQD Chihuahua, and those with RPC authorizations like XHRN Veracruz. Research into owners of new permit stations also continued. In 2016, I revealed that the “Veracruz Social Wolfpack” which had suddenly doubled its station count also happened to have ties to the embattled—and outgoing—Veracruz state government, including its one- time press secretary; additionally, several of its lawyers had been involved together in a Toluca labor case in 2013. The RPC also yielded new historical material of interest, as it tends to do with its repository of old files. Several finds were exciting. In April, I discovered another even-frequency FM still in operation at a normal dial spot: XHOM-FM Coatzacoalcos, which began life as XEOM-FM 88.4 and has a claim to being the first FM station in Veracruz. Another find gave XHW-FM 90.1 La Paz the unusual distinction of being the first FM in Baja California (Norte or Sur). And a third redrew the lines of Mexico City FM history by tracing an active lineage through its first station, the original XHFM. Station coordinate digging led to finds of stations operating in questionable conditions, both old and new. Grupo Imagen returned broadcasting to the Edificio Puga Arriaga in San Luis Potosí, formerly used by XHPM-FM, even though rumors were circulating about its demolition and the structure has problems related to withstanding wind gusts and accessibility. Meanwhile, it was discovered that XHTPI-FM, the Tamaulipas state network in Tampico, has been operating for years out of an abandoned, crumbling former hospital that looks more like an urbex site than the home of a functioning radio station (though they lost their microwave tower and have been off the air for years as a result). And Elsewhere... While not related to Mexico, I managed my first two e-skip logs this year — and it was all a matter of luck. http://forums.wtfda.org/showthread.php?10922-Hello-Arkansas-Hello-Oklahoma!-E-skip-logs-1-and-2 Here's hoping you have a Happy New Year and a safe 2017. Last edited by Raymie; 12-31-2016 at 04:20 PM. Reason: add an intro and some formatting (Raymie, Dec 31, ibid.) Here's some other news from 2016, as I chew through Pleno meeting notes: the IFT tackled a bunch of station sales in late November: XENLT-AM: Radio Fórmula del Norte, S.A. de C.V., to Radio Transmisora del Pacífico, S.A. de C.V. —*Immaterial change in concessionaire. XENLT is now a direct sister to XHERW León, for instance. Not much has changed here! XEPP+XHPP Orizaba: Radio XHPP Orizaba, S. de R.L. de C.V. to Radio Espectáculo, S.A. The seller is ACIR. The buyer: Grupo Radio Digital (the Valanci family), and the concessionaire of XHVV-FM. GRD has already been operating the station for some time. XHQW Mérida: Radio Poderosa, S.A. de C.V. to MVS Radio de Mérida, S.A. de C.V. I guess MVS now owns this one. It now is the same concessionaire as XHMRA 99.3. XHTD Coatzacoalcos: Frecuencia Modulada de Coatzacoalcos, S.A. de C.V. to Impulsora de Radio del Sureste, S.A. This is another sale of the Valanci variety. The seller is Radio Networks, formerly one half of Grupo FM. XHTD flipped from Más Latina to Exa FM earlier this year, and it looks like this was a full-on site. See also: XHONC-FM. ——— On the TDT front, today marked the end for the last analog stations — and the definitive end for 37 stations (6 in the Oaxaca state network, shadow XHGVC and 30 Televisa shadows). http://www.ift.org.mx/sites/default/files/informe_pleno_ttd-18112016_acc.pdf We now know a bit more about those (Raymie, Jan 1, 2017, ibid.) Just to be 100% absolutely sure: there are no longer any authorized analog TV stations in Mexico, correct? Thanks! (Doug Smith W9WI, ibid.) Thanks! That is correct! (Raymie, ibid.) As to the Ñ in the calls: is this really gonna be recognized? Can XE hams use it? After all, Japanese stations use the JO- calls; certainly not Japanese characters. Taiwan uses BE-. Can German stations use that B-like letter that represents their SS? I won't even go into the Icelandic characters. Oh, and while we're at it, although the Spanish letters have changed in 23 years, did SS stations that contained CH, LL, RR formerly identify using them as one letter? cd (Chris Dunne, Pembroke Pines FL, Jan 1, ibid.) Well, they were usually considered two as many AM calls were sequentially assigned or similar. Except there's a case I know of where the LL *might* have been drafted as one, and it also happens to be the first 6-letter callsign ever in Mexico. I'm talking about XEVILL Villahermosa (December 13, 1988). I can't otherwise explain the callsign and how it got to be. ——— We have our first news story of 2017, and it comes to us from the capital of format flips in 2016, San Luis Potosí. You might recall that MVS Radio ended its relationship with GlobalMedia —*and the stations it used to own — to bring La Mejor and Exa FM to MG Radio's stations (XHWZ/XHESL). GlobalMedia responded by getting the Ke Buena format for its XHBM. Now Los 40 is about to vanish again. It's disappeared from XHEWA and the station has also vanished from the Grupo AS SLP website. Televisa Radio still holds the concession to this one, too. What's more, XHOD is testing a new format, and XHPM Hundred FM is getting replaced or revamped on January 16. Radio in SLP is enough to make your head hurt! (Raymie, Jan 1, ibid.) Today I see no reason not to, as it's clearly possible to include Ñ in texts even on computers configured for languages that don't have that letter. It was probably a problem in the pre-PC era. Especially for ship stations, which might be expected to transmit important and formal messages to shore stations whose operators spoke a different language -- and were using typewriters that might not have had Ñ or other non- English letters. I am not aware of any Mexican amateurs with Ñ in their calls. The letter *does* exist in Morse. (--.-- , although I've never heard anyone use it. Usually when I communicate with Latin American hams they use English, and when the conversation has been in Spanish they've used -. (N)) Back in the late 1970s one poor Mexican amateur was assigned the callsign XE2?G. The U.S. amateur who contacted him assumed the guy was mis-sending XE2IZG -- if you run I and Z together, you get ?. But about two weeks later, he got a QSL card from the Mexican operator - which clearly showed his callsign as XE2?G (Doug Smith W9WI, ibid.) Very good. I've deleted all Mexican analogs from my DB. So the next step how do we get from the information in the link (which says, for example, that one complementaria en Veracruz ha apagado) to knowing *which* complementaria is gone? Likewise, we know six CORTV stations are gone but which of the 16 CORTV facilities are they? "Definitive end for 37 stations" but the link has a count of 157, does that mean 120 of them are not currently authorized to operate but have a path to being reauthorized? Why are some notificado por SCT and others not? 37 Equipos complementarios que están operando han apagado? How many rules of Spanish grammar (and/or spelling) have I slaughtered in this post? Thanks! (Doug Smith W9WI, Pleasant View, TN EM66, ibid.) Thanks! 1. That's where the DOF publications from early December come in. The one that has the information of stations that renounced their right to convert is here. http://www.ift.org.mx/sites/default/files/contenidogeneral/comunicacion-y-medios/dof15dic011216.pdf I'm reproducing that for your sake: XHNNT-TV, XHLBA-TV, XHJBH-TV, XHJCE-TV, XHSJP-TV y XHSST-TV en las localidades de Asunción Nochistlán, Loma Bonita, San Juan Bautista Cuicatlán, San Juan Cacahuatepec, Santiago Jamiltepec, San Sebastián Tlacolula, en el estado de Oaxaca; XEWO*-TV (complementarios) en las*localidades de 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 y*Tequila en el estado de Jalisco y*en las*localidades*de Mezquital del Oro y*Moyahua en el estado de Zacatecas; XHDI-*TV (complementarios) en las*localidades*de Colonia Los*Remedios, Emiliano Zapata y*San José de la Parrilla en el estado de Durango; XHDUH-*TV (complementarios) en las*localidades* de Colonia Los*Remedios y*San José de la Parrilla en el estado de Durango; XHGVC*-TV (complementario) en la localidad de Las*Choapas en el estado de Veracruz; XHPAO-*TV (complementario) en la localidad de San Pedro Tapanatepec*en el estado de Oaxaca; XHSCC*TV (complementario) y XHSNC*-TV (complementario) en la localidad de Tila en el estado de Chiapas; XHTEN*-TV (complementario) en la localidad [de] Uzeta en el estado de Nayarit y*XHZAP-*TV (complementario) en la localidad de Zacapoaxtla en el estado de Puebla The IFT had hinted at the CORTV drops as had the CORTV itself which never had a transition plan for those transmitters. 2. When the IFT released the two tables containing all the stations (shadows and main stations) that could be in analog in 2016, there were 497 in total. The two DOF publications cover 460 stations. The balance of 37 is made up for with the ones in the box above: 37 shadows that *had operated in analog* were not converted. (In at least two Televisa cases, it's clear why — the Col. Los Remedios xmtrs were phased out because that's where the Televisa Durango main stations are now located.) As to the SCT part, the SCT was responsible for the whole TV distribution part of the apagón program. So that's why they had to notify the IFT. 3. You've broken a few, but not bad. (Also, this forum software is atrocious at handling text from time to time.) (Raymie, Jan 1, ibid.) Ah. You've posted that link before & I obviously didn't fully understand what it was. (thanks!) It was about notifying the IFT, not about notifying the stations. That makes more sense (Doug Smith W9WI, Jan 2, ibid.) In 2017, we've already uncorked a radio crisis in Veracruz. https://www.elsoldesalamanca.com.mx/republica/crisis-en-la-industria-de-la-radio-en-veracruz Javier Duarte's state government left a lot of debts to pay to municipalities, the Universidad Veracruzana and others, and the radio stations are no exception. The head of the STIRTT chapter in Córdoba, Francisco Javier Solano Ochoa, says that between decreasing commercial advertising and the unpaid ad buys of the state government, owners are trying to stave off bankruptcy by selling stations. As to the debt, the radio owners are talking with the new state government (the current governor, Miguel Ángel Yunes Linares, was elected on a PAN-PRD opposition platform and took office December 1). ——— Meanwhile, in San Luis, it appears that there won't be any local programming for now on Los 40. Apparently XHEWA is carrying the direct signal of XEX-FM with no modifications directly at the transmitter site (Raymie, Jan 3, ibid.) Guessing at the Locations of New SPR Transmitters In its massive dump of new broadcast services, the IFT also authorized seven new SPR TVs and three new SPR FMs — what I'll call the SPR fifth wave. (They still haven't built the fourth!) We were told the states of each. Durango, Hidalgo, Jalisco, Sonora and Sinaloa got TVs. Veracruz got an FM. Puebla and Oaxaca received both. So, where are these stations? To try and figure that out, I went to the 2016 PABF, which is where I think these applications began. I believe I can say with certainty a few of them based on this alone. CERTAIN: Durango, Pachuca, Guaymas, Culiacán, (all TV), Coatzacoalcos (FM) In the first four cases, no other new public use TDTs were set aside in the entire state other than those listed. Each is a new city for the SPR (Durango and Culiacán put them into further overlap with the IPN, and Pachuca sort of does). Pachuca and Guaymas have never had national public television service (except, in the Pachuca case, for that receivable from Mexico City). Likewise, just two public FMs were available in all of Veracruz. The other was in the port of Veracruz, where the SPR does not have facilities. Coatza is also the only city where RTV has a TV transmitter but no FM for its Radiomás state network. LIKELY: Matías Romero, Oax. (TV-FM), Tehuacán, Pue. (TV-FM), Puerto Vallarta, Jal. I suspect the new Oaxaca and Puebla areas are going to be TV-FM operations, the first in the SPR where both services come on air at the same time. If that's the case, radio and TV stations are both available from these locales. Neither area has ever had national public television service. A Matías Romero station on Cerro Palma Sola would have a formidable coverage area across the Istmo, reaching to Salina Cruz and Juchitán in the south. If not, Huajuapan de León and Zacatlán, respectively, come into play for TV. However, no FMs were available in these areas. As to Jalisco, the 2016 PABF gave the state four public TDTs, at Guadalajara, Cd. Guzmán, Lagos de Moreno and Puerto Vallarta. It can't be Guadalajara (XHOPGA), and Ciudad Guzmán's public station ended up being for the U de G (worth noting: the San Andrés Cohamiata FM is also in the 2016 PABF). Lagos de Moreno would be an odd choice for the SPR given the area is covered by the León SPR transmitter http://ine.mx/archivos1/DEPPP/MapasCobertura/2015-Dic/TDT/Guanajuato/XHOPLA-TDT.pdf (look to the northwest of León at the next cluster of dense red lines). When I heard Jalisco, my first guess was Puerto Vallarta, which has never had national public television service. What about the 2015 PABF? The 2015 PABF does not include stations in all these states, so it can be safely excluded. The fourth-wave transmitters (Torreón, San Luis Potosí, Cancún, Chetumal, La Paz, Tepic and Acapulco) were authorized based on the frequencies available in the 2015 PABF. No fourth-wave station has been built (Raymie, Jan 3, ibid.) The INE page has updated its coverage maps (as is expected every December when the agency updates its catalog of broadcast stations) and now has some new ones... XHCTCR-TDT http://ine.mx/archivos1/DEPPP/MapasCobertura/2016/TDT/Chiapas/XHCTCR-TDT.pdf clearly shows the stick is in Tuxtla on Cerro Mactumactzá. XHCTAG-TDT http://ine.mx/archivos1/DEPPP/MapasCobertura/2016/TDT/Aguascalientes/XHCTAG-TDT.pdf is suspiciously like XHOPAG-TDT. http://ine.mx/archivos1/DEPPP/MapasCobertura/2016/TDT/Aguascalientes/XHOPAG-TDT.pdf There's also XHCTLP, http://ine.mx/archivos1/DEPPP/MapasCobertura/2016/TDT/Baja_California_Sur/XHCTLP-TDT.pdf XHCTNY (which confirms the obvious about its callsign), http://ine.mx/archivos1/DEPPP/MapasCobertura/2016/TDT/Nayarit/XHCTNY-TDT.pdf XHCTCP, http://ine.mx/archivos1/DEPPP/MapasCobertura/2016/TDT/Guerrero/XHCTCP-TDT.pdf and XHCTVE. http://ine.mx/archivos1/DEPPP/MapasCobertura/2016/TDT/Veracruz/XHCTVE-TDT.pdf I know nothing about any of these. And aside from Imagen, a few oddballs out of states like NL (XHGBT, XHCMP), Nayarit (XHNSJ), and so on. The stations with permit discontinuities of the failure to transfer type do not show up in this list (sorry, XHITD). ——— There's also more Pleno meeting notes...oh goody! 1. DENIED! This is something I've never seen. The Universidad de Occidente, which already has a radio presence in Los Mochis, wanted a TV station in Culiacán and, for some reason, got unanimously denied by the Pleno! Why in the world!? 2. XHPZL comes back from the dead! The Puebla state network will return to Zacatlán after originally having a station there in the late 90s. That was in the 2016 PABF, after all. Though I expect a new callsign here. 3. Those CDI stations are FM — potentially those experimental Michoacán stations that had a permit discontinuity? 4. Ahoy Lagos de Moreno, get your VHF antennas 'cuz there's a new public station on the way! That's right, the U de G TV expansion is coming for you, too! (This all but confirms that the SPR station is Puerto Vallarta) 5. Yet more multiprogramming. XHCLT and XHFX got greenlighted. It will be interesting to see what happens with the latter. Last edited by Raymie; 01-04-2017 at 03:25 AM (Raymie, Jan 3, ibid.) The country's largest sports talker ends its 18-year run on the air today. TDW Radio is closing down. https://twitter.com/fj_tdn/status/816863283814821888 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 | Download Mexican FM Station Coordinates v2 http://jmp.sh/vtvvPsN (Raymie, Jan 5, ibid.) TDW was on the bigsig 730 XEX, so what format replaces it? (gh, DXLD) ** MOROCCO. Dear Mauno, the WRTH is a present that I usually find under the Christmas tree, and off course it lies open in the days after, when I ride the short waves. Would you please check some entries of the WRTH 2017 for Medi 1 (which is still audible on 9575 kHz). Kind regards, Hj. Morocco - According to https://www.medi1.com Medi 1 produces two channels directed to the Grand Maghreb and West Africa. Both are announced as Medi 1, but the website differentiates between Antenne Maghreb and Antenne Afrique International(e). While the Maghreb stream is in Arabic and French, the Africa stream is in French only, although some French (news) programmes seem to be in parallel. What I found surprising: during several hours of monitoring the music content of Antenne Afrique was almost entirely in English. The website mentions three FM frequencies in West African countries: Abidjan (Côte d'Ivoire) 97,2 MHz, Dakar (Sénégal) 93,8 MHz und Libreville (Gabun) 101,5 MHz. Only the latter seems to be mentioned in the WRTH 2017, but as 100,5 MHz. The FM frequencies are also announced in the on air programme. Unfortunately the announcement for this frequency is somewhat muffled. I am sure that they do not use the French number word „cent“ (100/100+1), but say something like „un-o-un point cinq“ but with the nasals it could also be „un-o-o point cinq“ (Dr Hansjoerg Biener 3 January 2017, cc to DX LISTENING DIGEST) Dear Hansjörg, thank you for the info. It has been difficult to get updates from Morocco. All the best for 2017, (Mauno Ritola, ibid.) ** MYANMAR. 5985, Myanmar Radio, 1543, Thursday, Dec 29. NHK's "Friends Around the World" with interview of Dr. Tomohiko Sugishita about African medicine; repeat of a Sept program; very readable; will be repeated again tomorrow (Friday); played AIDS prevention song "Ndimakukonda" ("I Love You") (Ron Howard, Calif., dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1859, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MYANMAR. 9459.990, MRMS Thazin Radio, Pyin U Lwin, in neighbouring eastern Thailand remote post: S=9+15dB or -61dBm, at 0525 UT on Dec 30. Played Beatles song in Burmese singer version 'Hey Jude'. 9589.989, MRMS Thazin Radio, Pyin U Lwin, S=8 signal, at 0526 UT on Dec 30, mountain people orchestra. 9730, even fq, MRMS Yegu Yangoon, S=9 or -73dBm heard in Thailand, Karaoke like local singer in progress at 0532 UT on Dec 30. [selected SDR options, span 12.5 kHz RBW 15.3 Hertz] (Wolfgang Büschel, log Dec 30 0500-0700 UT in Eastern Thailand remote unit, thanks Uwe, WORLD OF RADIO 1859, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** NEWFOUNDLAND. 2749-USB, S7 Dec 30 at 0114, YL in French mentioning TUC (UTC), marine weather. Starting at 0107 is VOK, Goose Bay, Labrador, via St. Anthony site at the northern tip of the island. However, the Canadian CG website says VOK operates only in English (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) On two occasions now - this morning (30th) is the second time - I heard two stations operating at the same time on 2749. Tune in today was at about 0810 UT, and at about 0750 the first time. They are both more or less equal strength and it's difficult to copy very much of what is being said. One is in French, and the other sounds to be English, and must surely be QRMing each other, unless the skip is different over there. I have some files somewhere and will look them out to see if I can discover why the two are on at the same time. I can also regularly hear 2598 in this same time slot, and it's always in English. Unfortunately there is a Stanag transmission just on the high side of frequency that makes copy difficult. There must be a significant difference in the propagation of these 2 MHz frequencies and propagation on medium waves. Well known Newfoundlanders on such as 590, 600, 750 and 1400 were all inaudible as was Sydney (NS) on 1140. 73 and Best wishes for 2017 --- hopefully with better propagation! (Noel Green, Blackpool, England, Dec 30, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Per the schedule in DXLD 16-43, 0740 2749 VCO Sydney site: Port Caledonia NS 46 11 14 -59 53 59 0810 2749 VCS Halifax site: Sambro NS 44 28 21 -63 37 13 So perhaps VCO ran overtime into VCS slot (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** NICARAGUA. 800, Radio 800, Managua. 1138 December 28, 2016. Rustic folk vocals, time check and ID by man (Terry Krueger, Clearwater FL, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** NIGERIA. 7254.93, V. of Nigeria, Jan 02, 0605-0629, 35232-35332, Hausa, Talk, Sound from a flute at 0627, ID at 0628 (Kouji Hashimoto, JAPAN, RX, IC-R75, ANT, 130m Sloper Wire, DX LISTENING DIGEST) long path?? Short path is daytime (gh) 7255-, Jan 3 at 0700, no signal from VON when it should be going from Hausa to French; just an outage, or permanent change? 7254.93, Jan 4 at 0658, VON percussion at S9+10, back on the air after missing 24 hours ago. When on, it`s the outstanding signal in the 7200-7300 range (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** NORTH AMERICA. 6925.38, PIRATE, Happy Hanukkah R. From 2033. Music from “Fiddler on the Roof”. ID by M in elf-like voice. S/off announcement at 2052 with e-mail address happyhanukkahradio@gmail.com and girl with ”Happy Hanukkah”, then IS and signal off at 2054:00. Good signal. For a Youtube video of the reception, click on this link https://youtu.be/UrzQRTeyI4E (use 480p quality setting for best viewing) 24 Dec (Dave Valko, Dunlo, PA, USA, Perseus SDR with Wellbrook ALA1530S loop and 153 foot Delta Loop, Hard-Core-DX mailing list via DXLD) ** NORTH AMERICA. 6925-USB, USA [sic], (PIRATE), WRRI Random Radio International. 0022 January 1, 2017. Candlebox, female ID into Rancid, Hall & Oates, ID "... from the middle of nowhere." Fair on peaks in local noise wall (Terry Krueger, Clearwater FL, NRD-535, IC-R75, roof dipole, active loop, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** NORWAY. NORWAY TO START FM SWITCHOVER ON JANUARY 11TH Radio Today By Roy Martin 4 January 2017 http://radiotoday.co.uk/2017/01/norway-to-start-fm-switchover-on-january-11th/ The countdown is on to the official start of digital radio switchover in Norway, beginning on January 11th at 11:11.11 am. The formal ceremony in Norway will be watched by many countries around the world who themselves are heading towards a digital radio future, including the UK. Norway is the first country in the world to move the majority of its radio stations off FM. Norway has 25 national radio channels via DAB and currently has five national radio channels via FM. The DAB network now covers the same as FM. 54% of digital listeners listen to radio on DAB; 19 per cent of digital listeners are on the net. Local radio stations outside the main cities will continue to broadcast in FM. The FM networks will be switched off region by region, starting in Nordland. The event will take place in Bodø and the final switch-off will be done at 11.11 pm CET. The Norwegian Radio industry will be present in Bodø, represented by head of NRK radio and commercial radio. Also, head of BBC Radio, Helen Boaden, and head of Radio at EBU, Graham Dixon, will attend. An international seminar for European broadcasters will be held the day before the historic move to FM switch-off and an international press-conference will be broadcast on inRad.io via radio.no at 1pm GMT. Representatives from Digital Radio UK will be at the event, and will keep RadioToday readers up-to-date with developments from next week. Reaction to the plan to remove stations from FM has not been welcomed in Norway, with a last-ditch attempt to postpone the move failing in the Norwegian parliament. Posted by: (Mike Terry, UK, dxldyg via DXLD) 1. Start and end! 2. As I've pointed out before, Helen Boaden is no longer Head of BBC Radio. Chris Posted by: (chrisgreenway, ibid.) All details can be found on http://radio.no/countdown/ (Peter Kruse, Germany, ibid.) ** OKLAHOMA. UNIDENTIFIED. 1450, Dec 31 at 0251 UT as I tune past, slightly and momentarily atop the pileup mentions KOCO weather, high 48(?). Which means it`s an Oklahoma station not too far from OKC, whence ``channel 5`` (7) supplies the forecasts, so most likely KGFF Shawnee, but also possibly KSIW Woodward, unlikely KWHW Altus (ex- harmonicizer circa 2900v). I look around http://www.kgff.com for a connexion to KOCO without finding any, nor on their active FB. But that`s not unusual for such deals to be uncredited. We are informed in fine print at the bottom that ``KGFF Radio is a broadcast service of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation``, one of the lesser tribes, so does KGFF do any native programming? You`d never know it from their website with hardly any program info except `Mike in the Morning`. There is an unlabeled gallery of fairly old/deceased pop stars. NRC AM Log shows format as OLD from Westwood One. I try to Listen Live around 0500 UT, but from Surfer Network get an Access Denied, streaming unavailable due to content. KGFF is barely audible on 1450 daytime groundwave mixing with KSIW (Glenn Hauser, Enid, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** OKLAHOMA. 1650, Dec 30 at 0150 UT, country gospel songs in English are mixing with Spanish religious talk from Denver, and sports talk in English from Cedar Falls. At 0156 UT I would qualify it as praise gospel rock, certainly implying I am really hearing KFSW Sallisaw, which is much more of a challenge than the other 1650s (except XEARZ). But no ToH ID (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** OKLAHOMA. [Re 16:52, letter to KGOU: Enid needs KGOU!] Happy New Year, Glenn. Thank you for your thoughtful note and suggestion. Funding is always an issue, but this idea is on my radar. Enid is a terrific city and I would certainly like to extend our reach into that area. We'll see what we can do. Best regards, (Dick Pryor, KGOU Manager, Jan 4, to gh, via DXLD) ** OKLAHOMA. ONE BACKLASH SPAWNS ANOTHER FOR OKLAHOMA PAPER THAT BACKED CLINTON - The New York Times http://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/03/us/oklahoma-paper-the-enid-news-eagle.html?ref=todayspaper (via Mike Cooper, DXLD) The Enid paper has since had several follow-ups to this, if you care to seek them out via enidnews.com --- some of the cancel-my- subscriptions came from big shots, previous honorees sponsored by the paper as ``Pillars of the Plains`` --- so will they return those honors too? This year`s ceremony is coming January 11, where I`m tempted to bring up that subject. Paper has had a net gain in subscribers, thanks to NYT publicity and people around the country, some ex-Enidians, signing up (Glenn Hauser, Enid, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** OMAN. 15140, R. Sultanate of Oman. Signal on at 1359:11. Audio up at 1402:18 but not 100% and sounding as though a mic was placed up against a telephone receiver. M with English news. Audio gradually cleared up in 5 minutes but still weak. 1408 fanfare music, then ad for Omantel and long slick promo with list of FM stations ending with ID for 90.4, then live M DJ in English at 1411. 22 Dec (Dave Valko, Perseus SDR and BOGs on Micro-DXpedition, near Dunlo PA, Hard-Core-DX mailing list via DXLD) 13600, R. Sultanate of Oman, Jan 01, 0442-0504, 35332-33332, Arabic, Talk, ID at 0502 (Kouji Hashimoto, JAPAN, RX, IC-R75, ANT, 130m Sloper Wire, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PALAU. 9960, Jan 2 at 1428, surprised to hear English from the ACI to 9955 WRMI Wavescan --- but it`s just a Voice of the Martyrs plug, and then WHR`s phone number for prayers, 1430 into Japanese, Furusato no Kaze. If you buy a T8WH or WHRI relay, WHR`s own promotions will be inserted adjacently, no matter what, even if you`re Commie Vietnamese (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PAPUA NEW GUINEA. 3260, NBC Madang, 1206-1207*, Jan 3. Pop song till suddenly off. For a long time now, this has been their closing format, to just pull the plug, with no formal sign off (Ron Howard, Calif., dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PERU. 4774.90, Dec 30 at 0109, weak music vs CODAR. This must be R. Tarma, as Carlos Gonçalves, Portugal had measured it on 4774.910, Dec 3 at 2218, while R. Congonhas, Brasil was way up on 4774.964 (and which I have heard at 0725 Dec 23 on 4774.967). Of course each could also be subject to some variation (Glenn Hauser, OK, WORLD OF RADIO 1859, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PERU. 5024.92, R. Quillabamba. With Rebelde off, Quillabamba in the clear from 2222 with same W announcer heard in the past with a few music bridges to 2238. Still improving as the Sun hadn’t set there yet. Unfortunately the last laptop battery was running out of juice, otherwise I would have stayed. 28 Dec (Dave Valko, Perseus SDR and BOGs on Micro-DXpedition, near Dunlo PA, Hard-Core-DX mailing list via DXLD) 5024.92, R. Quillabamba. Still in the clear when I got home at 2255 and all evening to s/off. M and W chatter at 0006, baby crying, and group of people, sounded like a radio play. Program of soft MOR music and M with apparent religious talk in the next half hour. 0101 W sounding like a program intro, but M gave intro at 0103 for program with M and W hosts. 0157 usual canned full ID announcement with calls and frequencies played at sign-on and s/off, M with final prayer ending with somber music, deadair and off at 0201:13. Nice to hear this in the clear again. 28-29 Dec (Dave Valko, Dunlo, PA, USA, Perseus SDR with Wellbrook ALA1530S loop and 153 foot Delta Loop, Hard-Core-DX mailing list via DXLD) ** PERU. 5980.0, Dec 30 at 0044, R. Chaski is back! with its JBA carrier. Claudio Galaz, Chile, the only other DXer who bothers to track it, got a reply from station Dec 27 that the transmitter had been damaged, but would be back on air shortly; and so, it is. As the autotimer might also have gone thru a reset, I monitor continually from 0059, and do make out some music playing past 0100, until cutoff at 0103:21.5*, starting a new recession cycle no doubt of approx. 6.5 seconds later per diem. China is still on 5979, q.v. 5980, Jan 1 at 0054, JBA carrier from R. Chaski, off at 0103:33.5*. That`s 12 seconds later than last check two nights ago, Dec 30 until 0103:21.5*. It was expected to be more like 13 seconds later = 2 x 6.5 on average. But in the meantime a leap second has been inserted to WWV. Timings of Chaski cutoffs are done on my watch, but always having to subtract a correxion factor by then checking WWV, as watch keeps gaining slowly and is difficult to reset. Since last time, the WWV vs watch correxion is a full second more, accounting for the leap! So should the Chaski slippage now be adjusted to 13 seconds or 11? Now I`m confused. Adelante. [and non]. 5980, Jan 4 at 0057, R. Chaski better than usual, S8 and some music audible, 0102 talk in Spanish, 0103 more music until autocutoff at 0103:53.5* which is 20 seconds later than last check Jan 1 until 0103:33.5*, averaging 6-2/3 seconds later per diem. Now there is no longer any splash from 5985 WRMI! Also no longer hearing any China on 5979, so back to 5970, or not propagating at all? (Glenn Hauser, OK, WORLD OF RADIO 1859, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ROMANIA. 7375 // 7310 // 6170, Dec 30 at 2130, RRI opening English to Europe and E North America, fair-good signals about equal on all, then `Radio Newsreel`. 7345, Dec 31 at 0723, S5-S9 signal with pop music, as I am checking for the extended NYE schedule of R. Sakha, Russia, as monitored by Ron Howard --- but it`s RRI as evidenced by the 0724 ID in German, long list of transmissions, 0725 IS, and clear at 0728, no sign of Sakha here (nor on 7295). 7310, Dec 31 at 2152, now I am trying RRI for some NYE celebration, 8 minutes before midnight there. This English transmission appears to be yelling in Romanian, drumming, maybe HS relay, so here we go --- NOT. Cut to canned English sign-off at 2155. I am hardly surprised, as most stations are automated to change programming before hourtops. Manually overriding that would be too much trouble (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** RUSSIA. 6209.75, Comintern R.(Presumed) Jan 02, 1303-1332+, 25332- 35333, Russian music and chorus music, 1332 f/out (Kouji Hashimoto, JAPAN, RX, IC-R75, ANT, 130m Sloper Wire, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** RUSSIA. 7345 // 7295, Radio Sakha, via Yakutsk, is normally broadcasting *0300-0500*, but Dec 31 with special extended broadcast; heard before 0300 and at 0504 still going with a very good signal on 7345 and even 7295 was still being heard, but poorly. [Later:] Hi Glenn, Thanks very much to feedback from Hiroyuki Komatsubara (Japan), who after my alert, did hear R. Sakha at 0550. He indicated the station`s schedule today at http://goo.gl/DBlFHt running till 1500 UT. Appreciate Hiroyuki's input! (Ron Howard, Calif., dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 7345 // 7295, Radio Sakha, via Yakutsk, with another special extended broadcast on Jan 1; first heard at 0053; ads; traditional song; 0100 IS (Jew's harp), pips (4) and ID. My first log of 2017. Still well heard 0242-0251, segment with child talking and playing "Jingle Bells"; usual "Radio Sakha" ID at 0251. My audio at http://goo.gl/FfnCJo (Ron Howard, Calif., dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** RUSSIA. 2016 and radio reshuffle, changes and acquisitions. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Author: Vasily Gulyaev, Astrakhan, Russia. [excerpt from a much longer month by month year in review:] https://tvkinoradio.ru/article/article9969-2016-god-i-radio-perestanovki-izmeneniya-i-poglosheniya?utm_source=vk&utm_campaign=tvkinoradio&utm_medium=post&utm_content=2016-god-i-radio-perestanovki-izmeneniya-i-poglosheniy Remember the most important events broadcasting over the past 12 months and are trying to understand how they affect the future of the industry. Quite surprising were the results of the competition for the right to carry out terrestrial broadcasting with the use of specific radio frequencies Roskomnadzor conducted January 27, 2016. The winner of the "National Broadcasting Company" Saha "" (Yakutia, point the transmitter installation -. With Tulagino) at frequencies of 7295 kHz with a power of 250 kW and 7345 kHz with a power of 100 kW. It would seem that there interesting and unexpected? The fact that this is the first radio station, returning to the waves after leaving them c Russian broadcasting. This question is very serious for the vast territory of Yakutia, which is impossible to reach with modern FM-transmitters (via RusDX Jan 1 via DXLD) ** RWANDA [non]. 15420, Sat Dec 31 at 1808, R. Itahuka via MADAGASCAR is just barely modulated (JBM) but S9+10; by 1818 it is modulating Kinyarwanda with long pauses, fair (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SEYCHELLES [non]. Thanks to tip from Ron Howard & Dave Valko I was able to log the english broadcast from FEBA this morning. 9775 - FEBA, Trincomalee, Srilanka, 1427 Jan 2, 2017 - Tune in to YL announcements in English followed by short music bridge. Then om & yl s-off with clear “FEBA” ID then Interval signal followed to carrier off at 1430. Signal was fair with significant fades and moderate QRN (Stephen Wood, Harwich, MA, Perseus SDR, 25 x 50 terminated (60º N/E) superloop antenna, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1859, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SLOVAKIA [non]. 11580, Jan 3 at 2100, RSI in English daily via WRMI is here, ex-13695, which due to Brother Scare`s drastic reduxions, is no longer on air at all. RSI on 11580 reconfirmed Jan 5 at 2100, and 13695 reconfirmed silent. More at USA (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SOLOMON ISLANDS. 9545, SIBC, 0402-0501*, Dec 29. Another day with better than normal reception; DJ in Pijin playing pop and C&W songs; commercial announcements in English (car rental, general hardware supplies, etc.); several spots about "School is out"; 0500 ABC news (death of Debbie Reynolds, etc.) till suddenly off. Normally not heard so well, especially not this early! Winter propagation? (Ron Howard, Calif., dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 5020, SIBC, Dec 31, with special New Year's Eve broadcast; 1259 "Come on everyone, countdown"; 1300 bells ringing; 1305 National Anthem; government speech in English; mentioning "law and order," "internal security," "no one likes to be afraid of his neighbor," "negativity," "reaching a compromise" and ending with "God save the Queen. God bless the Solomon Islands"; NA again; in Pijin, reading many listeners` emails and texted messages for a "Happy New Year 2017"; many time checks ("26 minutes into 2017"); played the good Scottish song "Auld Lang Syne"; started out poor, but improved to fair; still on at 1403 (Ron Howard, Calif., dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1859, DX LISTENING DIGEST) And still on at 1500; GSTQ? Well, they are in the Commonwealth: http://thecommonwealth.org/our-member-countries/solomon-islands but is GSTQ ever played elsewhen? (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) The national anthem of the Solomon Islands is "God Save Our Solomon Islands." The ROYAL anthem is "God Save the Queen." This is a similar arrangement to that in other Commonwealth countries such as Canada with "O Canada" as the national anthem and "God Save the Queen" as the royal anthem. We even have a combined version played at some occasions as a vice-regal salute (to the governor general or a provincial lieutenant (pronounced "leftenant") governor) composed of the first six bars of "God Save the Queen" and the first four and last four bars of "O Canada." And while we are at it, many consider "The Maple Leaf Forever" as Canada's unofficial anthem. ;-) (Richard Langley, NB, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1859, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 5020, Dec 31 at 1459, music audible as SIBC is on late, and the latest I think I have heard them, almost a sesquihour after sunrise here and a bihour after midnight there. Ron Howard reported quite a NY celebration on that station; see his report (Glenn Hauser, OK, WORLD OF RADIO 1859, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Sounds like a fun broadcast. Very few stations left that would even have anything close to this type of program, especially in English (Stephen C Wood, Harwich, Mass., dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 5019.9995 kHz at 2040 UT on Jan 3, some signal FADE-OUT in Brisbane remote unit in Queensland Australia. Some pop orchestra music heard. Nearby some hopped/wandered signal appeared at 2100 UT: See MADAGASCAR [selected SDR options, span 12.5 kHz RBW 15.3 Hertz] (Wolfgang Büschel, df5sx, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Jan 3, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SOMALILAND. 7120, SOMALIA, R. Hargeisa. M announcer from 1316 but modulation way too low. If the modulation would be at 100%, this would be nice. 22 Dec (Dave Valko, Perseus SDR and BOGs on Micro-DXpedition, near Dunlo PA, Hard-Core-DX mailing list via DXLD) ** SOUTH CAROLINA [and non]. While scanning through a recording of WRMI on 11580 kHz looking for the start of the DigiDX program, I noticed there are frequent requests for listeners to TOM to let them know on which SW frequency they are listening and at which time so they can decide if they will continue to broadcast on that frequency or "if at all"! Could WRMI or the other broadcasters survive without him? (Richard Langley, Jan 3, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) He does that periodically when contracts are about to expire. There has just been a drastic cutback to only four transmitters by WRMI, see USA; and shown up again on BULGARIA, q.v. But he`s still the Overkiller, on more transmitters than he really needs (gh, DXLD) ** SPAIN. 15390, 1857/1916, Espanha, REE em espanhol, IS, MV anuncia frequências e horários, TC, px 24 Horas, cm abt adoção do rodízio de carros na Espanha, manchetes: "Pedro Sánchez não deixa dúvidas", "Jon Colma em liberdade com cargos e sem passaporte", "John Kerry investe contra Netanyahu", "e Donald Trump o defende", "Patronal investe contra a subida do imposto de sociedades", destaques da programação, Ann Proyectando 2017, notícias da política espanhola, 55444 às 1858, 55344 às 1915, 28 DEC. Receptor: JM/JM-2831RU, made in China. Antena: fio encostado na janela de metal do meu quarto. Local de recepção: Fronteiras, Piauí, Brasil. 73's, (Ian José Silva, radioescutas yg via DXLD) 15390. December 29, 2016. 2043-2110, Radio Exterior de España, Noblejas, in Spanish. Man announcer interviews with Real Madrid member and others, in the program "Radiogaceta de los Deportes". 2100 Time pips, ID, Address and start a program "Españoles en la Mar". Very good signal and modulation, 45544 (DXer: José Ronaldo Xavier (JRX), Cabedelo-PB, Brazil, Degen DE1103 & Tecsun S-2000, Antenna: Portable Telescopic, Hard-Core-DX mailing list via DXLD) Sat Dec 31 at 2205, NO signal from REE, nor later. Past NYEs, this has been a reliable & loud & clear celebration to monitor in the final hour of the year, inexplicably playing lots of songs in English; but this year it`s off the air to North America! The others, 15500 and 15390, are JBA by this hour. Pfui. 9690, Sunday Jan 1 at 2122, REE North American frequency is missing again like yesterday. 100% service (4 frequencies at once) is often unachievable, so not sure yet whether this be another temporary outage, or cancellation, but timing of it at yearend is suspicious. Daily schedule had been 19-23 UT // 11685, 15390, 15500 (additional from 1500 weekends, not all on same frequencies). 9690, Jan 2 at 2110, no signal from REE North American service; nor anything detectable on // 15390, 15500. It`s the third day in a row AWOL, which apparently no one else has noticed. I posted this to the noticiasdx yg, where some of the participants should know or be able to find out what`s going on with REE: ``REE desapareció wghauser 2 ene 17:19 --- Desde el 31 de diciembre, y todavía el primero y 2 de enero, no escuchamos nada en las frecuencias habituales de REE, ni en 9690 para América Norte, ni en 15390 ni 15500, entre las 19 y 23 horas TU. Temo que se hayan anulado este servicio, por lo menos en onda corta, sin aviso previo. Favor de enterarnos de qué pasa. 73, Guillermo Glenn Hauser`` One reply so far, Jan 3: ``Buenos días Glenn, hoy a las 1900 estaré chequeando las frecuencias de REE. Yo en días pasados no intenté sintonizarle. Me sorprende que hayan cancelado sin previo aviso, pero todo puede ser. Saludos. Manuel Méndez`` (Glenn Hauser, OK, WORLD OF RADIO 1859, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ESPAÑA, Radio Exterior de España, Noblejas, chequeando a partir de las 1855 UT y hasta las 1910, resulta que está en el aire en 15500 y 15390, pero parece que con fallos en el transmisor, ya que por momentos se escucha la señal fuerte y luego, de repente, casi desaparece, para volver al cabo de segundos con señal débil. Música de sintonía, identificación y boletín de noticias "24 horas" En 9690 no se escucha nada, ni tampoco en 11685 (Manuel Méndez, Lugo, España, noticiasdx yg via WORLD OF RADIO 1859, DXLD) Desde el sur de España, a través del receptor escucho nada, solo ruido. A través de estos receptores se puede oír por las frecuencias de 15390 y 15500 kHz http://websdr.ewi.utwente.nl:8901/ http://websdr.ewi.utwente.nl:8901/m.html (José Bueno, Córdoba, España, Jan 3, noticiasdx yg via WORLD OF RADIO 1859, DXLD) Hola amigo Glen[n], un saludo desde Barcelona, España. TE CONFIRMO que ahora a las 1940h UT Radio Exterior de España se puede escuchar por dos frecuencias: 15390 y 15500 kHz. Las otras dos son inaudibles. Ahora transmiten fútbol español. Desconozco el motivo porque no ha funcionado adolescentes estos días. Feliz año 2017 y Buena Radio Saludos (Francisco Rubio, Barcelona, ADXB, http://www.mundodx.net Jan 4, WORLD OF RADIO 1859, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Adolescentes?? 15390, Jan 4 at 1911, Radio Exterior de Espana, Noblejas, in Spanish. Announcers talks news; Comments about BRexit (British exit to European Union) and others. ID. REE with good signal and modulation, 45544. (DXer: Jose Ronaldo Xavier (JRX), Location: Cabedelo-PB, Brazil, RX (s): Tecsun S-2000, Antenna: Portable Telescopic, Hard-Core-DX mailing list via DXLD) Radio Exterior de España sigue activa en 15390 y 15500 kHz, e inaudible en 9690 y resto de frecuencias. Sería interesante que reportaran como se está escuchando en distintos lugares, y en que frecuencias, pues me imagino que en la zona de Norteamérica no se debe recibir REE. Y de ser así, o sea, que si la frecuencia de 9690 está en silencio como parece, ojalá que alguien de la Plataforma en Defensa de la Onda Corta de REE trate de averiguar que pasa contactando con la emisora. Hugo López, desde Santiago de Chile me acaba de informar que allí se está recibiendo bien la frecuencia de 15390. Si no nos mostramos interesados, imagino que pronto volverán a intentar cerrar la emisora. Un saludo (Manuel Méndez, Lugo, España, ibid.) Hola Manuel. Acá en el area de Miami la podemos escuchar en 15390 kHz. Con señal muy baja hasta su cierre a las 2300 UT. Nada en los 9690 y 15500. Saludos, (Dino Bloise Jan 4, noticiasdx yg via DXLD) 9690, Jan 3 at 1859, for the fourth day in a row, no signal from REE opening to North America. JBA carriers on 15390 and 15500 for other targets. 9690, Jan 4 at 1911 check, again no signal here but JBA carriers on 15390, 15500. 9690, Jan 5 at 2126, still no signal here, and the 15s are not audible either. Monitors in Spain confirm that the upper two are on, but they hear nothing on 9690. So the transmissions continue, except to North America; just a temporary issue? (Glenn Hauser, OK, WORLD OF RADIO 1859, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 9690 came back a week later, Jan 7 (gh) ** SWAZILAND. 6135, TWR. Tremendous signal with ”What a Friend We Have in Jesus” at 2003, studio M announcer with ID and Swaziland address, brief instrumental music bridge, M again but cut off, IS once, and off at 2005. 29 Dec (Dave Valko, Perseus SDR and BOGs on Micro-DXpedition, near Dunlo PA, Hard-Core-DX mailing list via DXLD) ** TAIWAN. SOH Taiwan shortwave list. Mostly the CNR1 jammer are exact on even xxx.000 kHz frequency instead. SOH Sound of Hope, Xi Wang Zhi Sheng, various languages? log 0500 - 0700 UT Dec 30, on remote SDR unit in eastern Thailand 6230.076 TWN SOH 6279.956 TWN SOH 6369.940 TWN SOH 6729.947 TWN SOH 6900.045 TWN SOH 7280.059 TWN SOH 7309.991 TWN SOH 7600.162 TWN SOH 7729.066 TWN SOH 7800.104 TWN SOH 9155.071 TWN SOH 9180.165 TWN SOH 9200.158 TWN SOH 0519 UT 9230.038 TWN SOH 9254.961 TWN SOH 9279.878 TWN SOH wandered up and down 9319.936 TWN SOH 0523 UT 9539.989 TWN SOH 9634.906 TWN SOH 9730.012 TWN SOH 9849.961 TWN SOH 9930.083 TWN SOH 9970.116 TWN SOH 0538 UT 10820.036 TWN SOH 10870.125 TWN SOH 10920.429 TWN SOH 10960.002 TWN SOH 11070.069 TWN SOH 11100.144 TWN SOH 11150.168 TWN SOH 11300.141 TWN SOH 11370.166 TWN SOH 11410.079 TWN SOH 11430.008 TWN SOH 11465.053 TWN SOH 11470.092 TWN SOH 11499.900 TWN SOH 0556 UT 11526.401 TWN SOH 11580.027 TWN SOH 11600.232 TWN SOH 11715.086 TWN SOH 0604 UT 11765.190 TWN SOH 11775.910 TWN SOH 11969.982 TWN SOH 12150.253 TWN SOH 12189.930 TWN SOH 12344.875 TWN SOH 12500.235 TWN SOH 0611 UT 12800.144 TWN SOH 12800.342 TWN SOH 12910.195 TWN SOH 13230.000 TWN SOH 0619 UT 13530.219 TWN SOH 13680.180 TWN SOH 13889.553 TWN SOH 13890.202 TWN SOH 0624 UT 13919.942 TWN SOH 13979.999 TWN SOH 13988.900 TWN SOH 0628 UT 13990.334 TWN SOH 14370.020 TWN SOH 14430.074 TWN SOH 0640 UT 14499.871 TWN SOH 14700.154 TWN SOH 14709.414 TWN SOH 14774.979 TWN SOH 14870.183 TWN SOH 14980.083 TWN SOH 0647 UT 15070.225 TWN SOH 15294.969 TWN SOH 15339.972 TWN SOH 15340 even kHz by CHN mainland jammed. 15775.987 TWN SOH 15800.194 TWN SOH wandered up and down x.232 kHz. 15840.195 TWN SOH 15939.975 TWN SOH 0655 UT 15969.919 TWN SOH 16100.290 TWN SOH 16160.090 TWN SOH 16250.090 TWN SOH 0703 UT 16299.977 TWN SOH 16350.169 TWN SOH 16600.204 TWN SOH 16979.954 TWN SOH 0708 UT 16999.694 TWN SOH 17200.212 TWN SOH 17400.214 TWN SOH 17440.214 TWN SOH 18870.000 TWN SOH [selected SDR options, span 12.5 kHz RBW 15.3 Hertz] (Wolfgang Büschel, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Dec 30, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Wow, what intensive monitoring, and amazing how many little transmitters they are operating, mostly inaudible here (gh, DXLD) ** TAIWAN. 11570, Suab Xaa Moo Zoo - Tanshui. S/on 1130 with music and ID in the Hmong language. 30-minute religious programming. The website is http://www.sxmzradioministry.org/ Very good signal on Dec 26. (Rob Wagner VK3BVW, Jan 2, http://www.medxr.blogspot.com.au ARDXC mailing list via DXLD) ** TINIAN. Frequency change of Radio Free Asia in Korean from Dec 29: 1500-1700 NF 9300 TIN 125 kW / 329 deg to EaAs, ex 7195, re-ex 7210 73! (Ivo Ivanov, QTH: Sofia, Bulgaria, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1859, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Thus evacuating the exclusive worldwide 40m hamband where it never should have ventured in the first place, duh (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGST) ** TURKEY. 5960, Dec 30 at 0053, VOT IS at S9 but noisy. The spurious German broadcast must have aired complete from 0000 instead of turning off after English (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) [as in ETHIOPIA about jamming 7235v:] and !! WHITE NOISE !! audio broadband started 7223 - 7243 kHz, hit as noise also 3 kHz range of adjacent VoTurkey Emirler English program on 7240.004 kHz, Question of the Month at 0436 UT, latter reaches S=9+35dB strength, \\ TRT Emirler 6080.002 S=9+5dB. Signal heard always at remote SDR units at Doha Qatar, Moscow Russia, various in Italy, Madrid Spain, Grenoble France, Belgium, The Netherlands, Liverpool England, Ireland, central Sweden. (Wolfgang Büschel, Dec 30, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1859, DXLD) 5960, Dec 31 at 2300, no signal in English to North America from VOT, where it`s already next year; but on fairly at 2305 check. 12035.008, Jan 1 at 1417, VOT fair in English playing unusual music, sounds like Bach with a Turkish twist; Allah forbid it should imply something Christian! Soon wishes us Happy New Year, peace and love; brief headlines I can`t make out, but should have been about the latest massacre in Istanbul. Sign-off and several IS iterations until 1425* (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Having found the German service on short wave at a time when they are not supposed to be on short wave (3 January 0045 h UTC 5960 kHz), I researched the internet streams of the Voice of Turkey. The Voice of Turkey has reorganized its stream portals (at least when compared to my notes of 2014). The home service list http://radyo.trt.net.tr/KanalListesi.aspx leads you to five national, five regional and three city services, but not to the international service (as compared to 2014). http://www.trtvotworld.com/ serves as an entrance portal to the various foreign services, where you can also find the respective audio offers of the editorial staff. In contrast to 2014, there are no obvious links to the satellite streams. Luckily, they are still there: TRT VOT East http://www.trt.net.tr/Anasayfa/canli.aspx?y=radyo&k=trtvoteast TRT VOT World http://www.trt.net.tr/Anasayfa/canli.aspx?y=radyo&k=trtvotwo TRT VOT West http://www.trt.net.tr/Anasayfa/canli.aspx?y=radyo&k=trtvotwest TRT Avrupa FM http://www.trt.net.tr/Anasayfa/canli.aspx?y=radyo&k=trtavrupafm (Dr Hansjoerg Biener 3 January 2017, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** TURKEY. VOA NEWS --- TURKEY MOVES TO BLOCK INTERNET ACCESS Doug Bernard January 4, 2017 http://www.voanews.com/a/turkey-moves-to-block-internet-access-/3662886.html Even in the best of times, the government of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has had a strained relationship with the Internet. Ankara repeatedly has tried to restrict various news and social media sites — such as YouTube and Twitter — during times of political stress or just to block content it finds insulting. Traditionally, the blocks aren't long lasting or very effective, as many web users in Turkey turned to tools like DNS or Tor to evade the blocks. But following recent events — the bombing of an Istanbul nightclub, the assassination of Russian ambassador Andrey Karlov, and July's attempted coup d'etat by a faction in the military — the Erdogan government's posture toward the internet may be hardening permanently. Specifically, analysts and civil society organizations say the Erdogan administration has begun moving aggressively to restrict internet and mobile phone access to the rest of the web — and for the first time, is showing no signs of backing off any time soon. 'Devouring force' Erdogan's antipathy towards the web and social media is nothing new. "There is now a scourge that is called Twitter," Erdogan said at a 2013 rally. "To me, social media is the worst menace to society!" He has called Facebook "immoral," YouTube "a devouring force," and has promised to "eradicate" Twitter. "Erdogan's strategy is to demonize social media," said University of North Carolina cyber-law researcher Zeynep Tufekci. "It is a strategy of placing social media outside the sacred sphere, as a disruption of family, as a threat to unity, as an outside blade tearing at the fabric of society." The U.S. State Department has been critical of past efforts by Turkish authorities to block certain websites or social media portals, calling such actions an encroachment on free speech. And in the past, such restrictions were typically short-lived, creating only temporary blockages. The reason for Erdogan's bluster and periodic blocks, said Tufekci, is that Ankara is trying to set or control the narrative, steering attention away from embarrassing stories online and casting the internet as a bed of scoundrels and lies. "Erdogan likely still has enough supporters to win elections, but to continue to win, he needs to keep them off social media. His game is to scare them about all that comes from social media," she told VOA. With Turkey facing near-historic pressures internally and externally, however, some cyber-researchers fear the Erdogan government's recent crackdown on free expression online and off is a sign of worse censorship to come. Persistent restrictions "When there's an attack, say an explosion, nationwide restrictions are often imposed," said Alp Toker, a censorship researcher and spokesperson with the organization Turkey Blocks. Just minutes after the Karlov assassination, for example, Toker says they documented a government throttling back of Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and WhatsApp. The Turkish government regularly blocks tens of thousands of websites; among them blogs, news sites, and civil society organizations, such as opposition parties. What's new and more troubling, according to Toker, is that these restrictions now also are accompanied by new efforts to restrict or block access to Tor and VPN providers – popular tools among Turks for evading online censorship. "This was the first time a social media shutdown has been implemented since sophisticated new controls were introduced a couple of weeks ago to restrict VPN and Tor circumvention services," he told VOA. "For many users in Turkey, this was the first time they were totally blocked off from social media without recourse to their usual means of getting around the censorship." Toker and his fellow researchers say it appears the VPN and Tor blocks are "here to stay." And that, along with renewed rounds of journalists being sent to prison, has people worried about what they can say. "People are afraid of speaking up, especially online," Toker said. "Until recently, opposition groups felt things have been tough, but there are still institutions that can help out. In the last few months, it looks like the government is ready to go all the way. People are backing away; from what I've seen, people are afraid of getting involved." (via VOA Radiogram Jan 7 via roger, DXLD) ** UGANDA [non]. Radio Munansi (WWRB, Morrison, TN Relay), 15240, 1849 31 DEC - RADIO MUNANSI (CLA). SINPO = 35333. ?African Language?, male announcer. QSB=slow-to-moderate rate, modulation on noisy carrier mostly above noise floor with occasional fades to mixing with it. .sf73.4, a4, k3, geomag: Unsettled. 115kw, beamAz 45 , bearing 82 . 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, 2634 KM from transmitter at Manchester / Morrison, TN (WWRB). Local time: 1049 (Rodney Johnson, NV, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 15240, Sat Dec 31 at 1730, P signal with talk and music, presumed R. Munansi via WWRB on weekends only. Recheck at 1808, now it`s inbooming at S9+20! in Luganda talk. 1819 recheck music, weaker at S8-S5. By 1825 it`s poor at S7-S5, no signal at 2033, off already? It had been hit by a short-skip sporadic E enhancement which also strengthened some other eastern US SWBCs at 1809: 15610 WEWN S9+20-30; 15710 WHRI S9+30; but not WRMI, and not WWCR, close neighbor of WWRB, which on 15825 was only S7-S4, but on 13845 boosted to S9+20. Both are normally quite weak here in daytime, skipping over. 15240, also Sun Jan 1 at 1837 check, very poor with African music (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** UKRAINE. INTERNATIONAL TV CHANNEL "UKRAINE TODAY" CLOSING DOWN http://uatoday.tv/society/ukraine-today-has-to-say-goodbye-854168.html Ukraine - Ukraine Today has to say goodbye! 1+1 Media Group shuts down the project on January 1, 2017 Ukraine Today - international news project set up by commercial broadcaster 1+1 Media Group - is forced to cease its operations. The project began in August 2014. Ukraine Today's main purpose was to counter information war waged on Ukraine by Russian propaganda media outlets following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The launch of Ukraine Today served more of a social purpose rather than business interests. At the time of our launch, there was no public equivalent which could provide the same function. Last year, Ukraine's public service broadcaster launched its own international TV channel. Ukraine Today is confident that our project has fulfilled its mission. "We all understand that our company as well as the whole country is going through difficult times. Today, we cannot afford to have a project without a clearly defined business component," said Alexander Tkachenko, CEO of 1+1 media group. Tkachenko expressed his gratitude to the whole Ukraine Today team, including its head Tetyana Pushnova, for their contribution not only to the project, but also to the information security of the country. Ukraine Today's editorial team will inform you on the latest developments in Ukraine and Eastern Europe until December 30. Thank you for watching and reading us! (26 December 2016 via Dr Hansjoerg Biener, DXLD) "Ukraine Today, good luck" was what RT said to them: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cNerjGlApvs Really, how bad a dilettante has one to be to do this?? You may wonder why you already find no details about their satellite distribution anymore: That's because it ceased already in April. http://www.digitaltveurope.net/522052/ukraine-today-goes-online-only-to-save-costs/ What I also find interesting is the logo of 1+1, because it's a copy of the former Moscow 1st channel one: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:1_%D0%BA%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%B0%D0%BB.svg And the mentioned UA TV still has no distribution via Hotbird or other satellite platforms that are common in central/western Europe. If they believe that Amos 4 is, then – well, good luck (Kai Ludwig, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U K. BBCWS special programme on BBC Monitoring --- Apologies for the short notice! Today's edition of The Fifth Floor programme on BBC WS radio is a 50-minute special dedicated to BBC Monitoring. It'll be aired at 1206 GMT, and be available from shortly afterwards at http;//www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p04kt3kl (Posted by: chrisgreenway, 1024 UT Dec 30, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1859, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Viz.: Watching the World --- The Fifth Floor Caversham Park is the home of BBC Monitoring which for over 70 years has been the eyes and ears of the BBC, watching, translating and analysing the world's media and social media. David Amanor visits the former stately home to meet some of the journalists who've witnessed history unfold in their own countries, from the Cold War to the Syrian conflict. Senior Editors Simona Kralova and Chris Greenway take us back in time to tell the story of how this grand house become a hub for information gathering, from the era of morse code and typewriters to satellites and social media. Sifting information from misinformation has always been part of the service's DNA. Ukrainian Vitaliy Shevchenko, Iraqi Mina al-Alami, and Source Manager and morse code man Al Bolton discuss the challenges of sourcing reliable information in the past, and today. Watching distressing news from home is part of daily life for many journalists. Vesna Stancic from Bosnia, Syrian Lina Shaikhouni and Pinar Sevinclidir from Turkey discuss the personal impact of living the story. There are also lighter moments to be enjoyed at Caversham, particularly for the musical, including Co-ordinating Editor Tom Mulligan, and Iranians Arash Ahmadi and Mahtab Nikpour, who do a good turn on the guitar, jaws [sic] harp and drums when not analysing Iranian politics and tales of chubby Chinese squirrels (via WORLD OF RADIO 1859, DXLD) ** U K. By the way, for those of you who missed the Queen's Message this year on shortwave, you can find it archived here: https://archive.org/details/BBCWSQueensChristmasMessage7.465MHz25December20161500UTC and here: https://shortwavearchive.com/archive/bbc-world-service-queens-christmas-message-december-25-2016 (Richard Langley, NB, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U K. The BBC WS Regional Programme Schedules for November 2016 to March 2017 are now available at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldserviceradio/help/faq#faq3 - ignore the text which says that the schedules are valid until October 2016, the pdf links are for the current broadcast period (Alan Roe, Teddington, UK, Dec 31, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U K [non]. 7490.0, Dec 31 at 2330, BBC Thailand is nothing but a lo het under WBCQ, `SW Saturday Night`, which is slightly on the hi side. This is among the contradictory rosters of BBCWS frequencies from different listings before and after 0000 where I would like to hear the leap-second-expanded Greenwich timesignal and full strike of Big Ben. At 2358 not blocked but JBA since they are all intended for morning in Asia, are 5875 and 9740 via Singapore and/or Thailand, but too weak to detect anything at *2017y; and meanwhile I have missed counting the 61 seconds on WWV (but later confirmed the leap indirectly; see PERU) (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) See WORLD OF HOROLOGY below Hi All, I was hearing a Babcock test transmission on 6045 kHz at quite good strength until a few minutes ago, but the signal has dropped right down now, though I don't know if this is due to propagation changing or them playing around with the power or direction (Alan Gale, UK, 1439 UT Jan 4, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. 3272-USB, Dec 31 at 0233, that MARS net again as heard 8 nights ago, one signal good, another very poor, exchanging Happy New Year greetings (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. 5000, Jan 1 at 0104, WWV is still announcing that a leap second *will be* inserted, which already happened more than an hour ago. Oops. A station whose raison d`être is hyper-accurate timekeeping has difficulty distinguishing future from past. See also PERU (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. Interview with a guy from the Broadcasting Board of Governors about Voice of America. From the CNN show Reliable Sources, December 18, 2016 episode. http://pmd.cdn.turner.com/cnn/big//tv/2016/12/18/what-will-trump-do-with-voice-of-amercia.cnn_1046388_768x432_1300k.mp4 (Tom Doerr, MARE Tipsheet Dec 30 via DXLD) ** U S A. VOA Daily Public Studio Tours No Longer Require Registration George Mackenzie, VOA public affairs specialist, welcomes visitors to the daily studio tour. [caption] WASHINGTON D.C., January 3, 2017 -- Reservations are no longer required for the Voice of America daily studio tours. Starting January 9, 2017, the tour will open to the public at 12:00 p.m. Monday through Friday (except federal holidays or when closed for special events) on a first come, first served basis. The first 20 people in line will be admitted. Interested visitors should check www.voatour.com for daily tour availability. VOA is the largest U.S. government international broadcaster. The guided tours give visitors an opportunity to see live productions of VOA television and radio programs from a 24-hour multimedia facility that contains more than 40 radio and ten television studios. While VOA's official address is 330 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C., the public tour entrance is on C Street, SW, between 3rd and 4th Streets. Visitors should arrive by 11:45 a.m. to go through a security screening. Each visitor must bring a valid U.S. federal or state-issued picture ID, such as a driver's license or passport. Non-U.S. citizens are required to provide a passport. All tours are walking and wheelchair accessible. Tours are free and conducted in English only (VOA PR via DXLD) ** U S A. 15220 & 11720, Sat Dec 31 at 2104, NO signals from VOA Creole service, which has been defaulting to English on weekends. So, canceled Sat & Sun, or canceled all? I know I still heard real Creole opening at 2100 one day this past week, but not logged. 15220 & 11720, Sunday January 1 at 2122 check, VOA Creole in English is AWOL again like it was yesteryear/yesterday Saturday. Must check Monday whether it`s also still gone weekdays. 15220 & 11720, Monday Jan 2 at 2110 check, VOA Creole service is still gone on weekday, so assume canceled for 2017. Or totally rescheduled? Haiti no longer needs this? Or, did it ever? (Glenn Hauser, OK, WORLD OF RADIO 1859, DX LISTENING DIGEST) According to IBB Monitoring last transmission of VOA in Creole was on Dec 29: 2100-2130 on 11720/15220 both via Greenville -- 73! (Ivo Ivanov, QTH: Sofia, Bulgaria, Jan 4, WORLD OF RADIO 1859, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. WORLD OF RADIO 1857 monitoring: to my surprise, last week`s show is playing from 0039 tune-in until 0100 UT Fri Dec 30 on WBCQ 5129.84-AM, as this transmitter adds another unscheduled program. At first I assumed it was // but not synchronized with 9330 where WOR is scheduled at this time, presumably first WBCQ airing of new 1858. (Glenn Hauser, WORLD OF RADIO 1859, DX LISTENING DIGEST) WORLD OF RADIO 1858 monitoring: confirmed Thursday December 29 at 2130 on WRMI, 13695, excellent. Also confirmed UT Fri Dec 30 after 0030 on WBCQ 9330.0v-CUSB, but JBA (and at same time, previous WOR 1857 is playing on 5129.84, as above!) WORLD OF RADIO 1858 monitoring: not confirmed UT Sat Dec 31 at 0047 on WBCQ, 9330v-CUSB where there is no signal; maybe on but not propagating, as 9265 WINB achieves but a JBA carrier. Next: 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 1415.5 WRMI 9955 to SSE Wed 2200 WBCQ 7490v to WSW Thu 0030 WBCQ 9330v-CUSB to WSW WORLD OF RADIO 1858 monitoring: not confirmed, Saturday Dec 31 at 1555 on HLR 7265-CUSB Germany via UTwente remote: only S Asian music from CRI Hindi via East Turkistan. HLR is sticking to 7265 as a German legacy frequency, no matter what. WBCQ 9330v-CUSB not confirmed UT Sunday Jan 1 at 0003, so likely not on either last year at 2330 Sat (9265 WINB is now S8-S9; however, 9330 is on and audible at 0057, and after 0100; see separate log). WOR 1858 confirmed, UT Sunday Jan 1 at 0429 on WA0RCR, 1860-AM, MO, about RCW in Chile, 5 minutes in, so started about 0424 this week. 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 Wed 0030 WBCQ 9330v-CUSB to WSW Wed 1415.5 WRMI 9955 to SSE Wed 2200 WBCQ 7490v to WSW Thu 0030 WBCQ 9330v-CUSB to WSW Note: Allan Weiner says that WOR will also be airing at variable unpredictable times during his Radio Jennifer service on expanded hours of WBCQ 5130v (Glenn Hauser, OK, WORLD OF RADIO 1859, DX LISTENING DIGEST) WORLD OF RADIO 1858 monitoring: not confirmed UT Monday Jan 2 at 0030 on WBCQ 9330, no signal (nor at 0134 check), and 9265 WINB was JBA carrier only, so maybe WBCQ on and not propagating. Confirmed UT Monday January 2 from 0401 on Area 51 via WBCQ, 5129.829-AM, fair. Also confirmed UT Mon Jan 2 at 0430 on WRMI webcast, but 9955 JBA carrier (while at 0400 earlier check during Prague it was good! And at 0700, 9955 with BS is S9+20). Next: 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 1415.5 WRMI 9955 to SSE Wed 2200 WBCQ 7490v to WSW Thu 0030 WBCQ 9330v-CUSB to WSW Allan Weiner says that WOR will also be airing at variable unpredictable times during his Radio Jennifer service on expanded hours of WBCQ 5130v. Also, propagation has been so poor that one cannot always confirm the 9330 airings. WORLD OF RADIO 1858 monitoring: confirmed UT Tue Jan 3 after 0030 on WRMI 7730, very good but somewhat undermodulated. Not confirmed at same time on WBCQ 9330v-CUSB, no signal, and 9265 WINB is VP. Next: Tue 2130 WRMI 15770 to NE Tue 2300 WRMI 9955 to SSE Wed 0030 WBCQ 9330v-CUSB to WSW Wed 1030 WRMI 5850 to NW [NEW] Wed 1415.5 WRMI 9955 to SSE Wed 2200 WBCQ 7490v to WSW Thu 0030 WBCQ 9330v-CUSB to WSW Note: Allan Weiner says that WOR will also be airing at variable unpredictable times during his Radio Jennifer service on expanded hours of WBCQ 5130v. Also, propagation has been so poor that one cannot always confirm the 9330 airings. WORLD OF RADIO 1858 monitoring: confirmed Tuesday January 3 at 2130 on WRMI 15770, good. Not confirmed before 0100 UT Wed Jan 4 on WBCQ 9330v-CUSB where there is no signal, while 9265 WINB is S4. Confirmed Wed Jan 4 after 1415.5 on WRMI 9955, good S9+10, no jamming. Also confirmed Wed Jan 4 at 2200 on WBCQ 7490v-AM, fair. Not confirmed UT Thu Jan 5 after 0030 on WBCQ 9330v-CUSB, while 9265 WINB is S9. WOR 1859 confirmed Thu Jan 5 at 2130 on NEW 11580, fair, ex-13695! WORLD OF RADIO 1859 ready for first airings January 5: Thu 1230 WRMI 9955 to SSE Thu 2130 WRMI 11580 to NE Fri 0030 WBCQ 9330v-CUSB Sat 0030 WBCQ 9330v-CUSB Sat 0730 HLR 6190-CUSB to SW [off for maintenance this week only] Sat 1530 HLR 7265-CUSB to SW [off for maintenance this week only] 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 [off for maintenance this week only] 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 Wed 1030 WRMI 5850 to NW [NEW] Tue 2130 WRMI 15770 to NE Tue 2300 WRMI 9955 to SSE Wed 0030 WBCQ 9330v-CUSB to WSW Wed 1415.5 WRMI 9955 to SSE Wed 2200 WBCQ 7490v to WSW Thu 0030 WBCQ 9330v-CUSB to WSW (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Hello Glenn, Happy New Year and all the very best in 2017! Just to let you know that there will be no Hamburger Lokalradio shortwave transmission next weekend, January 7th and 8th, due to maintenance works at the Goehren station. Everything should be back to normal the weekend after that. Many greetings from Michael and myself, (Thomas Völkner, Jan 2, WORLD OF RADIO 1859, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. WORLD OF RADIO ON WQCS Fort Pierce FL --- Glenn, We will begin to carry World Of Radio on WQCS 889 FM HD-2 beginning on Sunday, January 8th at 11 pm [EST = 0400 UT Mondays], (Juan Gualda, WQCS, WORLD OF RADIO 1859, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. 7489.992, WBCQ transmitter not frequency stable! - at 0347 UT on Dec 29, S=9 or -66dBm signal in MI, US foreign minister speech against Israel official build-up housing policy [selected SDR options, span 12.5 kHz RBW 15.3 Hertz] (Wolfgang Büschel, df5sx, Dec 29 from 0341 UT log of Detroit Michigan North America remote post, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews, dxldyg via DXLD) 7490.0-AM, UT Fri Dec 30 at 0042, WBCQ with `Broad Spectrum Radio` --- no advance publicity about this week`s content, because it turns out to be a repeat of last week`s, James Branum rebutting Allan Weiner`s support of Thump. 5129.84-AM, Dec 30 at 0100 following the unexpected replay of last week`s WOR 1857, ID as ``Radio TimTron``, and 0101 WBCQ ID, continuing with him? Also unscheduled until `Just Right` at 0200-0300 UT Fridays. But it`s getting quite weak. 7490-AM, UT Sat Dec 31 at 0130, `Allan Weiner Worldwide` on WBCQ, fluxuating signal from fair to complete fadeouts. Also on // 5129.8 fading too but not necessarily at same time. One could switch back and forth, but with ~30 second delay, you either hear the same thing over or miss half a minute of what came next. Anyhow, what I was able to note on one or the other: Explains the extra-hours programming we have been hearing on 5130-, as his new ``Radio Jennifer Service`` memorial to his late wife. Says it`s a cornucopia of repeats, mixed with rock music, free programs. Agrees with my review of it heard after 0700. Hal Turner will also simulcast starting next Wed at 9-11 pm ET. RJS can pop up anytime as frequency is available 24 hours. Running it remotely from his office at Deland of Fla. This is deliberately NOT being webcast, to get people listening to SW! There is nothing at all yet on the WBCQ website about RJS. Apparently it will all be ad-hoc, so no program schedule will be possible. At 0208 he says the latest WORLD OF RADIO will be included in all RJS transmissions, and addresses me assuming I am listening now: your service is priceless; no one on earth cares more about shortwave radio, permanently(?) absorbed, than Glenn Hauser, doing WOR forever. He reads some logs from the new issue of Free Radio Weekly just in, including mine of YHWH on 5790, 5792, and the 5150 pirate relay. If he ever mentions the other WBCQ I heard on 5120, I miss it. This is a Free Radio Weekend, when there may also be special programming on 7490 and 9330, so keep checking all three, all weekend long. At 0232 he says that there are no language restrixions on WBCQ. At 0239, says Charlie Prince, for Germans will be on again Saturday January 7 at 9 pm ET; missed which frequency. Copy is more difficult now, not only weak and fading signals, but also local noise bursts have started; Xmas lites still up in neighborhood? (Of course, I could have been monitoring webcast but once I`m committed to a SW monitoring session, the computer is off and inaccessible.) Missed some more items about new programming. At 0242, Mike, a good man, passed away a week ago today. Mike who? I never could catch his surname. Apparently someone who did a program on WBCQ, and mentioned in ``Access to the Airwaves``. 0246 benedixion, 0249 tribute clip of Mike --- signing off, 0251 cut to Brother Scare on 7490. 5129.823, Jan 1 at 0003, this WBCQ with `Radio TimTron Worldwide`, and still at 0101 recheck. As sked now 00-02 UT Sundays. Rather, Timtron, without another capital T, per sked: ``One of the most entertaining programs on WBCQ, Radio Timtron Worldwide combines rock music, comedy, and the occcasional skit into a show always worth tuning in to``. A.k.a. Tim Smith, WA1HLR, active in AM on 80m. 9330.016v-CUSB, Jan 1 at 0042, WBCQ is now on at S7-S5, with DJ about dancing to groovin` music, singing along with ``At the Copa---``; 0049 mentions this is on WBCQ 7415! Friday nights, by operations manager Mike, to be followed at 9 o`clock M-F by Financial Survival 2000, also mentions Ed Bolton show, fadeouts. 0057, it`s apparent Mike was substituting for Allan Weiner that week Worldwide since AW was away on a road trip; 0059 cut to current ID, and 0100 Blalock the Blaster. Mike is the guy who died last week, and no doubt this AWWW was pulled out of the AWWW Y2K archives in memoriam. 7490, Jan 2 at 2235, WBCQ with no CCI het unlike yesterday, gospel huxter proclaiming ``if you become a member of a church, you join yourself to a whore``. Okey-dokey. It`s `The Remnant Ministry` scheduled this hour on Mondays. 9330, Jan 4 at 0132, no signal from WBCQ when Blalock should be blasting, yet nearest SWBC neighbor, 9265 WINB achieves S9+25 now. I am suspecting that 9330 transmitter is not only not propagating, but not on the air much of the time, including WOR scheduled at 0030 UT Mon-Sat, 2330 Sat (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. I ran across this while paging down the site where Area 51 program schedules are shown: http://zappahead.tumblr.com/ Ooh, papa toony, we’ve got a loony! 16 Sep 2016 #wbcq#insane#dane-eric-gross Dr. Becker had the letter microfilmed and smuggled out to his brother six years ago. We are dealing with an emotional time bomb. Rough week at WBCQ. Dane the faux “hour of the time” guy went insane and started threatening everyone, and was promptly kicked off the station Wednesday afternoon. Caused us a bit of stress. We’re ok now. 23 Sep 2016 #area51#wbcq#shortwave “…gather up all your occult paraphernalia like your rock music, occult books, charms, Dungeons and Dragons material. Don’t throw them away. Burn them! We’ll do that here tonight.” 3 Oct 2016 #wbcq#timtron#shortwave #we are being stalked by a crazy person#we really are#ask the aroostook county sheriff's department (via gh, DXLD) ** U S A. 7730, Dec 29 at 0030, `Viva Miami` shows up again about the Everglades, on the schedule UT Thu as if it were a half-hour show. 5850, Thu Dec 29 at 0733 check, // weaker 7730, WRMI is again playing that dramatic narration about the Grinch, presumably ``How the Grinch Stole Xmas``, same as I heard *exactly* one week ago, again airing instead of `World Music` on 7730 and instead of TOM on 5850. Once something is in the automation system for once, it`s likely to keep replaying unless overridden. 15770, Dec 30 at 0046, a JBA carrier is here! So now I am concluding that WRMI is simply leaving XMTR 3 on the air into the night, maybe all night, when it is mostly not propagating, instead of switching to 7780 which has been absent except for one log a few nights ago. Maybe #3 is just uncooperative in operating on the 7 MHz band for some reason (but we know would radiate on second harmonic 15560, not that far from 15770). I hadn`t bothered to precise 15770 during normal listening but now I do and get 15769.98. Still a JBA carrier at 0132, but now it measures to 15770.01. There is one other station in Aoki on 15770, AIR Delhi-Khampur, but only at 0400-0530 in Persian, Arabic. 7730, Dec 30 at 0046, WRMI with gamelan-sounding music, altho scheduled during this semihour UT Fridays is `Sounding the Alarm`, presumably religious. 15770, Dec 31 at 2253, WRMIBS is still on at VG S9+10, past nominal 2200*. Still haven`t caught when this close if ever, as it may just stay on all night, faded into nothingness, lest successfully QSYing to 7780, which it does not. Recheck at 0015 Jan 1: no signal on 15770, 7780 or 2 x 7780 = 15560. 5765, Jan 3 at 0653, WRMIBS is missing. Then I check all other WRMI frequencies, and find something must be quite wrong at Okeechobee. 5015 is also off; 5950 also off. These are on: 5850 // 7730 with World Music instead of BS; 6855 with different World Music than the others, instead of BS; 7570 BS; 9395 TN; 9955 BS; 11580 music not BS. 15440 & 17790 & 13695 & 5015, Jan 3 at 1508, no signals, but the others are at least detectable at 1537 chex. Oh2, WRMI has just updated their frequency sked, effective Jan 2! which I have conveniently tinied to http://tinyurl.com/WRMIfqs It`s not outages, but major 2017 revamp of scheduling, showing a drastic reduxion in Brother Scare hours, but still on ONLY about 4 frequencies at once. Here it is from the grid converted to text form: #1: 11580, 24h #2: 5985, 03-05 only #3: 7780, 22-12; 15770, 12-22 [but 7780 has been AWOL, still?] #4: 11530, 00-02 only #5: 6855, 24h #6: 9395, 24h #7: 21675, 14-23 #8: 11825, 13-24 [no 5765 at night] #9: 5010 [sic, in header but no times; ex-5015 if it come back??] #10: 9955, 24h #11: 7570, 23-14 [NO 13695 daytime!] #12: 5850, 23-14 [NO 15440 daytime!] #13: 7730, 23-14 [NO 17790 daytime!] #14: 5950, 11-12 & 22-01 What effect will this have on WORLD OF RADIO? 13695, Thu at 2130, probably our best time on WRMI, is gone, but R. Slovakia at 2100 has been moved to 11580. Not clear if 2130 programs make same move, as program schedules below have not been updated yet. New time for WOR is Wed 1030 on 5850. The others appear to be intact. No changes are shown to the 9955 schedule (Glenn Hauser, OK, WORLD OF RADIO 1859, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 11580, Tue Jan 3 at 2130, WRMI with `Frecuencia al Día`, instead of 13695, which still appears on the program grid. Wed Jan 4 ending at 2157 on 11580 is Wavescan, also ex-13695 at 2130. So it appears the 2130-2200 UT strip of programs on 13695 have been shifted to 11580, and includes WORLD OF RADIO on Thursdays. 11580, Wed Jan 4 at 2201, to my surprise, non-BS programming now continues on 11580, Keith Perron introducing the `Happy Station Xmas Show`, to include readings of ``Night Before Xmas`` and ``How the Grinch Stole Xmas`` --- so that explains what I was hearing two weeks in a row, Thursdays at 0733 on 5850 // 7730. But first, Tom Meijer sings and so do the Chipmunx; fading out by 2227. The unupdated WRMI program grid shows that `Media Network` is on 5950 Weds at 22-23, while the frequency grid above it shows Family Radio in Spanish during that hour daily. But Thu Jan 5 at 2200 on 11580, it`s `La Rosa de Tokio`, another one listed for 5950 only. 11580, Thu Jan 5 circa 1430, `World Music` is still playing during this hour (except Sundays), always enjoyable wide variety, some familiar tunes, some not. Ditto for the 21-22 UT hour on 9955. 15770, Wed Jan 4 at 2158, Brother Scare is already running; maybe switched early? Or not really carrying part of a RFI broadcast at 2115-2200 as scheduled only on Weds. I hope other non-BS programming continue at 2130 on 15770, including WOR on Tuesdays (which was confirmed this week). Thu Jan 5 at 2130 on 15770, I`m hearing R. Ukraine International as scheduled this day only. 2200 back to BS, for how long?? (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Deleted frequencies via WRMI Okeechobee effective Jan 1 Brother HySTAIRical, major cuts 2100-2200 on 11580 YFR 100 kW / 044 deg to WeEu English tx#01 0100-0300 on 5985 YFR 100 kW / 222 deg to MEXI English tx#02 0600-0700 on 5985 YFR 100 kW / 222 deg to MEXI English tx#02 2100-2200 on 5985 YFR 100 kW / 222 deg to MEXI English tx#02 2200-1200 on 7780#YFR 100 kW / 044 deg to WeEu English tx#03 0200-1200 on 11530 YFR 100 kW / 160 deg to CeAm English tx#04 1200-2200 on 17790 YFR 100 kW / 160 deg to CeAm English tx#04 2200-2400 on 11530 YFR 100 kW / 160 deg to CeAm English tx#04 0000-2400 on 6855 YFR 100 kW / 285 deg to WNAm English tx#05 1000-1400 on 21675 YFR 100 kW / 087 deg to NCAf English tx#07 0000-1300 on 5765 YFR 100 kW / 355 deg to ENAm English tx#08 0000-2400 on 5015 YFR 100 kW / 222 deg to MEXI English tx#09 1400-2100 on 13695 YFR 100 kW / 315 deg to WNAm English tx#11 2200-2300 on 13695 YFR 100 kW / 315 deg to WNAm English tx#11 0900-1000 on 5850 YFR 100 kW / 315 deg to WNAm English tx#12 1400-2300 on 11565 YFR 100 kW / 315 deg to WNAm English tx#12 0600-0700 on 7730 YFR 100 kW / 285 deg to MEXI English tx#13 1400-2300 on 15440 YFR 100 kW / 285 deg to MEXI English tx#13 0100-1100 on 5950 YFR 100 kW / 181 deg to Cuba English tx#14 1200-1300 on 5950 YFR 100 kW / 181 deg to Cuba English tx#14 1300-2000 on 9495 YFR 100 kW / 181 deg to Cuba English tx#14 2000-2200 on 5950 YFR 100 kW / 181 deg to Cuba English tx#14 #listed in updated schedule of WRMI, but really is not on air Radio Slovakia Int. 2100-2200 on 13695 YFR 100 kW / 315 deg to WNAm Slo/Eng tx#11 Additional transmissions Radio Slovakia Int. 2100-2200 on 11580 YFR 100 kW / 044 deg to WeEu Slo/Eng tx#01 Brother HySTAIRical 2300-2400 on 11580 YFR 100 kW / 044 deg to WeEu English tx#01 Various WRMI programs 0000-2400 on 6855 YFR 100 kW / 285 deg to WNAm various tx#05 0600-0700 on 7730 YFR 100 kW / 285 deg to MEXI various tx#13 -- 73! (Ivo Ivanov, QTH: Sofia, Bulgaria, Jan 5, dxldyg via DXLD) ** U S A. 12050, Jan 1 at 1352, WEWN Spanish is dead air again except for humwhine, and barely audible CCI talk under, which is RFA Tibetan via Kuwait this hour only and/or CNR1 jamming (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. UNIDENTIFIED, 4920, Hearing this again at home like at the SGLs [state game lands, DX-pedition sites]. Thought for sure it was // 5015 [WRMI] with Bro. Stair at 1430, but definitely not at 1458 as it had music and 5015 still had Stair. 24 Dec (Dave Valko, Dunlo, PA, USA, Perseus SDR with Wellbrook ALA1530S loop and 153 foot Delta Loop, Hard-Core-DX mailing list via DXLD) 4920 UNID. Around 1215, found it was indeed // 5015 WRMI which had 2 or 3 programs running simultaneously. A real mess. Fixed at 1230 and only Bro. Stair was on. But oddly, 4920 was 10 seconds behind 5015. Checked and found on several. SDR.hu receivers on the east coast. After 1300, this had another program not carried on any other frequency. Not heard the next 3 days. 25 Dec (Dave Valko, Dunlo, PA, USA, Perseus SDR with Wellbrook ALA1530S loop and 153 foot Delta Loop, Hard-Core-DX mailing list via DXLD) 2 or 3 programs at once? Maybe, but during this hour it`s moanin` and groanin` which can sound like a pileup (gh, DXLD) 4920, USA, WHRI (2nd subharmonic of 9840), 1817 playing religious pop- like music. M and W announcers at 1828. 1829 World Harvest R. address. // 9840 at 1836. Fairly strong at 1821, 1823. Not there at 1931 check and neither was 9840. Glad to finally figure this out. For a Youtube video of the reception, click on this link https://youtu.be/5OmHp5YINe0 (use 480p quality setting for best viewing) 29 Dec (Dave Valko, Perseus SDR and BOGs on Micro-DXpedition, near Dunlo PA, Hard-Core-DX mailing list via WORLD OF RADIO 1859, DXLD) ** U S A. 15280, Dec 30 at 2110, Brother Scare audio on unexpected frequency, mixing with something else, and synchronized not with WRMI 15440 but with WHRI 15710, which is 430 kHz above 15280. I can`t figure how it would land on 15280; at least the mix is not with my strong local MW 1390 KCRC. Also it cuts on and off; perhaps some external mixing in the neighborhood if not a genuine spur out of Furman (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. 5085, Jan 3 at 0236, WTWW-2 is S9+30 of dead air. I wonder what it might have modulated? (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. 17775, Jan 3 at 1900, KVOH English ID, into Spanish hymn, so maybe staying on later than scheduled sign-off (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. 9275, Jan 4 at 2131, WMLK is still on and it`s a speaker other than DEJOM, quite a rarity. One monitor hearing Yahweh mentioned here, thought it was the YHWH pirate. Axually it would be clever for him to go on 9275 after WMLK finishes (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. 7504.930 ... x.945 kHz, wandered WRNO program at 0307 UT, not Chinese like print-out in Aoki list, English instead [selected SDR options, span 12.5 kHz RBW 15.3 Hertz] (Wolfgang Büschel, df5sx, Dec 29, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews, dxldyg via DXLD) Hi Wolfy, The programs in Chinese ("Praise for Today") that are carried by WRNO on Thursday (UT) and Saturday (UT), are currently on the air starting just before 0400 UT (about 0355) till just before 0500 UT. This change is due to USA changing the time back on Sunday, Nov 5. In fact, I did briefly hear the Dec 29 Chinese program, so it was broadcast that day, just an hour later than you checked. Sorry, on Saturday, Dec 31, WRNO (badly drifting around) did not carry the program in Chinese, as heard last Thursday. Had a music program at 0400+; subsequent checking also found only non-Chinese. A one Saturday only anomaly? (Ron Howard, ibid.) ** U S A. KIMF Nevada möchte „bald“ mit dem Kurzwellenbetrieb starten, einige aktuelle Fotos der Anlage nun auf unserer Facebookseite: http://a-dx.at/facebook 73 (Christoph Ratzer, via SW Bulletin Jan 1 via DXLD) Christoph, thanks for enclosed pictures from James Planck, Facebook. /TN INTERNATIONAL MISSIONS FELLOWSHIP, RADIO Our direction in Radio ministry here at IMF is simply an extension of our vision to reach remote areas of the world with the Gospel, to bring them the Full Gospel and End Time Message of the soon coming of the Lord. We are a Missionary/Evangelistic and Church Planting ministry, but radio is one of the tools we have been given to help accomplish this vision. We are busy building a network of primarily AM and International Shortwave stations. We use this medium because AM and Shortwave Frequencies reach over mountains, into valleys, up long rivers, and into remote jungles and villages where unreached or under evangelized people live. We can be heard worldwide by those with shortwave receivers (there is more than 1 Billion Shortwave Receivers in the world), but we also want to provide fixed tuned handheld solar powered receivers which can be given or dropped into remote villages so they can hear the Gospel and be discipled by the teaching. Every person in the world must hear the endtime message of “Get ready for the coming of the Lord” and Revival! We have built radio stations in Honduras http://www.radiomi.com Central America (Radio MI on AM, Shortwave, and the web. They are heard locally in Central America and in many other nations. IMF helped build this station many years ago. In the USA we have purchased a property near Battle Mountain, NV where we are working to build a powerful Shortwave Station which will be beamed at Mexico and Asia. It can be heard also in North America. We plan to build more stations after this. We have also just built a radio control center and small studio in Corona, CA to send programs to these transmitters via satellite/internet. It is now in operation. You can hear KIMF by clicking on the IMF Missionary Radio link below. Listen to IMF Missionary Radio, Listen to Radio MI, Honduras. From http://www.imfworldmissions.org/?page_id=45 All seven pictures from KIMF-Nevada. We have filed for the license to begin operations on shortwave (James Planck, via via SW Bulletin Jan 1 via WORLD OF RADIO 1859, DXLD) KIMF has been registering [and paying FCC for?] imaginary schedules for years, currently as if on 6065, 9300, 13570 (Glenn Hauser, WORLD OF RADIO 1859, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. Glenn, RE: ``Also, the 2016-2017 NRC AM Log does not show any FM simul for KKOB. Is 94.5 new? Nor does the WTFDA FM Database, with only two 94.5`s in NM`` Added to the database about a month after the Log was created 9/2/2016 (Wayne Heinen, ed. NRC AM Log, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Only Wayne can see I never understood the need for KOB's booster in Santa Fe. When I lived in Albuquerque, KOB covered the northern half of the state without any problem, including Santa Fe. The 1 and 5 kW AM stations in each city could be heard clearly in the other, so why did KOB ever feel they needed a booster 50 miles from their 50 kW signal? I never had any trouble picking them up in SF. 73, (Kit W5KAT, CO, ABDX via DXLD) KOB's nighttime null toward WABC falls right over Santa Fe, hence the perceived need for the booster, which operates only at night. It was something of a sop to KOB after Hubbard lost the decades-long lawsuit in which KOB tried to get I-A clear channel status in New Mexico, which would have downgraded WABC to a I-B. It is a delightful irony that KKOB and WABC eventually ended up co-owned under first Citadel and then Cumulus (Scott Fybush, NY, ibid.) I am curious, has anyone technically heard this booster? And if you have, how far away did you receive the booster? (Todd Skaine, ibid.) I would have to say I have heard it since I have listened to KOB (now KKOB) while driving through Santa Fe at night, but how could anyone tell if they are hearing the booster or the main signal? It's the same situation with an FM booster. One of the stations I listen to regularly on FM has a booster, but I never know whether I am hearing it or the main signal unless I am out of range of the booster. There have been times on the FM when there were problems with the synchronization that resulted in an echo effect, but it was more the case earlier on in the operation. They seem to have it pretty well resolved now. I don't know how they prevent intermod between the signals on AM or FM. One thing some of the FMs have done to prevent it when they have their main tower farther from a big city they are trying to serve with a booster is to only transmit with horizontal polarization on the main signal, but use both horizontal and vertical polarization on the booster to benefit reception in cars. 73, (Kit W5KAT, CO, ibid.) To answer Todd`s question about anyone hearing KKOB Santa Fe, recently in my reports and DXLD: ``770, Dec 24 at 0259 UT, after getting XEACH on the N/S antenna (see MEXICO), on the E/W antenna a full ID as ``Happy holidays from 94.5 FM and AM 770 News Radio, KKOB Albuquerque``, bong and CBS News still exists. Seems to be a slight reverb, implying I am getting not only the main 50 kW transmitter in the North Valley, supposedly protecting WABC, but also the 230-watt night-only fill-in from Santa Fe. Someone recently claimed a log of Santa Fe based on double audio, but I wonder just how much out of synch they were and are? (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST 16-52) Viz.: Border Inn DX - logged the 230-watt synch transmitter for KKOB in Santa Fe === Albuquerque and Santa Fe were far enough out of synch to be heard as two separate stations on the attached recording from the [UT/NV] Border Inn (Sat morning Oct 1st 1100 UT). 73 (Tim Hall, Nov 18, ABDX via DXLD)`` What attachment? I wonder how far out of synch??? (gh, DXLD 16-47) Also, I have repeatedly called for a DX test to be arranged on Santa Fe only, turning off the main Albuquerque transmitter, however briefly (without of course, trying to set it up, myself; maybe I would if I still lived in ABQ). And now there is no CPC chairman (Glenn Hauser, ABDX via DXLD) DX test comment led to long thread about that next DXLD Tim then resent the att --- it`s quite obvious, a couple words apart during an ID, much more than my `reverb` log; of course the delay could be variable (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) [and non] CISL 650 in Richmond, B.C has had one since it went on the air. It serves the nearby town of White Rock. I've heard that one, and some have even questioned the need for it. Like the one in Santa Fe, it only operates at night The transition from the booster to the main signal is completely seamless (Justin Nielsen, ibid.) see also RADIO EQUIPMENT FORUM below, RACKLEY ON SYNCHRONOUS AM BOOSTERS ** U S A. 780, WBBM IBOC has been off for several days now. Off for repairs or?? (Tom Jasinski, Joliet, IL, Dec 31, NRC-AM via WORLD OF RADIO 1859, DXLD) WBBM had their IBOC off last night and was able to hear a very strong solid signal from WABC 77 last night. Perhaps it will be off forever more and there will be one good thing about 2017 (Kevin, Crump, TN, Redding, Jan 1, ABDX via DXLD) Interesting, Kevin. WBBM's IBOC is still off tonight, as well as KMOX's. However, both WCCO and WSCR have theirs on. I was hoping that is was going to be all of the CBS stations, but it's not. 73, (Mike Gorniak, Braham, MN, UT Jan 2, ibid.) What is the current status of IBOC? From what I can tell, it is quickly dying the same death as C-QuAM. I base that observation on two things. First, the number of stations that had and it dropped it. Second, the absence of IBOC radios in new cars. I drive a lot of new cars in my work, and fewer cars had IBOC in the 2016 models than 2015. For 2017, I can't even remember seeing any digital capable radios, although I think I have seen some that were FM capable, but not AM. In the Denver market, Crawford seems to be the only company left using it, plus KPOF. Everybody else that had it dumped it several years ago. I'm sure more people are hearing AM stations in stereo on translators now than ever heard it on AM IBOC. 73, (Kit W5KAT, CO, ibid.) This is 100% correct. I cannot get a sales rep to seriously try and sell me ads on HD sub-channels, but these FM translators are showing up a lot in my polling (Rick Shaftan, Atlantic Media and Research, NC, ibid.) Kevin, this was my response to Tom Jasinski on the IRCA listserver, who made a similar observation about WBBM's IBOC or current lack thereof. Here in Omaha, KFAB (not owned by CBS) dropped its IBOC several years ago. WHO also dropped theirs a few years back. As Neil Kazaross pointed out on the IRCA list, WSCR 670 does currently still run it, but if it's dropping like the interns in the opening credits to TV's "Quincy" (anybody else besides me remember that?), one can only wonder how much longer WSCR -- or ANYONE in Chicago, for that matter -- will hang onto it. 73, (Rick Dau, South Omaha, Nebraska EN21af, ibid.) ** U S A. Re: ``880, Dec 27 at 0313 UT, Spanish giving an AC 713 phone (Houston TX), ``Aleluya Bróádcasting Nétwork``, KJOZ. --- gh`` Wiki Page shows switch 4/2016 to Radio Aleluya… Ur mention is first I’ve heard of it. 73 (Wayne Neinen, ed., NRC AM Log, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. 930, TENNESSEE, WSEV, Sevierville. 1158 December 28, 2016. The usual long tourist info-commercials loop, with promo for Gatlinburg/Great Smoky Mountains area guided tour packages, then "Remembering Red - A Tribute To Red Skelton" at the Starlite Theatre in Pidgeon Forge, local TV weather lady with today's forecast. No ID across the hour. Long suspected this one never powers down after sunset-sunrise (Terry Krueger, Clearwater FL, DX LISTENING DIGEST) I wonder if they ever broke format for something live during the horrible wildfires (gh, DXLD) ** U S A. 1010, Jan 2 at 0557 UT, EOE plug for My Hometown Media, then ESPN, fade for ID but presumably KTNZ Amarillo TX, the usual occupant. Searching on My Hometown Media, it`s hard to pin on Amarillo, however. There is such a radio group in Cherokee Village AR, three FMs, but no connexion to AM and there is no 1010 anywhere in Arkansas (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. 1020, Dec 30 at 0138 UT, Spanish religious talk and hymn, steadily audible with semi-local KOKP Perry OK nulled, even tho far from sideways. 0159 UT timecheck for ``9 de la noche en Nueva York`` and at 0201 UT, ``temperatura de 40 grados Fahrenheit``. No greater service can Radiovisión Cristiana, WWRV, 1330, NYC, render to the denizens of Roswell than via KCKN keep them informed about time and temp in La Gran Manzana. But then Roswell is allegedly infested by aliens. Nothing further needed to make this a definite ID. Sure sounds like more than the 1 kW STA recently revealed by the FCC to NRC; maybe they`ve got the 50 kW back in service, so they can resume ignoring the requirement to protect Pittsburgh {and incidentally, Perry} (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. Re 16-52: ``Official Updates from the FCC: CALL CHANGES 1020 WURN FL Kendall – Call change to WLVJ (Dec. 6). 1040 WLVJ FL Boynton Beach – Call change to WURN (Dec. 6). (AM Switch, NRC DX News Dec 26 published Dec 18, via DXLD) Why swap?`` This item is the result of one of the changes in a 3 station move scenario. Here's what happens, using the original call signs. WLVJ 1040 Boynton Beach moves to Miami, using the site of WMYM 990. WMYM 990 moves to Kendall, using the site of WURN 1020. WURN 1020 moves to Boynton Beach, using the site of WLVJ. All three stations are commonly owned. 1040 is now on the air in Miami from the former 990 antenna site. And the call letters have been changed to WURN since the programming formerly on 1020 Kendall has moved to 1040 Miami. 990 is now on the air in Kendall. 1020 is off air pending the modifications to its antenna system necessary for the changes. The former 990 antenna has been modified for 1040, and will operate with 50 kW daytime, a 10x increase over its former operation on 990. The 990 signal is emanating from the former 1020 antenna in Kendall using temporary authority per Sec. 73.1615 of the FCC rules. That antenna will have its conversion completed in the next few days (after Ron Rackley and I get back to Miami mid-week next week!) The Boynton Beach antenna changes are more complex, since the transmitter building will also be replaced, but will occur within the next few weeks. This project involves the modification of three antennas, two 6 tower arrays and one 4 tower array, each with two different radiation patterns, day and night. A LOT of engineering design and implementation effort. So far as we are aware, no one has ever done anything like this before. And the FCC applications did not require a single waiver of the rules! You can look them all up on the FCC's CDBS database (Ben Dawson, WA, Hatfield-Dawson, Dec 31, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. 1060.02, Dec 30 at 0141 UT, Spanish interview with a singer, mentions a .ca address, but this is not Calgary, ha ha. Sings ``gracias, Cristo``, etc. At 0153 UT, jingle ``alabanza y adoración, KIJN`` as this Farwell TX 10 kW daytimer unabashedly IDs at night on its signature off-frequency causing fast SAHs with anything else (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. 1180, Jan 2 at 2122 UT on caradio, rosary in Spanish, so skywave is already in from 25 kW KLPF Midland TX, Guadalupe net, making 2.2 Hz SAH with algo, probably Omaha KZOT The Deuce (not Duece) (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. 1460, Dec 30 at 0147 UT, two guys conversing in Spanish about pollos. Maybe the chickens are a team as these are surely the bozos on KBZO Lubbock TX with ESPN Deportes (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. 1479.933, ALABAMA, WERM, Mobile. 1221 December 31, 2016. Alabama Highway Patrol safe driving PSA, National Wildlife Federation PSA, "Gospel 1480" slogan and into God talk. Remains way off channel, as measured on the IC-R75 (Terry Krueger, Clearwater FL, NRD-535, IC- R75, roof dipole, active loop, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. 1480, ALABAMA, WMMA, Irondale. 1159 December 31, 2016. Promo for Christian, Texas based Guadalupe Radio Network and URL, canned holiday greeting message from the general manager of a "K---" station in the network, EWTN promo, then long ID string for a bunch of the Guadalupe Radio stations, the exact canned station ID string as heard the previous hour on 1330 kHz WCVC, Tallahassee, also a Guadalupe station. WMMA ID not caught in the string (if even updated), but this is the only Guadalupe station on 1480. Formerly WQOH, listed as these calls commencing October 26, 2016 in the FCC DB (Terry Krueger, Clearwater FL, NRD-535, IC-R75, roof dipole, active loop, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Irondale? And a competing Cathonet to EWTN??! (gh, DXLD) ** U S A. 1480, FLORIDA, WVOI, Marco Island. 1240 December 31, 2016. Ads for a Marco Island motorcycle shop, then a local computer repair store. Female mentioning SW Florida, Marco Island and 98.1 FM (that's W251BL) into The Four Seasons "Oh What A Night." Presume the same one the day before from 1206 with Stevie Wonder, The Carpenters. No longer Christian "Relevant Radio" as listed in the NRC AM Log 37th Edition. However, 1660 kHz WCNZ Marco Island remains EWTN "Relevant Radio" audio. Oddly, Googling WVOI has the former 1480 kHz and once 1660 kHz simulcast "Ardiente Radio" Spanish tropical/hits still playing on Radio Stream (Terry Krueger, Clearwater FL, NRD-535, IC- R75, roof dipole, active loop, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. 1560, Jan 1 at 1345 UT, ID in passing sounds like KLAV, religion. Closest fuzzy match, very likely is KLNG, Council Bluffs IA. 10 kW daytimer. 1345 UT is its official sunrise in January, but it also has a Critical-Hours power of 2.1 kW, which should keep it down to there until 1545 UT, both non-direxional (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. 1580, LOUISIANA, KXZZ, Lake Charles. 1009 December 29, 2016. Tentative but surely the one with CBS Sports, a fraction of a second behind dominant CBS Sports via WMPO Pascagoula-Moss Point MS (which clearly isn't 51 watts night power). Peaks on the same LOB as WMPO (Terry Krueger, Clearwater FL, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. 1710, KID760 (TIS), Somerset, PA. Usual Flight 93 National Memorial loop tape with info by M at 1937. Strong but audio a little muffled. For a Youtube video of the reception, click on this link https://youtu.be/pwy2NSLuUPQ (use 480p quality setting for best viewing) 29 Dec (Dave Valko, Perseus SDR and BOGs on Micro-DXpedition, near Dunlo PA, Hard-Core-DX mailing list via DXLD) ** U S A. 2520, WOCO, Oconto, WI (2 X 1260 harmonic). First found at 1205 with M with inspirational message, farming related news and features. 1221 Joe Prato(?) with weather ending with ID, live lady DJ with current conditions, 1222 Polkas. 1229 DJ with song announcements and several anecdotes. 1230 “USA Radio News”, 1232 weather again, lady DJ. 1240-1255 back to polkas including one mentioning “Merry Christmas from Wisconsin” and “I Love Christmastime”. Lady talking about what Lena was having for breakfast. 1256 weather sponsored by Peterson Ford, and another Polka leading up to ToH. Signal was strong but modulation a little low. 23 Dec (Dave Valko, Dunlo, PA, USA, Perseus SDR with Wellbrook ALA1530S loop and 153 foot Delta Loop, Hard-Core-DX mailing list via DXLD) ** U S A. 2520, WOCO, Oconto, WI (2nd harmonic). Was on the frequency and waiting for sign-on. Did indeed come on at 1156:51, deadair, then audio up with live W DJ at 1159 giving ID, mention of AM and FM stereo, QTH, date, news intro, and into US Radio News. Strong and clear. For a Youtube video of the reception, use this link https://youtu.be/blGtK-rW6nw (use 480p quality setting for best viewing) 26 Dec (Dave Valko, Dunlo, PA, USA, Perseus SDR with Wellbrook ALA1530S loop and 153 foot Delta Loop, Hard-Core-DX mailing list via DXLD) 2520, WOCO, Oconto, WI (2 X 1260 harmonic). Heard this afternoon with C&W and C&W Christmas songs. 1923 canned weather ending with ID, ads, and back to music. 2000 USA Radio news. Fady. 28 Dec (Dave Valko, Perseus SDR and BOGs on Micro-DXpedition, near Dunlo PA, Hard-Core-DX mailing list via DXLD) 2520, Dec 29 at 1227 UT, weak music audible, presumably again 2 x 1260 WOCO Oconto WI (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** UZBEKISTAN. 7509.981, UNID carrier / exciter signal, like scheduled Tashkent UZB (?) in Korean target radio program from 1530 UT afternoon, or Yangi Yul TJK instead? [selected SDR options, span 12.5 kHz RBW 15.3 Hertz] (Wolfgang Büschel, df5sx, Dec 29, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews, dxldyg via DXLD) ** UZBEKISTAN. 7509.980 odd, Voice of the Martyrs operates/scheduled from 1530 to 1700 UT on 7510 kHz via a Tashkent-UZB transmitter. Today at 1550 UT, S=8 signal in Thailand remote SDR unit. Small bandwidth of 2 x 2.5 kHz narrow field telephone. But on next channel exact 7505 kHz right even frequency, TWR India program, also requested/scheduled via Tashkent-UZB relay site. TWR address given at end of 1345-1545 UT broadcast, latter in Punjabi language on Tuesdays at 1541-1543 UT on Jan 3, 2017. S=9+20dB, broadband 10.4 kHz wide excellent audio broadcast. [selected SDR options, span 12.5 kHz RBW 15.3 Hertz] (Wolfgang Büschel, df5sx, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Jan 3, 2017, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Previous suspicion was that the off-frequency transmitter was really from somewhere else than Uzbekistan, especially since it`s adjacent to another Uzbeki (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** UZBEKISTAN. 7500.000 even fq. NKRR Korean via Tashkent UZB relay, female voice of extended speech ... S=9+5dB sidelobe of the 76degr beam, at 2127-2129 UT on Jan 3. Target veiled radio to D.P.R. Korea: 7500 NorthKorea Reform Radio 2030-2130 daily Korean 100kW 76degr NKRR b16 [selected SDR options, span 12.5 kHz RBW 15.3 Hertz] (Wolfgang Büschel, df5sx, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Jan 3, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** UZBEKISTAN. 7480, R. Payam e-Doost. Discussion feature in Farsi when I tuned in at 1840. 1843 traditional vocal song by W briefly, same W announcer, usual trumpet dramatic music fanfare, and off. 28 Dec (Dave Valko, Perseus SDR and BOGs on Micro-DXpedition, near Dunlo PA, Hard-Core-DX mailing list via DXLD) ** VANUATU. 7260-, Jan 3 at 0700, JBA carrier on lo side, associated normally with R. Vanuatu (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** VATICAN. 6070, Dec 30 at 2140, VR IS and into daily Arabic until 2200, completely covering CFRX altho VR is aimed 234 degrees to West Africa. CFRX don`t get no respect, and don`t get no protexion as the Canadians fail to register it with HFCC; unlike the Germans who do register their 6070 for 24 hours, but Vatican ignores them too (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** VATICAN. VATICAN RADIO ENDS 85 YEARS OF INDEPENDENT OPERATIONS National Catholic Register, December 31, 2016 On December 31, 2016, after more than 80 years of operation, Vatican Radio is being absorbed into the new Secretariat for Communications. The move is part of Pope Francis' reorganization of Curial offices, and is intended to make better use of the Vatican's limited financial resources. According to Catholic World News, broadcasting programs will continue—at least for the near-term future—but Vatican Radio will no longer have its own corporate identity. Today, Vatican Radio employs a staff of 355 representing 59 nationalities, mostly lay people, who together produce more than 66 hours of daily programming (24,117 hours annually). There are currently 45 languages used on air, and 38 languages on the website. Programs are broadcast via short wave, medium wave, FM and satellite. In recent years, Vatican Radio has experimented with digital transmission technologies (DRM, T-DAB, T-DMB). Their news reports and bulletins have been widely distributed through newsletters, podcasts, audio and video, paving the way to a Web TV. Vatican Radio and CTV began their own YouTube channel in 2010, operating in four languages, and on Twitter (6 channels). Today with the reform of Vatican communications operations, Vatican Radio director Msgr. Dario Vigano has indicated that he plans to pare down short-wave radio operations. Other broadcasts will continue, but with an eye to controlling costs: Vatican Radio has been losing between €20 and €30 million ($21 - $31.5 million) annually. Full detailed article here: http://www.ncregister.com/blog/kschiffer/vatican-radio-ends-85-years-of-independent-operations (via Mike Terry, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1859, DXLD) So have they also changed ID from Vatican Radio, to `` Secretariat for Communications``? (Glenn Hauser, WORLD OF RADIO 1859, DXLD) ** VENEZUELA. EMISORAS VENEZOLANAS COPIADAS EN BARCELONA, ESTADO ANZOÁTEGUI. [confirming those on, as many have gone off --- gh] Saludos cordiales, querido amigo Glenn. He aquí mi lista de emisoras venezolanas copiadas hasta ahora en Barcelona, Edo Anzoátegui. Receptores Icom IC-PCR1000 con Antena Discone y Grundig S350DL. 550 YVKE Mundial. Caracas 610 Radio Centro. Cantaura, Edo Anzoátegui 620 Radio Fe y Alegría. Guasdualito, Edo Apure 630 RNV Canal Informativo. Caracas 660 Radio Anaco. Anaco, Edo Anzoátegui 670 Radio Rumbos. Caracas 680 Radio Cumaná. Cumaná, Edo Sucre 710 Radio Capital. Caracas 750 Radio Caracas Radio. Caracas 780 Radio Coro. Coro, Edo Falcón 790 Radiodifusora Venezuela - R. Venezuela Caracas 830 Radio Sensación. Caracas 860 Radio Enlace 860. Valle de La Pascua, Edo Guárico 860 Radio Mundial 860. San Cristóbal, Edo Tachira 880 Radio Paraguaná. Punto Fijo, Edo Falcón 900 Radio Mara Ritmo Venezuela. Maracaibo, Edo Zulia 910 Radio RQ 910. Caracas 920 Radio Nueva Esparta. Porlamar, Edo Nva Esparta 990 Radio Tropical. Caracas 1010 Radio Venezuela, Bolívar. Ciudad Bolívar Edo Bolívar 1040 La Voz de Carabobo. Valencia, Edo Carabobo 1090 Unión Radio Deportes. Caracas 1110 Unión Radio Deportes. Valencia, Edo Carabobo 1130 Radio Ideal. Maiquetía, Edo Vargas 1200 Radio Tiempo. Caracas 1260 BBN Radio. Caracas. 1280 Radio Zaraza. Zaraza, Edo Guárico. 1290 Radio Pto Cabello. Pto Cabello, Edo Carabobo 1300 Deportiva 1300. Caracas 1310 RNV Barcelona. Edo Anzoátegui 1340 Radio Uno. Caracas 1380 Ondas del Mar. Carabobo 1420 Radio Sintonía. Caracas 1430 Unión Radio Guacara. Edo Carabobo. 1490 Radio Dinámica. Caracas 1500 Radio 2000. Cumaná, Edo Sucre. 1590 Radio Deporte. Caracas. Nota: En Barcelona, Edo Anzoátegui, Radio Barcelona 1080 y RNV 1310 siguen fuera del aire al momento de la escucha. Nota: Radio Continente 590 de Caracas no se está copiando por Barcelona, Edo. Anzoategui. Me informan que ha quedado fuera del aire. Seguimos averiguando. Nota: Hasta hace poco estuve copiando a Radio Deporte 1590 de Caracas. Pero me llega la información de que esta radio también ha quedado fuera del aire. Seguimos investigando. Continuamos monitoreando para tratar de escuchar la mayor cantidad de emisoras venezolanas posible en Amplitud Modulada (José Elías Díaz Gómez, Jan 4, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** VIETNAM. 9635.000 even, as stated last week also: V Of Vietnam domestic Vietnamese service is back on even frequency. Was many years using odd channel of 9635.975 to 9636.010 kHz range [selected SDR options, span 12.5 kHz RBW 15.3 Hertz] (Wolfgang Büschel, log Dec 30 0500-0700 UT in Eastern Thailand remote unit, thanks Uwe, DX LISTENING DIGEST) VIETNAME, 9635, R. Voz do Vietname, Son Tay, 1113-desvanecimento total 1225, 30/12, vietnamita, texto; 25432. Sem ser perturbado pelo Mali [q.v.], igualmente em 9635, mas com modulação algo baixa e, de resto, recebido com outra Beverage. Good DX & 73, (Carlos Gonçalves, SW coast of Portugal, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** VIETNAM. Maybe Voice of Vietnam re-shuffeled their foreign language schedule? Yes, - the various Perseus USERLIST database tables are wrong saying French language on both channels, but new Spanish service timing 7280 9730 kHz and full 2016/2017 VoV program_5 winter schedule read in WRTH 2017 issue under Vietnam section on page #508 already! 7220.015 odd fq. 2100-2128 7220 SON 100 kW 290 deg to NE/ME French 7280.000 kHz 2100-2128 7280 SON 100 kW 320 deg to WeEUR not French, but in Spanish 7220.015 kHz. At 2115 UT on Jan 3, noted French service of VoV Son Tay broadcast center, powerful S=9+30dB or -42dBm signal to Qatar, but on 7280.000 even fq, NOTED SPANISH SERVICE INSTEAD. S=9+20dB signal at 2120 UT on Jan 3. Both heard on remote SDR unit at Doha Qatar [selected SDR options, span 12.5 kHz RBW 15.3 Hertz] (Wolfgang Büschel, df5sx, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Jan 3, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** YEMEN [non]. Rep. Yemen Radio, Sana`a (Saudi Arabia Relay?) 11860, 1533 29 DEC - REP. YEMEN RADIO SANAA (YEMEN). SINPO = 45434. Arabic, music (Oud with microtonal vocals), male DJ. QSB=rapid-to-ff rate, fluttery modulation mostly well above the noise floor with occasional fades to just above it for very short durations. sf73.6, 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: 0733. 11860, 1526 2 JAN - REP. YEMEN RADIO SANAA (YEMEN). SINPO = 35323. Arabic, male announcer. QSB=rapid-to-ff rate, fluttery modulation on noisy carrier mostly just above the noise floor with frequent fades to mixing with it for very short durations. sf72.7, a214, k2, geomag: 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: 0726. 11860, 1557 3 JAN - REP.YEMEN RADIO SANAA (YEMEN). SINPO = 35323. Arabic, oud music, male DJ. At 1600z news theme fb different male announcer reading. 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. sf72.5, a7, 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: 0757 (Rodney Johnson, NV, Jan 3, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ZAMBIA. 5915. December 29, 2016. 0430-0442, Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation, Lusaka, in vernacular language. Woman announcer talks; A local song; ID; Man announcer talks. ZNBC poor transmission this dawn, 35332 (DXer: José Ronaldo Xavier (JRX), Cabedelo-PB, Brazil, Degen DE1103 & Tecsun S-2000, Antenna: Portable Telescopic, Hard-Core-DX mailing list via DXLD) ** ZAMBIA. Hi Glenn, Dec 30, heard 5915 (R. One/ZNBC), 1607-1616, via long path; in vernacular; under a strong Myanmar Radio also on 5915; clearly Zambia, as they constantly were playing short snippets of the Xmas song in English - "Happy Christmas, Happy New Year." Have been hearing Zambia here most of this month at this time, but today the first for positive confirmation of identification. So from now till New Year's Eve, they will undoubtedly be playing a lot of this song! BTW - Seems Myanmar has a much later sign off time here, but when is it? 1557* has CRI signing off here, leaving Myanmar to dominate Zambia. My local sunrise was at 1520 UT (Ron Howard, Calif., Dec 30, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ZAMBIA. 5915, R. One/ZNBC, on Jan 1 with special New Year's broadcast; extended schedule; noted at 0104 (normally about *0240); in vernacular; giving countless "Happy New Year" greetings; pop African songs, along with many on air phone calls; after 0200 with QRM (CRI) (Ron Howard, Calif., dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 5915, Zambia Nat. B.C., Jan 01, 1559-1603, 23332, Vernacular, Fish Eagle's IS, Drums, Talk (Kouji Hashimoto, JAPAN, RX, IC-R75, ANT, 130m Sloper Wire, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ZANZIBAR. 11735, ZBC, 1759 end of announcement by M with mention of ZBC, usual ToH routine of drum IS, slow time ticks, then deadair with the sound the W English newscaster shuffling around preparing for the news then ID to start “It’s 9 o’clock East African Time. Here is the news from Zanzibar Broadcasting Corporation read by ?? First the main points”. 20 Dec (Dave Valko, Perseus SDR and BOGs on Micro-DXpedition, near Dunlo PA, Hard-Core-DX mailing list via DXLD) 11735, Dec 31 at 2040, nice Ungujan music from ZBC, so this should be a good one for Jahrwechsel on UT+3. At 2051 begins some excited talk in presumed KiSwahili, and music, but cut off the air at 2058.7! No countdown or timesignal here. And so go the rest of my unsuccessful attempts to hear special NYE celebrations on SW (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 11735, ZBC Radio, 1659-1809, Jan 4. Drums and time pips; news in Swahili 1700-1710; several "Z B C" IDs during the news; pop African music; 1745-1759 with sports news in Swahili; 1759 drums and time pips (5+1). 1800-1809 news in English; items about Zanzibar (18 pharmacies forced to close), Zanzibar (inflation not affecting the economy), Banjul, Port-au-Prince, "This news is coming to you from Zanzibar Broadcasting Corporation," Jakarta, Damascus, Naypyidaw, Ankara, Jerusalem, Paris (suspends Vitamin D supplement), "This is the end of the news from the Zanzibar Broadcasting Corporation. Thank you for listening"; very readable. Many times stronger than reception on 6015, at 0300 UT (Ron Howard, Calif., dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. 1250.7, Jan 4 at 0140 UT, JBA het here from off- frequency carrier. I search my inbox and get one hit on the number, from 12+ years ago on the NRC-AM list! ``Station on 1250.7, Sunday, November 14, 2004 11:56 PM --- I am listening to a station on 1250.7 (yes it is off freq). A man is talking about economic problems in Montgomery City and County (Bill Harms, Elkridge, MD`` Later: ``I just IDed it as WAPZ Alabama. Here is the clip [no longer available]. http://mywebpages.comcast.net/billqsl/sounds/20041114-1900e-wapz-1250.7.mp3 They were indeed off frequency at 1250.7. Notice on the clip there is no co-channel interference, only side-channel slop. The het is gone now at 1915 [EST?], and I am listening to 1250 which sounds like a mess. Bill Harms, Elkridge, Maryland`` There are now two 1250s in AL. WRBZ is the one ex-WAPZ as of 3/15/11, from Wetumpka, 5000/80 watts U1, indeed not far from Montgomery. (BTW in OK we have a Wetumka (without the P), east of Seminole, both probably deriving from the same tribe, pre- and post-Trail of Tears) (Glenn Hauser, OK, 2017, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. 1590, Dec 31 at 0247 UT, S Asian music is slightly above the pileup and hard to DF, but seems to peak NNW/SSE rather than NE/SW, i.e. KMIC Houston TX (no more Aleluya), rather that WCGO Evanston IL (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. 2850, USA, UNID Harmonic, 3 X 950 or 5 X 570. 2146 Pitt/Northwestern Pinstripe Football Bowl game. Don’t know which station but I’m betting on 570 WSPZ Bethesda MD. 28 Dec (Dave Valko, Perseus SDR and BOGs on Micro-DXpedition, near Dunlo PA, Hard-Core-DX mailing list via DXLD) UNIDENTIFIED. 3308.0-USB, Jan 4 at 0123, MARS? Net with weather reports. NCS is 5XF, one contact 5WK, fonetikaly, presumably skipping their prefices, AFA-?. Het from 3310 local 2 x 960 + 1390 mix rather than Mosoj Chaski (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. 3390.5-USB, Jan 4 at 0118, YL & OM in MARS(?) net, talking about propagation, upcoming hamfest, truncated or tactical calls fonetikaly as 07CE and the YL 82SS, mostly hearing her side only. I had one previous log of this frequency: ``3390.5-USB, Jan 20, 2016 at 0120, yet another AF MARS net but too weak to copy much. Must be a favorite early-evening hour to get together`` (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. 4824.50-AM, Dec 30 at 0108, S8 open carrier vs CODAR (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. 5930, Dec 30 at 0052, weak S5 signal, in, Spanish? I then hear a couple familiar words and conclude it is Spanish, but uplooked later, the only schedulee is BBC in Dari via Austria. And there is no known unlisted LA station on 5930. A mixing product? Cuba might put one on 5920 or 5940, but not 5930 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. 6100.0, Dec 30 at 0056, algo talk at S7. Could be CRI Portuguese, 500 kW aimed NW from Beijing site, a long way to Brasil. Or KCBS Pyongyang with a low winter sun. But not the HFCC registration for MBR Nauen, wooden (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. 7478.2v, Found a signal here wobbling around after Payem e-Doost signed off. Definite W announcer at 1855. Went off at 1859:30. 29 Dec (Dave Valko, Perseus SDR and BOGs on Micro-DXpedition, near Dunlo PA, Hard-Core-DX mailing list via DXLD) UNIDENTIFIED. 7490, Sunday Jan 1 at 2242, `Marion`s Attic` on off- frequency WBCQ already has a low audible het and some CCI, not English? Nothing scheduled before 2300 = BBCWS English via Thailand, but suspect that has been expanded, or something new. If it`s on by 2200 to stay, will QRM WOR Wednesdays (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. 11910, Dec 30 at 1512, open carrier at S9-S7; 1523 recheck now talking in unID language; 1550 still at S5-S3. Aoki shows the only thing this hour is BBC in Urdu via THAILAND, so maybe modulation/input failed at first. Preceding hour, however, 14-15 was VOA Tibetan via Kuwait, jammed and the carrier might have been jammer running over (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ UNSOLICITED TESTIMONIALS ++++++++++++++++++++++++ ACKNOWLEDGED ON WORLD OF RADIO 1859: Happy Holidays Glenn: Really appreciate all that you do through the WOR site - a great source of info! 73, (Mike Beu, KD5DSQ, Austin, Texas (with a contribution via PayPal to woradio at yahoo.com) TO BE ACKNOWLEDGED FUTURELY, one a week: Keep up the good work! (Henning Vahlbruch, Germany, with a contribution via PayPal, not necessarily in US funds, to woradio at yahoo.com) Thanks to William T Hassig, Mt Prospect IL, for a check in the mail to P O Box 1684, Enid OK 73702 Happy Holidays Glenn! Your dedication to this hobby is remarkable and appreciated (Robert Lazar, with a generous contribution via PayPal to woradio at yahoo.com) Enjoy listening on WBCQ [9330] at 0030 UT 12/30/16 from Winterhaven, CA on Grundig Sat750 (John Anderson, with a contribution via PayPal to woradio at yahoo.com Tnx to Robert Waybright for a PayPal contribution to woradio at yahoo.com MARK COADY SIGNS OFF ODXA DX REPORT I would like to thank each, and every, one of you who have supported me with their loggings over the past fifteen years. Many of you, like Don Jensen, Bob Montgomery, and Tom Williamson, are gone but will never be forgotten. Many thanks to Harold Sellers who had the confidence in me that I could do a creditable job inheriting a position that had been held by some heavy hitters in the SWL/DX hobby. Thank you, Harold, for your service to the hobby, your friendship, and your ongoing support. Thank you to Glenn Hauser for always being there to correct loggings mistakes or answer questions about dubious loggings or transmitter sites. Thank you, Glenn, for your professionalism (Mark Coady, from January 2, 2017: The Final ODXA DX Report --- Thanks for the memories! via DXLD) PUBLICATIONS ++++++++++++ Updated: DX/SWL/Media Programs http://www.worldofradio.com/dxpgms.html WORLD OF RADIO schedule http://www.worldofradio.com/radioskd.html ALAN ROE`s HITLIST http://www.w4uvh.net/hitlist.htm DSWCI Newsletter (1): QRT Dear DX friends, This is the last DSWCI Newsletter, as the Danish Shortwave Club International (DSWCI) ceases to exist today, December 31, 2016. The DSWCI homepage is planned to be online for at least another four years. It will contain the electronic archives of the DSWCI, namely - back issues of Shortwave News from 2003 to 2016 - almost all issues of DX Window from No. 1 in 1996 to No. 570 in 2016 - all issues of Domestic Broadcasting Survey from 1999 to 2016 - all issues of Tropical Bands Monitor from 2005 to 2016 - Niels Jakob Jensen's DX-collection - and more The URL is the same as always: http://www.dswci.org The homepage is no longer password-protected. Everyone can access the full content. Anker Petersen will continue to publish "Tropical Bands Monitor" monthly. You can download the latest issue from the homepage. He also plans to issue the "Domestic Broadcasting Survey" in the coming years. It will be sent out by e-mail on request and it will be published on the homepage. Just look under "Latest News". Besides the monthly update of "Tropical Bands Monitor", there will be very little news, as the homepage is now mainly an archive. Therefore, we won't continue the DSWCI Newsletter. Now it is time to say thank you for your loyalty. I wish you a happy new year and the very best for the future. Best 73 (Rolf Wernli, DSWCI via gh, DXLD) RICH McVICAR`S QSL COLLECTION Over the past few months, I’ve been scanning and uploading my QSL collection to the photo-sharing site, Flickr. Except for comments and stories, which I’ll probably be adding for years, it’s finally done. This link should take you to the main page. https://www.flickr.com/photos/85723566@N03/albums They are all set for “public” viewing, so I don’t think you need a Flickr account to see them. With this, you should never suffer from insomnia again! (Richard McVicar via DXPlorer via via SW Bulletin Jan 1 via DXLD) Old-timers may remember him as one of the DX Partyline hosts when HCJB existed as an ISWBC station in Ecuador (gh) PopTronics SW MONITOR PROGRAM Glenn, What's the latest you know of the PopTronics SW Monitor program? I have your 12/2003 Monitoring Times column. My "call" was WPE9FC at West Chicago, IL from before 1961. 73 Terry – (Terrence (Terry) Martin, Registered Patent Attorney, WD4AON, "The large print giveth, the small print taketh away", DX LISTENING DIGEST) Terry, Hank Bennett kept it going after he split from PE, as WDX####. Anyone could have done this as a money-making proposition, with no official standing whatsoever. (And no ``call books`` that I know of, to make them somewhat useful.) AFAIK it is all totally defunct, tho there is nothing to keep people from retaining and stating their original ``calls``. I see no need for these SWL callsigns --- what`s wrong with going by your name if you are not transmitting but just receiving?? Some SWLs want to pretend they are just like hams, or junior-hams. Not necessary. Of course SWLs trying to get QSLs from hams may have better luck with a made-up call of their own. Which you might as well do yourself instead of paying Hank to do it. Nevertheless there continues to be a market for such fantasies, as Popular Communications started its own WPC#### calls. Confession: I also had a WPE call before I realized it was rather a scam. I have toyed with the idea of starting a WGH#### callsign registry, as a money-making proposition for myself; charge more for `vanity` calls, etc., etc. Since you appear to hold a genuine ham call, I am sure that should also be acceptable to identify yourself among SWLs if you care to do so. 73, (Wm. Glenn Hauser, to Terry, via DXLD) WORLD OF HOROLOGY See also FRANCE +++++++++++++++++ NEW YEAR DELAYED BY ONE SECOND BBC News 30 December 2016 A "leap second" will be added to this year's New Year's countdown to compensate for a slowdown in the Earth's rotation. The extra second will occur as clocks strike midnight and a time of 23:59:60 will be recorded, delaying 2017 momentarily. It will only affect countdowns in countries using Greenwich Mean Time [SIC*], which includes Britain. More here: New Year delayed by one second - BBC News A "leap second" will be added to 2016 to compensate for a slowdown in the Earth's rotation. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-38470682 Posted by: (Mike Terry, Dec 31, dxldyg via DXLD) * They lost me there (Vince Ferme, Ottawa, ON, ibid.) The leap second officially occurs at 23:59:60 UTC so, if clocks are synchronized at that time, the countdown can start at 10 seconds before local midnight with no delay (-- Richard Langley, NB, ibid.) For those who may want to hear BBCWS on SW at UTC/GMT *2017, these are the frequencies, per BDXC-UK`s B-16 Broadcasts in English booklet: 2300-2400 to E&SE Asia: 3915-Singapore, 5840-Thailand, 6195-Singapore, 7490-Thailand (audible since 2300 as het to WBCQ 7490.14), 9740- Thailand 0000-0100 to S Asia: 5970-Oman, 7465-Thailand, 9410-Thailand Note that there are no duplications between the hours, so it`s anyone`s guess which ones may stay on a bit late or come on a bit early. That is probably a bit more recent than contradictory WRTH 2017: 2200-2400 FE, SEA 5875 Thai, 6195 Sing; FE 7490-Thai 2300-0000 SEA 11955 Sing, FE/SEA 9740 Sing 0000-0100 SAs 5970 Oman, 9410 Thai 0000-0200 SAs 12095 Sing (Glenn Hauser, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Using Twente receiver, only faint carrier on 5970 kHz at 0000 UTC. Nothing on 7465 or 9410 kHz. (-- Richard Langley, ibid.) "Also, on the BBC, there should be 7-pips for the Greenwich Time Signal at midnight rather than the usual 6. The attached audio file is what the last New Year's Eve leap second sounded like on BBC Radio 5 Live (31 December 2008)." Did anyone catch the seven pips live on BBC Radio 4 last night? Using the BBC's "listen again" feature, none of the other BBC radio stations Including WS) carried the pips at midnight; they all (or mostly all) used Big Ben. And the listen again feature for Radio 4 just before midnight is a repeat of an earlier program when they announce the time as 5 p.m.! (-- Richard Langley, ibid.) 7490.0, Dec 31 at 2330, BBC Thailand is nothing but a lo het under WBCQ, `SW Saturday Night`, which is slightly on the hi side. This is among the contradictory rosters of BBCWS frequencies from different listings before and after 0000 where I would like to hear the leap- second-expanded Greenwich timesignal and full strike of Big Ben. At 2358 not blocked but JBA since they are all intended for morning in Asia, are 5875 and 9740 via Singapore and/or Thailand, but too weak to detect anything at *2017y; and meanwhile I have missed counting the 61 seconds on WWV (but later confirmed the leap indirectly; see PERU) (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) As I mentioned in a previous posting, the Greenwich Time Signal was not used by the WS at midnight beginning 2017 -- only the chimes of Big Ben were used. The Canadian National Research Council's CHU got the leap second right. In the attached audio file of my noisy recording of 3330 kHz, you can hear the one second pause (the leap second) before the long tone for 00:00 UTC. Also, the UT1 correction (double ticks) changes from -0.4 seconds before the leap second to +0.6 seconds after it (-- Richard Langley, NB, dxldyg via DXLD) BBCWS hasn't used the the time signal at 0000 for New Year's in many few years. Back when they did, the first stroke of the twelve chimes marking midnight would come at the sixth "pip" marking the top of the hour. Many years ago, I listened to BBCWS on SW at 0000 for a New Year's when a leap second was inserted. There were actually six short pips (instead of the usual five) followed by the long pip marking the top of the hour. I did listen to WWV this year for the leap second. The hour/minute announcement started at :52 as usual, but there were two "silent" seconds instead of one (with the usual low frequency data bursts) before the top of the minute tone. BTW I was able to listen to both as I was getting BBCWS online, which has a 30 second delay for me (Stephen Luce, Houston, Texas, Jan 3, ibid.) "BBCWS hasn't used the the time signal at 0000 for New Year's in many years. Back when they did, the first stroke of the twelve chimes marking midnight would come at the sixth "pip" marking the top of the hour." The first bell strike should have coincided with seventh pip! In advance of the leap second, the maintainers of Big Ben (note that this is not the real name of the clock) adjust the clock's rate (something akin to the Google "smear" of the leap second) so that the time will be correct to the second at midnight on the day of the leap second. This is certainly what happened for the leap second of 31 December 2008 as broadcast by BBC Radio 5 Live: http://www2.unb.ca/gge/Resources/7pips.NewYear.BBC.Radio5Live.aifc (if your computer doesn't recognize the .aifc suffix, change it to .aiff). I think I might have previously sent this file as an attachment to an earlier posting (-- Richard Langley, ibid.) WORLD RADIO DAY 2017 February 3, 2017 will mark the World Radio Day (World Day of Radio); portal http://www.worldradioday.org (Sergey Izyumov, Moscow, Russia, RusDX Jan 1 via DXLD) CONVENTIONS & CONFERENCES +++++++++++++++++++++++++ EDXC CONFERENCE 2017 Happy New DX Year to all SW folks! Hello All, The Finnish DX Association wishes you all good DX for 2017. We also have the pleasure of inviting all DXers and shortwave listeners to join the jubileum European DX Conference to be held in Tampere, Finland on 18-20 August 2017. It is time to celebrate, as this year is Finland's centennial and The European DX Council will have its 50th anniversary. The meeting will be organized by The Finnish DX Association (soon to be 60 years) and Tampereen DX-Kuuntelijat (local DX club celebrating its 50th anniversary). We will follow our tradition of successful EDXC conferences held in Finland in 1971, 1987, 1992, 2002 and 2008. So it will be three days of lots of program, lots of events and lots of fun. We plan to open the website of this conference during January. The website will be set to be a part of the FDXA website www.sdxl.fi and when the conference site is open, a link "EDXC Conference 2017" will be found on the main page. The conference will start on Friday afternoon 18th of August and end on Sunday afternoon 20th of August. This time of summer is not anymore high-season in Finland, so if you like, you should be able to book extra nights pretty easily and with reasonable prices. Also a post-conference tour is planned. This would last a few days and the target would be Finnish Lapland including visits to the well-known LEM and AIH DX sites and also possibly including a visit to Nordkapp (the northernmost point of the European continent). If you are interested in joining this tour, please don't make any flight bookings yet. The conference organizing committee has been set. The committee chairman is Risto Vähäkainu. You are welcome to address your special questions to rv at sdxl dot org. Hoping to see many many of you in Tampere next summer! (Risto Vähäkainu FDXA tietotekniikka-asiantuntija Helsingin yliopisto Tietotekniikkakeskus p. 050-529 2909 Jan 1, via Kari Kivekäs, DXLD) LANGUAGE LESSONS ++++++++++++++++ SOS signal After the death of "Titanic» SOS signal was the only signal of distress. Many believe that the distress signal is SOS Sea descended from the English phrase «Save Our Souls» - «Save our souls." However, it is not. Here is the story of origin of distress signal. International joint-stock company Marconi, which had at the beginning of the twentieth century monopoly on equipment radiotelegraph stations maritime courts of England and Italy, found that all ships with its radio stations must use to transmit a distress signal CQD message, ie the total call signal with the addition of the first letter of the English word danger - danger. The agenda of the International Radiotelegraph Conference, which was convened in Berlin in 1906 with the participation of Russia and 28 more countries, was the issue of establishing a single sea international distress call. Proposal to approve the company Marconi signal CQD as an international distress signal at sea Conference rejected, since this signal can easily be confused with the general call CQ. The representative of the German firm "slab Arco" proposed SOE signal used in the call sign of vessels equipped with radios that firm. In discussing the major drawback of this signal was observed: as the letter E is transmitted in Morse Code by one point, then the reception is weak in terms of interference signals can be distorted and is not accepted. The proposal to replace the letter E on the letter S. The result was a rhythmic signal SOS, which was approved by the International Convention, signed in Berlin on November 3, 1906, as a unified international distress signal at sea. Sailors from different countries began to interpret the value of the letters that make up the SOS signal, various English phrases: Save Our Ship Send Our Succour Swim Or Sink Save Our Souls, etc. From Russian letters SOS was the phrase: save from death. However, after the signing of the International Radiotelegraph Convention, some marine radio operators several years continued to use the signal CQD. In the early days of April 15, 1912 senior radioman dying ocean liner "Titanic" Phillips began to broadcast distress signals and call signs «Titanic»: CQD MGY ... Senior assistant radio operator Bride advised Philipps: - Give Now the SOS, a new signal, and maybe you'll never have to send it. And Phillips began transmitting SOS, which have responded and have come to the aid of many ships. After the death of "Titanic» SOS signal was the only signal of distress. But it happened that the distress signal is transmitted has not been adopted as a result of interference from other power stations. In this regard, the International Radiotelegraph Convention in 1927 established a single international frequency for the transmission of maritime distress signals to 500 kHz (600 meters, respectively, wave) and for reception at that frequency without interference all transfers that are not signals of distress or safety, in the range of 500 plus / minus 15 kHz decided to ban. The same convention established a special distress signal for radio stations, ships and aircraft. the alarm sounds in Russian: "Mayday" (has a value of "help me" in French) and is transmitted by ship stations on 2182 kHz. [m`aidez] In addition, the International Convention of 1927 established the so- called moment of silence, from the fifteenth to the eighteenth, and of the forty-fifth to forty-eighth minute of every hour, all transmissions are prohibited in the marine radio bands, except for distress, safety and urgency. These moments are meant to monitor the international distress frequency. The first minutes of the dead were first heard on the air from the ship "Matthews" in 1898. The ship hit a floating lighthouse near Dover. But only 8 years later (1906) became an international signal. R. Malinin «Radio», ?2, 1971, p. 32). Read More: http://www.qrz.ru/articles/article_titanik_sos_444 (via RusDX Jan 1 via DXLD) SESQUI- Glenn, I was watching The Agenda on TVO, our provincial public broadcaster - keep this between the two us - and Steve Paikin, the host, said: 2017 is Canada's sesquicentennial. Right away I made the conexion with you. :^) HNY Regards, (Vince Ferme, Ottawa, ON, shared with the 800+ members of the dxldyg, via DXLD) -Centennial is probably the best-known suffix to Sesqui-, but I advocate prefixing it to anything which is one-and-a-half-times something, or can be recomputed to be. This dandy prefix is grossly underused. Won`t you help? (Glenn Hauser, DXLD) MUSEA +++++ WCBS 880: 50 YEARS OF NEWS Without a doubt, I listen to WCBS (880 kHz) more than any other AM radio station. This year is the 50th anniversary of the station's switch to an all-news format. To celebrate the switch, the station's will have a variety of related historic presentations on their website and on the air throughout 2017 (Stan Horzepa, IRCA via DXLD) JOHN LOGIE BAIRD COLLEAGUE RECALLS FIRST TELEVISION DEMONSTRATION By Dave Gilyeat BBC News 22 December 2016 From the section Oxford Image caption: People were "amazed" by John Logie Baird's early demonstrations Ninety years ago, John Logie Baird became the first person to demonstrate a working television, in front of a group of 50 scientists in London. One of his colleagues who witnessed that momentous day has recounted to the BBC how the Scottish inventor changed the world. . . http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-oxfordshire-38080275 (via Gerald T Pollard, NC, DXLD) illustrated DIGITAL BROADCASTING --- DTV See also MEXICO ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ STAGE 3 REVERSE AUCTION Just want to clarify...with stage three now over, are channels below ch36 now safe, and if stage 4 flops, would everything below ch40 be safe? And could there be a stage 5 or 6 yet? -- (Mike Bugaj, Enfield, CT USA, Dec 24, WTFDA gg via dXLD) Yes, channels up to 36 will be in the TV band. If Stage 4 fails, then channel 38 is safe. If stage 5 fails, channel 39 is safe. See the chart here: https://www.fcc.gov/sites/default/files/Band-Plan-for-LEARN.png (- Trip Ericson, http://www.rabbitears.info ibid.) According to the chart the top channel stops at 44. Will 45-51 be gone no matter what happens? (Mike Glass, Sent from my iPad, ibid.) If the auction closes at Stage 9, 45-51 are the only channels impacted. If the auction fails at Stage 9, nothing at all happens other than, presumably, Congressional investigations (Trip Ericson, FCC, ibid.) FCC SPECTRUM AUCTION Round Four of the Spectrum reverse auction is currently in progress, and is scheduled to be completed on Friday the 13th. If Round Four is successful, DTV channels up through 36 will be saved, and channels 38 and above will be lost to the wireless companies. If unsuccessful, there would soon be a Round Five, in which channel 38 would also be saved. If I recall correctly, after a successful auction round, new channel assignments would be announced fairly quickly, and stations giving up their spectrum will have a relatively short time to leave the air upon getting paid. I think it's a timeframe of 3 months or less (Chris Lucas, Poughkeepsie, NY, Jan 4, WTFDA gg via dXLD) DIGITAL BROADCASTING --- DAB See AUSTRALIA; NORWAY!; VATICAN ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ DIGITAL BROADCASTING --- IBOC/HD See USA: 780 WBBM+; MEXICO; USA: WQCS ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ DIGITAL BROADCASTING -- DRM v. ANTARCTICA non; BRAZIL; FRANCE; VATICAN +++++++++++++++++++++++++++ RADIO EQUIPMENT FORUM +++++++++++++++++++++ RE: RISING POWER COSTS AT SHEPPARTON Glenn, 4000 kWh seems low for the 24 hr consumption of a continuously operating 100 kW transmitter since it doesn't include the HVAC and other ancillary costs. That number should probably be some 20-25% higher. And 4000 kWh annually for a household is low as well. My relatively modest Seattle house, heated by gas fired hot water, consumes on the order of 7000 kWh annually. And at my farm in Oregon, the amount of electricity required for well water and outbuildings alone is around 2500 kWh annually. (Rental residence there is separately metered.) And cost of electricity at HF transmitting sites is sometimes higher than it might otherwise be because of remote location. They do usually benefit from "industrial" rates, sometimes negotiated as a condition of locating there, and sometimes (as Family Radio did at Okeechobee) can get a substantially lower "interruptible" rate (Ben Dawson, DX Listening Digest) ZENITH TRANS-OCEANIC, THE "ROYALTY OF RADIOS" http://wshu.org/post/zenith-trans-oceanic-royalty-radios (Jack Amelar, MARE Tipsheet Dec 30 via DXLD) GOOD LUCK POINT POLES TO BE REMOVED IN JANUARY Jean Mikle, @jeanmikle 4:35 p.m. EST December 30, 2016 http://www.app.com/story/news/local/land-environment/enviroguy/2016/12/29/good-luck-point-poles-removed-january/95612638/ The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service plans to remove more than 300 short-wave antenna poles from marshland near Good Luck Point in Berkeley. The poles are part of an inactive short-wave antenna field. The area was a renowned transmitting station, which helped broadcast Voice of America around the globe after 1944 and enabled communication with ships at sea throughout the twentieth century. Berkeley Township, NJ Wednesday, December 21, 2016. @dhoodhood (Photo: Doug Hood) BERKELEY TOWNSHIP -- The mysterious poles have stood in the open marshland off Good Luck Point for nearly 80 years, but sometime in January these local landmarks will finally be removed. "We're still working with the contractor to determine the exact start time," said Virginia Rettig, a spokeswoman for the Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge. "This is a little more difficult than the typical project, as we're trying to be sensitive to the marsh surface." The Good Luck Point poles - and a similar pole field in Stafford's Manahawkin section - were part of inactive shortwave antenna fields used by AT&T for ship-to-shore shortwave communications. They've become a familiar landmark for boaters, fishermen and residents of the area, and can be seen from the bayside in Seaside Heights and Seaside Park. The antenna field was in operation from the early 1930s until 1999. A shuttered building on the Good Luck Point portion of the antenna field contained equipment related to shortwave communications. Under the call sign WOO, the shortwave facility at Good Luck Point (known as Ocean Gate) was a renowned transmitting station, which helped broadcast Voice of America around the globe after 1944 and enabled communication with ships at sea throughout the 20th century, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. According to federal officials, about 340 poles will be removed from the Berkeley site, along with several metal antennae. In Manahawkin, about 113 wooden poles will be removed from the antenna field. Several metal antennas will also be removed. The pole removal work will be done by Amec Foster Wheeler, an international engineering firm. Rettig said the cost of the pole removal at both sites is about $1.7 million. Money for the pole removal comes from funds set aside for enhancement of saltmarshes after superstorm Sandy. The poles will be removed in both sites to return the marshland to its natural state, according to the fish and wildlife service. The Manahawkin site includes a shortwave receiving station and antenna field. Via Manahawkin, shortwave communications from ships at sea were linked to America's telephone network from the 1930s until 1999, according to the fish and wildlife service. The building is owned by Berkeley. Mayor Carmen F. Amato Jr. said the township has received $30,708 in grant funding through the state's Hazardous Discharge Site Remediation Fund so that engineering firm T&M Associates can conduct an assessment of the property. "The building needs to come down," Amato said. "It's been an attractive nuisance since the township assumed ownership. It's been vandalized numerous times, and the metal and copper wiring was stolen as well." In 2010, the township boarded up the building and cut power to it in 2010 in an effort to stop the vandalism. The building's interior and basement are also in disrepair, and it was damaged even more during severe flooding caused by 2012's superstorm Sandy. Amato said the township has applied for Federal Lands Access Program (FLAP) funding, which could provide funds to demolish the battered building. The township hopes to turn the site - which provides spectacular views of Barnegat Bay - into an observation area, with benches. "That's the best use for that site," the mayor said. (Asbury Park Press, NJ, via Mike Cooper, DXLD) ICONIC SHORTWAVE POLES TO SOON DISAPPEAR FROM JERSEY SHORE MARSH - Newsworks.org [this version has one photo, but a better one] http://www.newsworks.org/index.php/new-jersey-more/item/100159-iconic-shortwave-poles-to-soon-disappear-from-jersey-shore-marsh?l=me About Justin Auciello author's-bio-image A lifelong resident of South Seaside Park, Justin Auciello is a surfer, urban planner, journalist and traveler. He prefers life in boardshorts and bare feet and aims to live the "endless summer," which he somewhat accomplishes by spending time in Puerto Rico each winter, where he lives with the family of his lovely girlfriend, Andreica, and surfs the northwestern coast of the Isla del Encanto. But most of all, Justin's insatiable drive is to keep people informed, whether it is covering a breaking news event on Jersey Shore Hurricane News – a two-way news outlet covering news, traffic and weather that he founded in August 2011 – or simply educating children about rip current safety during a lazy day on the beach. === The iconic poles emerging from an Ocean County tidal marsh that once sent messages to deep sea ships and broadcast a government radio station will soon disappear. A plan funded by the federal Disaster Relief Appropriations Act of 2013 calls for the removal of 340 wooden poles from Good Luck Point at the foot of the Toms River in the Bayville section of Berkeley Township. The site also fronts on the Barnegat Bay and has been featured prominently in countless sunset photographs taken from across the waterway in Seaside Park. Crews will also remove the associated cables, wires, metal towers, and concrete blocks. The work is expected to begin later this month. "The goal of this action is to enhance coastal marsh habitats by increasing marsh resiliency from impacts of large storm events and other ecosystem stressors," according to a U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service release. Berkeley Township, which owns the long vacant building on the site once occupied by AT&T, is seeking grant money to facilitate its demolition. Officials hope to turn the site into an observation area. The poles are a component of inactive shortwave antenna fields associated with AT&T's ship-to-shore shortwave communications system, which was in operation at the site from the early 1930s until 1999, according to the release. The area also includes a shortwave transmitter building. Under the call sign "WOO," the station helped broadcast Voice of America around the globe after 1944. The Trust for Public Land bought 365 acres of land within area in 1999, followed by another purchase of 211 acres for inclusion within the Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge. Good Luck Point is a bird migration and wintering spot along the Atlantic Flyway, according to The Trust for Public Land. The removal of more than 100 wooden poles and ancillary components from a companion site, containing a shortwave receiving station and antenna field, in Manahawkin has been postponed. At that site, shortwave communications from ships at sea were linked to America's telephone network from the 1930s until 1999. 1 comment: Chris Crosby • 2 days ago I grew up in Lakewood & it is painful to see that instead of creating a historic monument, the "powers" would rather demolish a irreplaceable piece of radio & national history. Same thing has already happened to Voice of America Site A in Greenville NC. Sent from Yahoo Mail on Android (via Bruce MacGibbon, DXLD) RACKLEY ON SYNCHRONOUS AM BOOSTERS The most well known synchronous booster is KKOB's 230 watt transmitter in Santa Fe. A number are licensed as experimental. http://www.radiomagonline.com/fcc/0019/rackley-on-synchronous-am-boosters/38500 Sent from my iPad (Dennis Gibson, IRCA via DXLD) The consulting engineer and AM expert has filed comments with the FCC indicating he supports the petition for rulemaking January 4, 2017 By Emily M. Reigart Consulting engineer and AM expert Ron Rackley has filed comments with the Federal Communications Commission in the synchronous AM booster proceeding that began this fall. He is in support of the proposal to allow permanent licensing of AM synchronous booster stations. “Simply stated, our position is that synchronous technology can be a very important vehicle for increasing service to the public by AM stations,” Rackley writes. Read the full text of his comments here: In the matter of: Amendment of Part 73 to Permit Permanent Licensing of AM Synchronous Booster Stations (RM — 11779) STATEMENT SUPPORTING PETITION FOR RULEMAKING The engineering consulting firm of du Treil, Lundin & Rackley, Inc. hereby responds to the Commission’s November 29, 2016 Public Notice requesting statements opposing or supporting the Petition for Rulemaking with regard to the permanent licensing of AM synchronous booster stations. We support the petition and wish to see the possibilities for improving service to the public by AM stations using synchronous technology fully explored in a rulemaking. We believe that ample evidence from the results of many years of experimentation support the adoption of rules to allow permanent licensing of AM synchronous boosters and that modern technological developments with regard to carrier frequency control and precision audio delay make high performance easily within reach for AM synchronous systems. Simply stated, our position is that synchronous technology can be a very important vehicle for increasing service to the public by AM stations. Stations can use it to add to their coverage areas and, when engineered to not impact other signals interference-wise, their service improvement will come with no down-side for the AM band. Further benefits may be realized if, in the evolution of the AM band, fewer stations remain licensed and therefore new areas of potential service become available for those that remain. Synchronous transmission could be a key factor in optimization of service by stations that may remain economically viable under that scenario. It could be crucial for the survival of the AM broadcasting service into the future. We strongly agree with the position of the petitioner, Eng. Wifredo G. Blanco-Pi, on synchronous transmission by AM stations. It is a very odd situation where existing synchronous transmission facilities continue to exist because they are authorized for experimental operation over and over again, even though no experimentation is needed to know that the technology works and can be useful for providing improved service. This results, frankly, from the FCC “dropping the ball” and never following through with a rulemaking to authorize synchronous transmission long ago. The time has come to rectify this situation. It is a mistake to view AM synchronous transmission as only for fill- in service as is the case for FM translators, rather than coverage area extension by an AM station licensee. FM stations are allotted based on a system of spacing between stations rather than contour overlap and interference between stations as is the case for the AM band. If an AM synchronous transmitter can create new service where none exists without creating prohibited groundwave contour overlap or raising nighttime RSS interference at other stations, that should be not only allowed but encouraged. The history of synchronous transmission dates back to the 1920s when the legendary radio engineering figure Dr. Frank Conrad led a team of Westinghouse engineers in experiments to synchronize transmitters to provide WBZ service over an area plagued with very low ground conductivity in Massachusetts. The technology was very primitive, involving ultrasonic tones that could be sent, but not with 100% reliability, over telephone lines to synchronize transmitter oscillators of novel design. [1] By the mid-1930s, further experiments had been conducted by others at various other stations. Improved methods for synchronizing carrier frequencies had been developed. Equipment for synchronizing audio signals to correct for delay had been tested and found beneficial for minimizing interference zone signal distortion.[2] The technology, while falling far short of what is possible today, was sufficient to allow reliable operation by the nascent synchronous transmitter facilities of that time. By the 1940s, methods for synchronous transmission had been perfected to the point where it was coming into routine use. Two well-known synchronous facilities that used the technology to provide directional antenna null fill were WBZ in Boston (with WBZA) and WBT in Charlotte (with WBTA), but there were many other synchronous systems in operation. We believe that the practice would have continued to expand but for one thing, the FCC’s decision to count synchronous transmitters against the limited number of stations a company could own under the rules of that time. Synchronous operation eventually ceased for the stations that had been using it except for, to our knowledge, one facility — that of WLLH in Lowell, Massachusetts with its synchronous transmitter on 1400 kHz in nearby Lawrence, Massachusetts. When AM improvement was being pursued by the industry and the FCC in the mid-1980s, the idea of synchronous AM transmission resurfaced. Ideas about how new technology might make good quality synchronous operation more readily achievable than had been the case in the past were openly discussed. The FCC decided to authorize experiments with the new technology by allowing the first new synchronous transmitters to be built in decades. The latest technologies for synchronizing carrier frequencies were evaluated by the newly authorized experimental stations starting in the 1980s and tests were run to explore the improvement in avoiding undesired audio artifacts available with modern audio delay equipment for synchronizing program circuits. It became clear that synchronization was not only possible, but very practical. Two schools of thought developed on synchronization: the absolute synchronization of carrier frequencies such as through use of satellite GPS technology and precision offset of frequencies using very high stability frequency generators. The advantage of the former being to completely eliminate any time varying signal beat product and the advantage of the latter being to replace a constant groundwave standing wave pattern with one where signal out-phasing occurs at a more acceptable interval at any given point in the interference zone. General agreement was reached that digital delay equipment of modest cost can be used to synchronize program audio and minimize delay distortion effects where the signals from two transmitters are close together in amplitude. While it is impossible to completely eliminate fading zones between synchronized transmitters, it has proven to be practical to use existing, well known technology to minimize their undesirable effects and make it possible to design systems around them to optimize coverage of desired service areas with synchronous transmission.[3] We believe the system in Puerto Rico cited as an example by Eng. Wifredo G. Blanco-Pi to be a good example of the beneficial application of synchronization technology, and that there are a number of others. It clearly is time to recognize the usefulness of modern synchronous transmitter technology to improve service to the public in the AM band and for the experiments to end. AM synchronous boosters should be permanently licensed. We believe that FCC regulation of synchronous transmitters should focus on protecting other stations from interference, while giving broadcasters who want to use them maximum flexibility in locating transmitter sites and designing transmitter/antenna combinations to optimize interference zone performance with regard to the audiences they serve. Normal business forces can be relied upon to motivate station licensees to strive for good coverage by synchronous transmitters. We urge the FCC to propose rules that will allow the existing experimental AM synchronous stations to become permanently licensed and new systems to be built. We believe that the rules should include the following provisions: A synchronous system will be defined as multiple transmitters carrying identical (synchronized) audio signals. Synchronous operation shall allow either absolutely synchronized carrier frequencies or precision offset operation with equipment sufficiently stable in frequency to maintain them within a tolerance of 0.1 Hz or less if precision offset is desired to minimize standing wave fading zone effects. Synchronous systems shall consist of multiple transmitters with normally protected daytime signal level contours that overlap or are contiguous, with nighttime operation authorized even if higher nighttime interference levels result in no joining of interference- free contours. Nighttime-only synchronous transmitters at locations meeting the daytime criteria shall be authorized without regard to whether their nighttime interference-free contours overlap or are contiguous. Synchronous systems should be studied for allocations with each transmitter considered individually just as is the case for individual licensed stations. Summing of nighttime RSS limits from transmitters in a synchronous system is inappropriate, as the RSS process accounts for the characteristics of individual skywave signals arriving from separate sources. A system of synchronous transmitters, each of which meets all applicable allocations criteria with regard to protecting other stations from interference when considered alone, shall be licensed without regard to extension of the coverage area of the primary station. Extension of overall coverage without interference being produced to any other station is a major objective for synchronous transmission. As synchronous transmitters may have intentionally limited coverage areas, no minimum antenna efficiency, height or ground system requirements shall apply to them. A synchronous system of transmitters shall count as one station insofar as the ownership requirements FCC rules are concerned. The Commission is urged to consider this matter without delay, as the future of service to the public by AM stations depends on their ability to make changes to improve their overall coverage within the AM band. Respectfully Submitted, Ronald D. Rackley, P.E. du Treil, Lundin & Rackley, Inc. Consulting Engineers 201 Fletcher Avenue Sarasota, FL 34237 (941) 329 6000 December 22, 2016 [1] L. McC. Young, “Present Practice in the Synchronous Operation of Broadcast Stations as Exemplified by WBBM and KFAB.” Proceedings of the I.R.E., vol. 24, pp. 433 – 436; March, 1936 [2] Ibid., pp. 436 - 446 [3] George Whitaker, “Case History: Synchronous Broadcasting.” Proceedings of the 1991 SBE Broadcast Engineering Conference, pp. 101- 107; September, 1991 A version of this article was originally posted on the website of Radio sister publication Radio World (via Dennis Gibson, IRCA via DXLD) See also USA: 770: KKOB & KKOB above What Happened To AM Radio (that`s NOT a question) http://www.huffingtonpost.com/fred-lundgren/what-happened-to-am-radio_b_13876742.html Sent from my iPad (via Dennis Gibson, IRCA via DXLD) HOW TO MAKE A FRAME AERIAL FOR THE MEDIUM WAVE 3 January 2017 http://ezinearticles.com/?Ham-Radio---How-to-Make-a-Frame-Aerial-for-the-Medium-Wave&id=9608214 (via Mike Terry, mwdx yg via DXLD) A.k.a. box loop, nicely direxional indoors, rotatable for nulling (gh) CRYPTO SPY RADIO STAY-BEHIND RECEIVERS Sony ICF-2001D Portable short-wave receiver http://cryptomuseum.com/spy/icf2001d/index.htm 73 de (Jordan VE7JJD Dobrikin, ptswyg via DXLD) PROPAGATION +++++++++++ LUXEMBOURG EFFECT: See FRANCE GEOMAGNETIC INDICES – Compiled by: Phil Bytheway E-mail: phil_tekno@yahoo.com Geomagnetic Summary December 1 2016 through December 31 2016 Tabulated from email status daily (K @ 0000 UTC.) Flux A K Space Wx 1 85 3 0 no storms 2 84 4 1 no storms 3 85 3 0 no storms 4 82 2 1 no storms 5 83 4 2 no storms 6 80 7 3 no storms 7 77 11 3 no storms 8 75 23 4 no storms 9 73 24 5 minor, G1 10 72 16 3 no storms 11 71 15 2 mp storms 12 71 6 2 no storms 13 71 4 1 no storms 14 72 4 1 no storms 15 73 3 1 no storms 16 73 2 1 no storms 17 72 6 3 no storms 18 72 9 1 no storms 19 73 5 1 no storms 20 75 6 3 no storms 21 75 23 4 moderate, G2 22 75 23 3 minor. G1 23 74 24 4 no storms 24 73 14 2 no storms 25 73 21 3 no storms 26 74 22 3 minor, G1 27 74 11 3 no storms 28 73 6 2 no storms 29 73 5 1 no storms 30 74 4 1 no storms 31 74 12 2 no storms Gx – Geomagnetic Storm Level Rx – Radio Blackouts Level Sx – Solar Radiation Storm Level (IRCA DX Monitor Jan 7 via DXLD) :Product: Weekly Highlights and Forecasts :Issued: 2017 Jan 02 0408 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 26 Dec 2016 - 01 Jan 2017 Solar activity was at background levels through the period. No proton events were observed at geosynchronous orbit. The greater than 2 MeV electron flux at geosynchronous orbit was at high levels from 26-31 Dec, dropping to normal to moderate levels late on 31 Dec - 01 Jan due to increased geomagnetic activity from the onset of a positive polarity CH HSS. Geomagnetic field activity ranged from quiet to G1 (Minor) storm levels through the period. G1 conditions were observed early on 26 Dec as influence from a positive polarity CH HSS persisted from the previous reporting period. The CH HSS began to wane early on 27 Dec, causing a geomagnetic activity decrease to quiet to active levels. As solar wind speeds continue their slow decline, quiet to unsettled conditions on 28 Dec gave way to quiet conditions on 29-30 Dec. Quiet to unsettled activity was once again observed beginning on 31 Dec as the onset of another positive polarity CH HSS was observed. Wind speeds increased from around 300 km/s to between 450-550 km/s as well as total magnetic field strength from around 5 nT to a peak of nearly 20 nT at 31/1636 UTC. Active conditions were observed early on 01 Jan as the CIR transitioned into the high-speed stream proper. As total magnetic field strength gradually trended towards 5 nT, geomagnetic activity decreased to quiet to unsettled levels. FORECAST OF SOLAR AND GEOMAGNETIC ACTIVITY 02 - 28 JANUARY 2017 Solar activity is expected to be at very low levels 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 high on 02-03 Jan, 05-13 Jan, and 18-27 Jan; moderate electron flux is expected on 04 Jan, 14-17 Jan and 28 Jan. All increases in electron flux are anticipated in response to multiple, recurrent CH HSSs Geomagnetic field activity is expected to be at unsettled levels on 02 Jan, 08 Jan, 14 Jan and 23 Jan; active levels are expected on 03-04 Jan, 06-07 Jan, 20-22 Jan and 27-28 Jan; G1 (Minor) storm levels are likely on 05 Jan and 17-19 Jan. All elevated geomagnetic activity is anticipated in response to multiple, recurrent CH HSSs. The remainder of the outlook period is expected to observe quiet conditions under an ambient solar wind environment. :Product: 27-day Space Weather Outlook Table 27DO.txt :Issued: 2017 Jan 02 0408 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 2017-01-02 # # UTC Radio Flux Planetary Largest # Date 10.7 cm A Index Kp Index 2017 Jan 02 73 10 3 2017 Jan 03 73 12 4 2017 Jan 04 73 18 4 2017 Jan 05 73 24 5 2017 Jan 06 73 22 4 2017 Jan 07 75 15 4 2017 Jan 08 75 8 3 2017 Jan 09 75 5 2 2017 Jan 10 75 5 2 2017 Jan 11 75 5 2 2017 Jan 12 76 5 2 2017 Jan 13 76 5 2 2017 Jan 14 76 10 3 2017 Jan 15 77 5 2 2017 Jan 16 77 5 2 2017 Jan 17 77 25 5 2017 Jan 18 77 20 5 2017 Jan 19 77 25 5 2017 Jan 20 75 18 4 2017 Jan 21 75 20 4 2017 Jan 22 75 20 4 2017 Jan 23 75 10 3 2017 Jan 24 75 5 2 2017 Jan 25 74 5 2 2017 Jan 26 74 5 2 2017 Jan 27 74 12 4 2017 Jan 28 73 15 4 (SWPC via WORLD OF RADIO 1859, DXLD) GLENN`S PROPAGATION OUTLOOK FOR MEDIA NETWORK PLUS AS OF JAN 5, 2017 Keith, from IPS in Australia, the global HF propagation forecast thru January 7: normal at low and mid latitudes, normal to fair at middle to high latitudes. From Spaceweather South Africa thru January 7: magnetic conditions active to unsettled to active, shortwave fadeouts unlikely, MUF unstable. From Met Office UK, thru January 8, a chance of minor to moderate G1 or G2 geomagnetic storms. From Petr Kolman of the Czech Propagation Interested Group, the Geomagnetic field will be: quiet to active on January 6 - 7, 17 - 20 mostly quiet on January 8 - 9, 25 quiet on January 10 - 12 quiet to unsettled on January 13 - 16, 23 - 24 active to disturbed on January 21 - 22 Amplifications of the solar wind from coronal holes are expected: on January 7, 17 - 22. From SWPC in Boulder, Geomagnetic field at unsettled levels on January 8, 14 and 23; active levels on Jan 20-22, and 27-28; G1 (Minor) storm levels are likely on Jan 17-19 with A and K indices peaking at 25 and 5. Lowest A`s and K`s of 5 and 2 on January 9-13, 15 and 16. Solar flux ranging from 75 to 77, hardly worth calling a peak. William Hepburn`s VHF UHF DX maps call for extreme tropospheric ducting increasing from January 7 to 10 off Baja California Sur and the southwest coast of the Mexican mainland. Off Uruguay and southernmmost Brasil January 10; off the northwest coast of Australia thru January 9 (via DXLD) ###