DX LISTENING DIGEST 17-02, January 11, 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 1860 CONTENTS: *DX and station news about: Anguilla, Armenia +non, Bougainville, Brasil, Bulgaria, Canada, Czechia non, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Japan non, Korea South, Lesotho, México, North America, Russia, Spain, Tahiti, Taiwan non, Turks & Caicos, Ukraine non, USA, Western Sahara non, Zambia SHORTWAVE AIRINGS of WORLD OF RADIO 1860, January 12-19, 2017 Thu 1230 WRMI 9955 6855 [confirmed] Thu 2130 WRMI 11580 [confirmed] Fri 0030 WBCQ 9330v-CUSB Sat 0030 WBCQ 9330v-CUSB [not confirmed] Sat 0630 HLR 6190-CUSB Hamburger Lokalradio Sat 1531 HLR 7265-CUSB Hamburger Lokalradio [confirmed] Sat 2030v WA0RCR 1860-AM Sat 2330 WBCQ 9330v-CUSB [not confirmed, but carrier] Sun 0410v WA0RCR 1860-AM [confirmed from 0414] Sun 1130 HLR 9485-CUSB [confirmed in Europe] Mon 0030 WBCQ 9330v-CUSB Mon 0400v WBCQ 5130v-AM Area 51 Mon 0430 WRMI 9955 Tue 0030 WBCQ 9330v-CUSB Tue 0030 WRMI 7730 Tue 1200 WRMI 9955 6855 Tue 2130 WRMI 15770 Tue 2300 WRMI 9955 Wed 0030 WBCQ 9330v-CUSB Wed 1000 WRMI 5850 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/ ** ALBANIA. 5960, China Radio International; 2122-2130+, 3-Jan; Chit- chatty M&W in English on how different countries celebrate New Year; said that more Brits would rather watch fireworks than listen to the Queen’s speech. Need USB to cut out overpowering hiss; // 7285 also via Albania; hiss there also, but LSB takes it out (Harold Frodge, Midland MI, USA, Drake R8B + 185' & 60' RW + 125' bow-tie ----- All logged by my ears, on my receiver, in real time! ----- DX LISTENING DIGEST) 5960, Jan 6 at 2117, W&M conversation in English, therefore must be CRI --- yes, // 7285 as scheduled this hour via Cërrik to western Europe but America beyond. 5960 is in fact the SSOB! at S8-S9. One could not imagine R. Tirana itself like that; in fact its 7475 North American frequency at 0230 has been reported missing lately, even among Europeans and also among me Jan 7; and the webcast has been going and coming. [and non?]. 6020, Jan 7 at 0334, CRI talking in Chinese via Cërrik, with QRM from singing underneath. R. Gaúcha reactivated? Doubt it, rather self-imposed QRM as modulated talkover, not a good idea for SW programs (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 6020, ALBANIA, CRI at 0020 with a man and woman with gentle banter about the term “beating around the bush” then a Chinese male ballad at 0024 – Very Good Jan 8 – I’m with Glenn Hauser on this one as it would be a nice gesture if CRI would allow Radio Tirana access to this transmitter (Mark Coady, Ont., ODXA yg via DXLD) ** ALBANIA. RADIO TIRANA FOREIGN SERVICE: WEB STREAM TAKEN AWAY http://radioforum.foren.mysnip.de/read.php?8773,1402976 Summary: The day before yesterday the live stream of Radio Tirana 3, as they call the foreign service, did not connect. Yesterday its URL had been taken over by another station which meanwhile embedded this very stream in its website at http://www.rotanastyle.com Today this live stream has been removed from the page of Radio Tirana 3 while the two FM programs are still available. Did they intend to kill the whole foreign service at yearend 2016, refrained from doing so at short notice (it appears to be still transmit, as far as one can tell from the residual Shijak signal) but had already terminated the contract for the live stream? Or what's going on here?? (Kai Ludwig, Germany, Jan 5, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Checking the webstreams this morning, I did not find a signal on Radio Tirana 3. At 1130+ UT I find an audio signal both on http://rtsh.al/radio-tirana-3/ and http://rtsh.al/radio-tirana-3-live/ At 1141 there was a clear ID as Radio Tirana. On the other hand, there is no audio on http://rtsh.al/radio-tirana-1/ and http://rtsh.al/radio-tirana-1-live/ There is an Albanian text meassage, that google translates to "Sorry, but the page you requested could not be found. Maybe research will help you." Given the past problems of the external service, one might suspect an intentional termination of the external service relay, but one might also think of a play out problem or an hacker attack. [later:] I once more checked the webstreams of Radio Tirana (1600-1620). All three webstreams are on. http://rtsh.al/radio-tirana-3-live/ is in parallel to 1458 kHz, scheduled to carry Albanian (1500-1630 h). [later later:] 2030 UT: While 7465 kHz provides only a distorted signal, http://rtsh.al/radio-tirana-3-live/ provides a clear audio of the German programme of Radio Tirana. Producer Astrit Ibro even announces two internet slots for the German programme (which is news to me): 1800 and 2030 UT. Unfortunately, he forgets to mention the web address (Dr Hansjoerg Biener, Germany, 6 January 2017, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Tirana Albanian 0000-0057 UT Jan 9, seven day per week operation. NOT ON AIR tonight (Wolfgang Büschel, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Hallo Kai {Ludwig}, ich hatte mich am 4. Januar an Astrit Ibro bei Radio Tirana gewandt, nachdem am 3.1.2016 der Stream ausgefallen und seit 4.1. ein Stream des syrischen Senders ROTANA STYLE FM aus Damaskus zu hoeren war. Daraufhin wurde gestern erst einmal der falsche Stream bei abgeschaltet und seit kurzem ist dort wieder Radio Tirana 3 Programm zu hoeren. Dies unter der neuen Stream-IP So werde ich heute auch wieder die deutsche Sendung aufzeichnen und auf bereitstellen koennen (Michael Bethge, Germany, WWDXC Bad Homburg, via wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Jan 5 via DXLD) ** ALGERIA [non]. See ETHIOPIA; LESOTHO (WORLD OF RADIO 1860 via DXLD) ** ANGOLA [non-log]. 4949.73, R. Nacional de Angola, Jan 6 found them off the air from 0236, through subsequent checking till 0357 (Ron Howard, Calif., dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 4949.7, Rádio Nacional, Mulenvos. Jan 7, 2017 Saturday. 0308-0309, Either off-air or lousy propagation. Nothing heard. Jo'burg sunrise 0323. 4949.7, Rádio Nacional. Mulenvos. Jan 7, 2017 Saturday. 1309-1310. Still AWOL, nothing heard. Jo'burg sunset 1705 (Bill Bingham, Johannesburg RSA. Drake R8E, Sony ICF2001D. dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 4949.73, R. Nacional de Angola, 0308, Jan 9. Noted in passing with above threshold level audio. 0400 time pips and clear ID (Ron Howard, Calif., dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 4949.7, Rádio Nacional, Mulenvos. Jan 11, 2017 Wednesday. 0328-0332 Music and songs, OM and YL talking. Better reception today, can hear they are talking Portuguese. Jo'burg sunrise 0326 (Bill Bingham, Johannesburg RSA. Drake R8E, Sony ICF2001D. dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Hi Bill, Was listening on Jan 11, from 0240 to 0303, on 4949.73. Heard audio nicely above threshold level, with pop African music; 0300 time pips (4); ID; news headlines(?); 0303 more African pop music. While in southern Calif., Jim Young emailed that he was hearing them at about the same time with the strongest signal he has ever heard from them (Ron Howard, ibid.) ** ANGUILLA [and non]. 6090, Jan 8 at 2322, JBA carrier slightly on low side, likely R. Bandeirantes, Brasil, in the absence of the so- called Caribbean Beacon, which nominally starts here at 2200. Transmitter has been distorting the modulation constantly for many weeks now. Maybe it finally broke down completely and/or they are trying to fix it. 11775, Jan 9 at 1556, C.B. day frequency is also off instead of distorting; good riddance. 11775, Jan 10 at 2113, the PMS/DGS station is still AWOL. Has been off since at least January 8. 6090 also off at night; see UNIDENTIFIED. Still off at 0040 Jan 12 (Glenn Hauser, OK, WORLD OF RADIO 1860, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ARGENTINA. Mike told us RAE “Argentina to the World” now has a new studio and new English DX programme “Actualidad DX”, which is scheduled on Saturdays. The first two episodes are online here: https://www.spreaker.com/show/actualidad-dx-english Episode 1 includes some African DX recordings. [Only the first two English episodes are online there though, as I type this report 29 December]. (Report on Reading meeting, Jan BDXC-UK Communication via DXLD) 37 and 17 minutes respectively, both uploaded 21 November. So length must vary widely. Why spreaker? Is that supposed to be an English word? Apparently an external archive provider, or ``the best podcasting platform`` originated in Italy, now with physical address in San Francisco, USA. On a Saturday when RAE is not really on SW, I finally listen to podcast #2 with annoying continuous music bed; translation is not completely idiomatic into English. The announcer is obviously not a native speaker of English, and no one has polished it. Claims that Guinea reactivated 9650 and 7125, the latter totally unconfirmed. Includes lots of off-the-air clips illustrating African SW news. Refers to Afrikaans as ``the original language from South Africa``. Tell that to the Xhosa, Zulu, etc., etc.! Says 4976 has been reactivated from Uganda --- really? There is a clip of something, but in June 2016, as in DXLD 16-25, Anker Peterson reported that 4976 was last heard in April 2015 (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 15345. RAE. Enero 2. 1823-1852. Servicio en inglés. Especial de tangos y reseña de la vida de Discepolo. SINPO: 55555. (Claudio Galaz, Rx: Philco IC-18R; Ant: Telescópica; QTH: Barraza Bajo, IV Región, Chile, condiglista yg via DXLD) Monday 15345. Jan 6 at 2006, RAE Argentina al Mundo, Gral Pacheco, French program: Sign-off (yesterday too). (DXer: Jose Ronaldo Xavier (JRX), Cabedelo-PB, Brazil, Tecsun S-2000, Antenna: Own home-made, Hard-Core- DX mailing list via DXLD) Friday He means not on the air at all, rather than the action of signing off after having been on (gh, DXLD) ** ARMENIA. What is NORATUS? WRTH 2017 says `Gavar, Noratus` as if it were a location, not an agency, and certainly not an acronym or initialism requiring all-caps. And address, with postal code? as ``3333 Noratus``. The transmitter operator is CJSC = Closed Joint Stock Company, which seems like a description akin to Inc., Ltd. Or LLC, rather than a corporate name itself. Noratus name looks rather Latinate, so could it be something Christian/Orthodox? No particular meaning known to Google translate. Answer: ``Noratus is a village near the town of Gavar, most famous for its cemetery, the oldest part of which includes over 800 khachkars (stone crosses), carved between the 9th-17th centuries.`` From Yerevan it is 95 km or one sesquihour away [by road?], so designating the SW site ERV is hardly accurate. And now the Armenians are publicizing their cemetery attraxion thus, without moving the SW antennas one cm, I bet. So are they really closer to Noratus than Gavar? Surely not within the cemetery, tho there is a certain kinship between crosses and antenna towers (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST 17-01 via WORLD OF RADIO 1860, DXLD 17-02) Upcoming broadcasts of Shortwaveservice via NORATUS [sic]: Radio Menschen & Geschichten: 1900-2000 6145 ERV 100 kW / 305 deg to WeEu English Jan 01 Radio Golden 80s Rewind: 2000-2100 6145 ERV 100 kW / 305 deg to WeEu English Jan 01 ADDX: 1900-2000 6145 ERV 100 kW / 305 deg to WeEu English Jan 14 http://swldxbulgaria.blogspot.bg/2016/12/upcoming-broadcasts-of-shortwaveservoce.html 73! (Ivo Ivanov, Sofia, Dec 27-29, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1860, DX LISTENING DIGEST) see also GERMANY [non?] ** ARUBA. 18160-USB, Jan 6 at 2131, P49MR, QSO with unheard K8WIL by Martin who has to spell his name at least thrice in a barely contact. Spends winters on island, otherwise is Ontarian VE3MR. Almost the OSOB in phone, except a JBA on 18140. Fontetix used, just to confuse the uninformed: Portugal-4-9-Mexico-Radio. The P4- should be enough to get us to Aruba, so does the small island have at least 9 call areas within? (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** AUSTRALIA. 4910, Jan 7 at 0816, VP carrier vs CODAR on both sides, VL8T, Tennant Creek still on day frequency before 0830 switch to 2325. At about the same level this early is 4835, VL8A Alice Springs, too close to 4840 WWCR, but will not QSY. The third station day frequency, 5025, VL8K Katherine, is of course blocked by Rebelde unless rarely AWOL, but normally audible later on 2485. All three stations on five frequencies are destined for extinxion at Janend, unless internal opposition to ABC plans succeed (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 4910.0, ABC Tennant Creek (PRESUMED), carrier came on at their scheduled 2130Z SIGN/ON at 2130:08 but band noise and CODAR worked against hearing anything but the smallest snippets of audio, enough to identify a female announcer. Put the R390A/Sherwood SE-3 combo on the frequency and was able to hear the slightest bit of additional audio but attempting to credibly identify a language was not possible. Teamed up with Dave Valko on this one via e-mail; we both caught the carrier as it came up at 2130:07. A quiet band and somewhat favorable propagation put this Long Path reception in the bag before the Aussies go dark (Chuck Rippel, VA, NASWA Flashsheet Jan 8 via DXLD) Hmmm, no date within this report (gh) ** AUSTRIA. Re: Relays this Weekend --- According to "Sender und Frequenzen 2017" (Germany's WRTH) JOY is a relay, too: Sunday, 1100 UT, 7330 kHz via Moosbrunn with 100 kW: Charlie-Prince- Show (Charlie Prince himself, Radio Joystick, Jan 12, HCDX via DXLD) ** BOLIVIA. 5580.2, Radio San José, San José de Chiquitos, 2245 to 2320 improving in Spanish - 2 January, also a bit weaker on 2230 to 2350 on 4 January (Robert Wilkner, Pómpano Beach, Florida, Icom 746 Pro, NRD 525, Drake R8, wire antennas, NASWA yg via DXLD) ** BOLIVIA. 5952. R. PIO XII. Enero 1. 0439-0450 UT. Música de tinkus, morenadas y cuecas bolivianas, i.e.: el tinku del pollito, la morenada del carnaval de Oruro, et al como transmisión de Año Nuevo. SINPO: 53553 con marcado QRM de otras emisoras sin identificar (Claudio Galaz, RX: TECSUN PL-660, ANT: Hilo de 40 metros, QTH: Ovalle, IV Región, Chile, condiglista yg via DXLD) 5952.42, Radio Pio Doce, 0130-0230*, Jan 8. Mostly fair; many on air phone conversations, all with young girls; 0228 usual whistling “Colonel Bogey March,” full IDs and chimes; best in USB. Jan 9 (Monday) was off the air before 0205 (Ron Howard, Calif., dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BOLIVIA. 6025. RED PATRIA NUEVA. Diciembre 31. 0201-0218 UT. Música folklórica en español, a las 0204 ID: ``Red Patria Nueva`` más jingle de la emisora, luego música romántica en español. A las 0211, se identifica nuevamente. SINPO: 44454 con leve QRM de una emisora china en la misma frecuencia, sin heterodino (Claudio Galaz, RX: TECSUN PL- 660, ANT: Hilo de 40 metros, QTH: Ovalle, IV Región, Chile, condiglista yg via DXLD) 94.1 MHZ. Red Patria Nueva. 2027-2032 UT. Música y luego noticias de una inauguración de obras públicas y entrega de maquinaria agrícola, en una localidad cercana a La Paz. Archivo de audio: https://soundcloud.com/claudio-radioham-dx/941-red-patria-nueva-fm-bolivia Distancia entre La Paz, Bolivia con el QTH: 1599 km (Claudio Galoaz, Rx: Philco IC-18R; Ant: Telescópica; QTH: Barraza Bajo, IV Región, Chile, condiglista yg via DXLD) ** BOUGAINVILLE. 3325, NBC Bougainville, 1130-1201*, Jan 6. DJ in Pidgin/Tok Pisin played EZL pop songs in English (Dr Hook with "Sharing The Night Together," etc.); 1200 with the now regular format of children singing the National Anthem and announcer in English with station ID, but today they pulled the plug before he completed the ID; another day that propagation did not favor RRI Palangkaraya. 3325, NBC Bougainville, 1109-1201*, Jan 9. Provincial news in Pidgin/Tok Pisin (item about "Department of Education," etc.); DJ in Pidgin/Tok Pisin playing pop Pacific Islands music; suddenly off without the recently heard formal sign off format; unfortunately today's propagation favored both RRI Palangkaraya and NBC, so they were mixing together for most of the time, with NBC only slightly better at times (Ron Howard, Calif., dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1860, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BRAZIL. 5964.967, Jan 7 at 0238, JBA carrier, presumed usual R. Transmundial around this offset (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BRAZIL. 11895, R. LEGIAO DA BOA VONTADE. Diciembre 31. 2008-2020 UT. Música de Navidad y reflexiones sobre ser una buena persona, además de un espacio de música coral hasta las 2015, cuando una mujer habla de unas reuniones a celebrarse en São Paulo, avisos de la emisora e identificación como: ``Super Rede Boa Vontade de Radio`` con lectura de las frecuencias en onda media y onda corta. Después saludos desde Brasilia. SINPO: 35433. // 9550. SINPO: 45444 (Claudio Galaz, RX: TECSUN PL-660, ANT: Hilo de 40 metros, QTH: Ovalle, IV Región, Chile, condiglista yg via DXLD) never 0000+ here, early s/off (gh) ** BRAZIL. 14445. R. INCONFIDENCIA. Diciembre 31. 2050-2106 UT. Música y a las 2104 se escucha identificar la emisora por parte de un locutor y lectura de la frecuencia de 49 metros. El audio está sobremodulado, al parecer un espurio o fuera de frecuencia, tal como fue avisado en el grupo de Facebook: ``Nas ondas curtas do rádio`` por los diexistas Denis Figueiredo y Uender Silva. SINPO: 35232 (Claudio Galaz, RX: TECSUN PL-660, ANT: Hilo de 40 metros, QTH: Ovalle, IV Región, Chile, condiglista yg via WORLD OF RADIO 1860, DXLD) ** BULGARIA. IRRS via Secretbrod, Jan 8 [Sunday] --- 1030-1300 on new or wrong frequency 9880, instead of 9510 -- 73! Ivo Ivanov, QTH: Sofia, Bulgaria, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BULGARIA. COPYRIGHT SPAT FORCES BULGARIA RADIO TO PLAY OLD TUNES http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/blogs-news-from-elsewhere-38530805 By News from Elsewhere... ...as found by BBC Monitoring 6 January 2017 Image caption: Blast from the past: Few modern hits are being played at Bulgarian National Radio in Sofia Bulgaria's public radio broadcaster has been banned from playing millions of contemporary songs because of a row over copyright payments. Since 1 January, state-funded Bulgarian National Radio (BNR) has been filling its airwaves with classical pieces, jazz and traditional folk music instead, the Novinite news agency reports. It's locked in a dispute with the non-profit Musicautor organisation, which manages the rights to work by both local and international artists - 14 million pieces of music in total. Even the traditional version of the national anthem is off-limits. Listeners tuning in on New Year's Eve instead heard the BNR symphony orchestra and choir's take on the tune, Balkan Insight reports, adding that the copyright row means only music made before 1945 can be played. BNR itself says it cannot play "95% of today's modern music repertoire". Musicautor wants BNR to pay more in royalties - triple the amount it pays at the moment - to bring it more into line with national radio in other EU countries. But radio director Aleksander Velev says that's impossible unless it gets more funding or drops a regional broadcast, which would "tarnish the radio's public mission". Some artists have voiced support for BNR, among them the frontman of Bulgarian rock band Signal, Dancho Karadjov, who is allowing his new album to be played free as a show of support. Mr Karadjov is not a member of Musicautor. New talks between the two sides are due to begin on Monday to try to resolve the row. Until then, listeners will be enjoying the sounds of years gone by (via jon Collins, Birmingham, WORLD OF RADIO 1860, DXLD) PUBLIC RADIO STOPS PLAYING CONTEMPORARY MUSIC OVER ROW http://www.novinite.com/articles/178131/Bulgaria%27s+Public+Radio+Stops+Playing+Contemporary+Music+over+Row The Bulgarian National Radio will only play classical music, jazz and folklore as of January 01, its Director General says. In a statement, Aleksandar Velev has cited a dispute of the public broadcaster with Musicautor, the union managing copyright of composers and record labels. Musicautor "unilaterally suspended its contract with the BNR" and barred the radio braodcaster from playing any music whose rights it holds, he has explained. This comprises much of the contemporary music in Bulgaria and abroad. No royalties are needed to play much of the classical, jazz and folklore music on the BNR's archive as its prescription has expired. But the union insists the amount of music royalties paid by the BNR should be three times the current one. The demand, however, is a burden on the BNR's budget and "does not rest with economic realities", with state funding allocated to the BNR remaining unchanged. To pay to Musicautor, the broadcaster would have to suspend one of its regional programs or take anoher harsh measure that would "tarnish the radio's public mission". The measure will be in force on a temporary basis, until the row is settled. Bulgaria's both public broadcasters, the BNT and the BNR, hold the status under the 1997 Radio and Television Act, but are de facto state-run, with funding set aside by the central budget every year (via Steve Whitt, Medium Wave News 62/08, 5 January 2017 via DXLD) ** CANADA. CANADIAN RADIO NEWS – Dan Sys; Guest editor Jon Pearkins NEW STATION GRANTED: 580, AB, Edmonton, CHBA, Commercial. 10,000 watts fulltime. Multilingual with 70% South Asian (Punjabi/Hindi/Urdu/Gujurati) programming. Extensive transmitter site upgrades are required even though the now silent CKUA-580 directional patterns will be used. Owner 1811258 Alberta Limited will move their evening and weekend paid programming from CKJR-1440 Wetaskiwin to CHBA. DX IMPLICATIONS 580 – Limited time to catch any stations that CKUA Edmonton AB used to interfere with. 1440 – CKJR, Wetaskiwin, AB may no longer be viable, making it an important DX target in case it goes silent. AM TO FM CONVERSION GRANTED 880, MB, Brandon, CKLQ, Move to 91.5 with 100,000 watts non- directional. 880 will remain on the air as a repeater covering a larger area with its 10,000 watts than the FM. After the normal three month simulcast period for AM to FM conversions, the AM license will be canceled and become part of the new license for CKLQ-FM. DX IMPLICATIONS 880 – “91.5” will become a major part of CKLQ-880 Brandon MB. As an AM repeater of the new CKLQ-FM, call letters may change to CKLQ-1 or CKLQ-2. NEW STATIONS DENIED 580, AB, Edmonton, n/a, Commercial. 10,000 watts fulltime. Multilingual. South Fraser Broadcasting. 580, AB, Edmonton, CFKN, Commercial. 10,000 watts fulltime. Multilingual. VMS Media Group. 1650, AB, Edmonton, CINH, Commercial. 10,000 watts fulltime. Multilingual. Neeti P Ray. 1690, AB, Edmonton, CKZW, Commercial. 5,000 watts fulltime. Multilingual. Radio India, which operates KVRI-1600 Blaine WA by LMA (IRCA DX Monitor Jan 14 via DXLD) ** CANADA. In Montreal, and elsewhere, everyone is anxiously awaiting the detailed programming information from CFNV 940 AM, the new French language news/talk station that is promising to announce it program details “soon” in the New Year. The station, rather presumptuously, is calling itself “La Super Station” in on-air announcements. This slogan was used decades ago in Montreal by CKAC AM 730 when it was one of the most popular news/talk stations in all of Canada! Also the CRTC has granted another extension to TTP Media to get their English news/talk station on the air on 600 kHz. More to come in the New Year, at least we hope so! (via Jan CIDX Messenger via DXLD) ** CANADA. DXer Patrik Willfor listens for broadcasts in the north of Finland. (thehamradio.com) [caption] --- DX item on CBC news http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/cbc-radio-fans-finland-1.3923594 story starts out: When people in other parts of the world tune in to CBC Radio in Vancouver, they usually do it through our app, or online or through Sirius XM. But some people in Finland recently picked up Vancouver's CBC broadcast — the broadcast heard locally at 690 AM and 88.1 FM — using an elaborate antenna system roughly 300 kilometres north of the Arctic Circle in Lapland, Finland. "It's a few [radio hobbyists] from around Finland who have a very nice place up in the north where there's not much neighbours which means not much interference," Patrik Willfor, one of the listeners, told On The Coast host Stephen Quinn. "It's like a silent band there, so even the weakest signals come through." Posted by: (Eric Floden, dxldyg via DXLD) ** CANADA. “When us DXers send a reception report to a domestic medium wave station” says DAVID ANSELL, writing from Horsham, “sometimes we get no response. I sent a report to CBG (Gander, Newfoundland) 1400 kHz along with five Canadian dollars. I was surprised on 19th December, at 1725, to get a telephone call from the station. The lady said ‘We get these reports, especially from Scandinavia, and wondered what sort of people you are who send the reports. Could we interview you live on 21st December at 1140 UK time?’ I gladly accepted and explained what a DXer does on medium wave. The show was called ‘Central Morning Show’ and was heard across central Newfoundland. I was able to mention the BDXC and explain what is a SWLer and a DXer. I was able to mention how sad it was that Radio Canada International and the Sackville transmission site had gone!” You can find the 7 minute interview conducted by Leigh Anne Power, online under "Ham Radio enthusiast in UK listens to the CBC" at http://www.cbc.ca/listen/shows/central-morning/segment/11205613 Wow! Well done, David. I am sure that other BDXC members have been interviewed, not necessarily on live radio, but if you have, or you have appeared in the print media, please tell OTD all about the experience! (Jan BDXC-UK Communication via DXLD) ** CANADA. 1610, Jan 7 at 0349 UT, South Asian songs dominating at S9+20, no doubt CHHA Toronto during its Punjabi hour UT Tue-Sat, but hardly Latina! Skedgrid in ET, unchanged in 16 months?: http://chha1610am.ca/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/PostCard-CHHA-1610AM-2016.jpg (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CANADA. CHU Missing --- Has anyone else noticed CHU off the air on both 3330 and 7850 kHz? I`m not even getting a carrier from them. Has Industry, Science, and Economic Development Canada shut them down? Inquiring minds need to know! (Mark Coady, Ont., 0135 UT Jan 8, ODXA yg via WORLD OF RADIO 1860, DXLD) Loud and clear on 7850 in Ontario (Paul Robertson, 0142 UT Jan 8, ibid.) Weak sig here near Chicago on 7850 (Joe-WA9LAE, 0309 UT Jan 8, ibid.) David Moes, VE3SD, found out from the NRC that they are having problems with the 3.330 MHz transmitter and are working on it (Mark Coady, 1246 UT Jan 9, ibid.) ** CANADA. 15034-USB, Jan 6 at 2126.5, Trenton Military ID and ``time, 2025z``, so looks as if they forgot to reset their local clock two months ago when DST ended! The automaton cannot perceive the discrepancy when continuing to quote weather conditions in Comox and Vancouver timestamped 2100z. At least the modulation remains unscathed. CHR. 15034-USB, Jan 8 at 1416, Trenton Military still with 61-minute-slow local timechex, ``Time 1315 zulu``, after a bunch of terminal forecasts all ``missing``, then some successful current conditions at various airports timestamped 1400z. BTW, exactly the same robovoice comes out of New York Radio, and I suppose Gander, on 10051, 13270; haven`t yet determined whether it can tell time correctly. Let`s hope their weather info is more accurate; when it`s not missing or no report (Glenn Hauser, OK, WORLD OF RADIO 1860, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CANADA. "DIGITAL HAS NOT KILLED THE RADIO FREQUENCY IN CANADA -- YET" --- As Norway moves to eliminate FM, 14 radio stations experimenting with HD Radio here [IBOC] By Haydn Watters, CBC News Posted: Jan 08, 2017 11:33 AM ET Last Updated: Jan 08, 2017 12:37 PM http://www.cbc.ca/news/technology/digital-radio-canada-1.3924864 (Charly, Brossard, QC, Gauthier, WTFDA gg via DXLD) +435+ comments ** CANADA. CBC ANNOUNCES ‘CANADA 150’ PROGRAMMING LINE-UP Via Broadcaster Magazine With only 25 days until 2017, CBC/Radio-Canada announced today a line- up of special Canada 150 programs. The public broadcaster will be at the heart of Canada’s anniversary year, sharing Canadian stories to celebrate the past, the present and the future, including the perspectives of the Indigenous Peoples of Canada, whose history extends far beyond these past 150 years. This multiplatform- programming offer will take all Canadians on a journey, while helping them discover a vision of Canada’s future together. With today’s announcement, the public broadcaster released an online CBC/Radio-Canada 2017 Programming Guide that outlines the extensive Canada 150 programming offer: documentaries, radio programs, kids programs, entertainment and arts specials, innovative digital and virtual reality initiatives, and ongoing news and current affairs coverage of the people, places and events in every region of the country that will shape Canada’s milestone anniversary year. “The 150th anniversary celebrations are for us a unique opportunity to create and showcase highly emotional moments, to bring Canadians together around special signature events, and to enable conversations about our collective national identity, our diversity, and what binds us together,” said Hubert T. Lacroix, President and CEO of CBC/Radio- Canada. 2017 programming kicks off on December 31st with Canada’s New Year’s Eve — Countdown to 2017, a nation-wide musical celebration hosted by Rick Mercer from Parliament Hill on CBC Television and online at http://CBC.CA/2017 The star-studded line-up of musical guests across the country includes: JUNO Award-winning and Grammy-nominated multi-Platinum recording artist Carly Rae Jepsen, and chart-topping country star Brett Kissel on the main stage in Ottawa; singer-songwriter Scott Helman in Montreal; The Strumbellas from the celebrations in Halifax; The Bros. Landreth featuring Begonia from The Forks in Winnipeg; and alt-rock giants Wintersleep from the Vancouver celebrations. The special will also capture the excitement from a number of cities across the nation as Canadians ring in the country’s historic anniversary year. CBC News Network will kick-off New Year’s Eve with live coverage of the official ceremonies from Parliament Hill, including a ceremonial re-lighting of the Centennial Flame, as well as fireworks and celebrations across the country. The public broadcaster’s English and French services have come together to present a number of joint projects, including: We Are Canada, a prime-time documentary series that celebrates the next generation of change-makers; Train 150, a multiplatform series that offers a close-up, cross-country view of Canada; a special edition of the landmark series Canada: A People’s History; a special presentation of The Best of the Governor General’s Performing Arts Gala; What’s Your Story?/La Route des 20, which recruits a diverse group of millennials to tell the contemporary story of Canada throughout 2017; We Are the Best, a series that shows off the extraordinary culinary richness of our country; and extensive national Canada Day 2017 coverage on CBC and Radio-Canada platforms. CBC highlights include: Canada: The Story of Us, an epic ten-part television history series that tells the extraordinary story of the people, places and events that have shaped our country. With a combination of fact-based drama and stunning CGI animations, it is the stories of Indigenous peoples and immigrants; pioneers and rule breakers; and scientists and entrepreneurs who forged a nation in a vast and harsh land; Becoming Canadian, a digital-first series that will focus on stories from the 250,000 new Canadians who take the Oath of Citizenship; and Short Docs: Indigenous, a collection of short digital documentaries by emerging Indigenous storytellers that will focus on Indigenous Canadians who are challenging the past to define their futures. All Radio-Canada’s programming details, including the count-down to New Year’s Eve coverage, is available online. CBC/Radio-Canada’s Canada 150 programs will be broadcast on all platforms throughout the year, with a number of major television specials airing in the spring, leading up to Canada Day on July 1st, 2017. Broadcast dates and times will be announced soon. CBC/Radio-Canada is proud to have CIBC as a partner in celebrating Canada’s 150th anniversary, in the same year that CIBC is also turning 150 (via Jan CIDX Messenger via WORLD OF RADIO 1860, DXLD) i.e. Sesquicentennial! It`s unclear which/how much of above special programming concerns television, rather than radio. Default medium is probably TV. Even ``Radio-Canada`` in French doesn`t necessarily mean it`s about radio (gh, DXLD) ** CANADA. CBC RADIO’S STUART MCLEAN CLOSES THE VINYL CAFÉ --- FOR NOW, OR FOR GOOD? Via CBC --- A NOTE FROM STUART MCLEAN As many of you know, I was diagnosed with melanoma a year ago. At the time we figured the treatment would be swift. What can I say --- things don’t always go exactly as planned. I began my first round of immunotherapy treatment last winter. It was partially, but not completely, successful. So the plan is for me to begin another round of immunotherapy treatment in January. I have been writing Dave and Morley stories over the past few months, but not with any regularity. I’ve been concentrating on my treatment and my health. I don’t think airing repeats is fair to those of you who listen every week and have been so loyal over these past two decades. Nor is it fair to the writers and producers who are busy creating new work. There are lots of people creating great work, and it deserves to be heard and enjoyed. So, for the time being, I’m going to step aside and make room for others to share their work on the radio. Starting in January 2017, we won’t be airing The Vinyl Cafe on CBC Radio, Sirius XM 169 or podcast. Public Radio stations in the USA will be airing episodes of Vinyl Cafe Stories until the end of February 2017. I wanted to tell you that, but I don’t want you to worry about me. A year ago I told you that I expected this to be just a bump in the road, not the end of the road. I still believe that to be true. I hope we will meet up again—on the radio or in theatres. We’ll make sure to tell you before that happens. The best way to keep in touch is through our newsletter. If you aren’t already signed up for the newsletter, you can do that here. http://eepurl.com/XTL7f http://vinylcafe.us2.list-manage2.com/subscribe?u=100ce4f48d607d2a98acf6bb6&id=5fb58ce981 In the meantime, look after yourselves and each other. And know that this isn’t goodbye. It’s just --- so long for now (via Jan CIDX Messenger via WORLD OF RADIO 1860, DXLD) ** CHILE. 5825, R. TRIUNFAL EVANGELICA. Diciembre 30. 2330-2341 UT. Música evangélica. SINPO: 55444. 5825, R. TRIUNFAL EVANGÉLICA. Enero 3. 2245-2301 UT. Música de coros de origen Metodista-Pentecostal. A las 2258 hay una especie de predicación o avisos que no son entendibles debido al ruido ambiental. SINPO: 35323 con bastante fading (Claudio Galaz, RX: TECSUN PL-660, ANT: Hilo de 40 metros, QTH: Ovalle, IV Región, Chile, condiglista yg via DXLD) ** CHILE. 6925. RCW. Enero 1. 0030-0040 UT. Música bailable, saludos de año nuevo y lectura de noticias de celebración de año nuevo en otras partes del mundo. SINPO: 55444 (Claudio Galaz, Rx: Philco IC- 18R; Ant: Telescópica; QTH: Barraza Bajo, comuna de Ovalle, IV Región, Chile, condiglista yg via DXLD) RCW, Radio Compañía Worldwide, 6925, 0400 UT Enero 1. Música bailable, (cumbias de Américo, Los Charros de Lumaco ente otros), SINPO 24342. Señal muy baja pero estable (Jorge Zuñiga [sic], RX: COBY CX-CB12 Con antena telescópica, QTH: Padre hurtado Santiago de Chile via Claudio Galaz, condiglista yg via DXLD) Isn`t it Zúñiga? SS may put tildes on the Ns but dispense with accents on the vowels (Glenn Hauser, DXLD) ** CHINA. 6035, PBS Yunnan (Voice Shangri-la), Jan 8 running past their normal sign off time of 1200*; at 1256 non-stop classical western orchestra music; still on at 1303 (Ron Howard, Calif., dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CHINA. 9455. Jan 10 at 1842, China National Radio 1. A Firedragon: continuous instrumental Chinese songs; 1900 Continues. Fair transmission, 35433 (DXer: José Ronaldo Xavier (JRX), Cabedelo-PB, Brazil, Tecsun S-2000, Antenna: Own home-made, Hard-Core-DX mailing list via DXLD) Was it mixing with CNR1, which is regular programming including talk, other music? If not, Firedragon is NOT = CNR1. Whatever, this of course is jamming RFA (gh, DXLD) ** CHINA. 9860. CRI. Enero 5, 2240-2245 UT. Mujer presenta unas canciones en Esperanto del cantante Jomo, que pertenecen a un nuevo álbum. A las 2245 se inicia una clase de chino. SINPO: 55555 (Claudio Galaz, RX: TECSUN PL-660, ANT: Hilo de 40 metros, QTH: Ovalle, IV Región, Chile, condiglista yg via DXLD) Many of his logs of CRI concern Esperanto; see also CUBA 15370 (gh) ** CHINA. 11980, China mainland origin FIREDRAKE music against co- channel RFA Mandarin from Orzu Tajikistan, noted at 0551 UT Jan 6. S=9+10dB strength in Thailand remote SDR (Wolfgang Büschel, df5sx, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Jan 6, 2017, BCDX 09 Jan via DXLD) ** CHINA [non]. SHF Satellites: Television: 95 W, Galaxy 3C, 11.780H/20760 Msps, CGTN News (China Global TV Network - formerly CCTV) with English Newscast. This is one of 5 streams on this transponder: CCTV4 in Chinese; this stream; CGTN français in French; CGTN E in Spanish and CGTN documentary in English. All in well with 61% quality QPSK/MPEG2 in SD (480i), 0655-0715 2/Jan (Ken Zichi, Pt Hope MI2, for Satellites: Manhattan DJ-1997 FTA receiver +96 inch movable dish, MARE Tipsheet Jan 6 via DXLD) ** CHINA [non]. See ICELAND ** CUBA. [Re 17-01:] Scott Fybush is generally well informed, but his statement below [*CAPS*] is totally, dead, absolutely wrong. ``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.)`` What US stations are required to protect is what is in the ITU Master Frequency file ("MIFR"). The FCC CDBS sometimes is consistent with the MIFR but often is at very substantial variance with it. And the determination of impermissible interference from Cuba for allocation purposes is also the MIFR. There are at least 4 or 5 sources of data about Cuban operations which are sometimes used to analyze real interference from Cuba but that is a different problem (Ben Dawson, Hatfield-Dawson, WA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CUBA. Re: Tim Hall's logs and comments in DXLD 17-01: 1370 - I've not heard anything from Cuba here, at least since May of 2010 when my searchable logs became archived on the Logs sub-pages of FLPRS. But many Cuban local and provincial stations and networks air the anthem at midnight local, which would have corresponded to his 0400 GMT log on October 3, before DST ended. I would conclude he definitely had an unidentified Cuban. I'll try to listen here, though the present 0500 GMT anthem hour is unlikely for me. Less common is the anthem at 0600 local (1100 GMT presently). 1210 - Rebelde has been here, from an unknown location, since at least March 2016 when I first logged it. It may be a dedicated transmitter and not an overnight cut-over and appears to be from central or eastern Cuba based on reception time here. 670 - I've not heard a Progreso here but he obviously had multiple parallels. Reloj - I seriously doubt anyone is manually keying the "RR" SFX. They are often way off, on time sounders as well as the "RR" SFX, as well as audio between various transmitters not feeding in sync. I've also occasionally heard the network with the "RR"s completely absent for periods of time. Radio Reloj de Sol would be a better name for the net. Remember that often on local Sundays, they replace (or sometimes switch back and forth) the "RR"s with chimes. Florida Low Power Radio Stations [also with Cuba listings]: https://sites.google.com/site/floridadxn/florida-low-power-radio-stations (Terry Krueger, Jan 11, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CUBA. 15370. RHC. Enero 1. 2133-2145 UT. Una mujer habla sobre el legado del poeta cubano Nicolás Guillen, perfil de su vida y lectura de un poema en idioma esperanto hasta las 2140, informaciones de medicina y de un congreso de esperanto a realizarse el año 2017. SINPO: 55555. Sonido sobremodulado. Al parecer, adelantaron 1 hora el servicio en esperanto (Claudio Galaz, RX: TECSUN PL-660, ANT: Hilo de 40 metros, QTH: Ovalle, IV Región, Chile, condiglista yg via DXLD) Yes, had been Sunday at 2230. Need to reconfirm Jan 15 (gh, DXLD) 12000, Jan 5 at 2236, RHC in Spanish, S5 // 13740 & 9710. Altho has used this frequency in past, not lately, and seems too strong to be harmonic of 6000, where anyway there is only a JBA carrier. Possibly that transmitter tuned up by error onto its second harmonic instead of fundamental. Or another off-schedule experiment? 11880, Jan 5 at 2240, RHC Spanish here instead of English! So // 12000, 11840 & 11760, i.a. (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 6000, Radio Habaña Cuba with English Editorial and into a commentary on the last year in US/Cuba relations that I gather was supposed to be in English but they used the Spanish tape (whoops!), then into dead air at 0125 like they realized they oopsed, but then continuing on in Spanish like the transmitter feeds got switched. Good to know they are on top of things in the new year! Back to English at 0131 with Ed Newman acting like he didn't notice what preceded him was in Spanish. Then into English silly sports news. At 0135 into Cuban vocal music but more dead air at 0138 until 0144 when they came back with OM/YL talx in English at a much reduced modulation level, taking it down to 5554+3, and which caused me to tune out. 5554+4 hum in the modulation was a little distracting. 0115-0145 6/Jan SB-310 +randomwire (Ken Zichi, Williamston MI, MARE Tipsheet Jan 6 via DXLD) 15700, CRI at 1418 with a man and woman with banter about workers in the manufacturing sector and their relationships with management --- Strong signal but low level audio Jan 7. This low level audio crops up at various times and on various frequencies of RHC. I wonder if it`s a particular transmitter or studio-transmitter link that is to blame (Mark Coady, Selwyn, Ontario, Drake SPR4 Receiver, Drake TR7, Kenwood TS440S, and YouKits TJ5A Transceivers, AEA AT-300 and MFJ-941E Manual Tuners, LDG Z-100 Plus Auto Tuner, 40 meter and 80 meter off centre- fed dipoles, ODXA yg via DXLD) 15140, Jan 7 at 1904, undermodulated choking Arabic from RHC to Chicago, only S9; collides with irregular Oman also in Arabic as noted elsewhere, but no trace of that here. 5025 & 5040, Jan 8 at 0615, both 60m frequencies are off, but at this hour nothing else to be heard on or around them (e.g. Australia, Perú on 5025). Asleep before I could check out any other RHCs, but next check awake at 1353, 5025 is back on with music in Spanish (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 9580, CRI at 0105 // 5990 (also via Cuba) with a man with “CRI News” with several transmitter breaks on both frequencies – Very Good when on the air Jan 8 (Mark Coady, Ontario, ODXA yg via DXLD) 15370. Jan 10 at 2005, Radio Habana Cuba, Bauta, in English (Aoki and EiBi skeds says Portuguese). Announcers (man and woman) presents a Newsletter; ID. Station with very good signal and modulation, 45544. Note: RHC sked says 2000-2030 on 15370 BAU 100 kW / 010 deg to WeEu Portuguese (DXer: José Ronaldo Xavier (JRX), Cabedelo-PB, Brazil, Tecsun S-2000, Antenna: Own home-made, Hard-Core-DX mailing list via DXLD) 15140, Wed Jan 11 around 2030, RHC English is here with mailbag, and on 15370 Arabic, as both are scheduled. Checking because on Jan 10 at 2005, JRX in Brasil found English on 15370 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CUBA. http://forums.wtfda.org/showthread.php?11151-Cuba-FM-bandscan Cuba FM bandscan --- Scanning the FM band from the Strait of Florida, 40 miles north of the Cuba coastline. I have attempted to identify some stations but I am probably off here and there. Interesting narrow band FM signal on 95.5. Cubavision TV Audio 87.75 Progreso 90.3 Radio Coco 91.7 Radio Taíno 93.3 Radio Enciclopedia 94.1 CMCA, Radio Ciudad de La Habana 94.7 Radio Rebelde 95.5 narrow Radio Rebelde 96.7 Unknown 97.5 (R Taíno or R Progreso per member cd637299) R Camoa 97.9 (per member cd637299) Radio Metropolitana 98.3 Unknown 98.7 Radio Musical Nacional 99.1 Radio Cadena Habana 99.9 R Rebelde 100.3 (per member cd637299) Radio Cadena Habana 100.7 Radio Reloj 101.5 R Progreso 101.9 (per member cd637299) Radio Havana 103.1 Radio SG or Radio 26? 104.3 Radio Mayabeque? 104.7 CMBT R Jaruco 105.1 (per member cd637299) Radio Progreso 106.3 Habana Radio 106.9 Radio Taíno 107.9 --------------------------------- Last edited by NO2CW; 01-12-2017 at 05:53 PM (Ivan Cholakov, Miami/Hollywood FL, NO2CW, Jan 11, WTFDA Forum via DXLD) Wow, nice often-full-quieting reception there! Had no idea RHC had an English service on 103.1; time to do me some research [they have been announcing this, 91.7 and 102.5 for a long time now. From three different locations, AFAIK, it`s never clear whether all are // the same, or how the broadcast day is split up amongst languages, but English and Spanish are certainly included --- gh] The 102.5 dead air is RHC as well, likely a Spanish service, and I am trying to find out what time nightly it begins. Not sure if your 102.3 is // 102.5, or just bleeding from 102.5. The unknowns could be, based on my monitoring in the Keys and Everglades National Park: 97.5 R Taíno or R Progreso 97.9 R Camoa 98.7 if not WCNK Key West, would love to know myself! 100.3 R Rebelde 101.9 R Progreso 105.1 CMBT R Jaruco Now I wanna go back (Chris Dunne, member cd637299, Pembroke Pines FL, Jan 12, ibid.) Thank you, I made some updates to the original post and will annotate the youtube video when I have the time. I have another scan from off the westernmost tip of Cuba and it`s a wild mix with Yucatán FM stations. I will post it soon (Iván, NO2CW, ibid.) ** CUBA [non]. From the Isle of Music, Week of January 16-22, 2017: Electronic Cuba – Leonardo Pérez shares more of Una Mecánica Diferente, Jazz saxophonist Emir Santa Cruz shares some of his music, and we are going to explore some of what is happening in Cuban electronic music today. Three options for listening on shortwave: WBCQ, 7490 kHz, Tuesdays 0100-0200 UT (8-9 pm EDT [sic, he keeps saying, really 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, FTIOM, Jan 14, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CZECHIA [and non]. THE SPY WITH NO NAME http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-38261956 (via Terry Krueger, DXLD) Yes, with a numbers-station radio angle (gh) ** CZECHIA [non]. 6855, Jan 7 at 0230, R. Prague opening daily English relay on new frequency via WRMI, added to or replacing inaudible 11580 which is still the only one shown on schedule; ex-Brother Scare all the time on 6855, following drastic reduxion in his WRMI hours. More under USA (Glenn Hauser, OK, WORLD OF RADIO 1860, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** DENMARK [non]. DSWCI special from early Dec still playing on WRMI in Jan: See U S A ** ECUADOR. 1330, HC.. R Visión Cristiana, Quito inactive since a couple of months (Jan Edh/Henrik Klemetz, ARC via SOUTH AMERICAN NEWS with Tore B. Vik, Norway, Medium Wave News 62/08, 5 January 2017 via DXLD) Leaving RVC still on 1330 from NYC and DR at least, plus 1020 KCKN Roswell; yes, one of lots of Ecuadorians with no callsign known to WRTH 2017; 3 kW, leaving two other indicativoed HCs on 1330. So what`s with the no-callsign deal? Stations not exactly legal? Or agency stopped assigning calls at some point? RVC was relatively recent (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** EGYPT. 15230.091, Radio Cairo's Swahili to East Africa. S=9+10dB carrier, but ONLY 1% tiny modulation underneath. 6 x 50 Hertz peaks visible distance apart either sideband. [selected SDR options, span 12.5 kHz RBW 15.3 Hertz] (Wolfgang Büschel, df5sx, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Jan 4, 2017, BCDX 09 Jan via DXLD) ** ERITREA. 7146.55 [non-log] VOBME 1, not heard Jan 6, nor any other days recently; also no jamming here starting at 1500-1501. 7175, VOBME 2 (presumed), 1444-1501, Jan 6. HOA music/singing. After several months of monitoring, have noted the white noise (DRM?) jamming starts consistently about 1500-1501, but there is a slight time difference, so seems not on a timer. Why do they not jam before this, when VOBME 2 is in the clear (except for hams!)? (Ron Howard, Calif., dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 7174.990 S=9+20dB noted at 0020 UT Jan 7 in Doha Qatar, ONLY CARRIER parked. nothing on approx. 7146v kHz. No white noise jamming (Wolfgang Büschel, df5sx, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Remember a carrier could be a spoiler ham in this range. I often hear AM carriers around 40m, with no mod, on and off unpredictably (gh, DXLD) ** ESTONIA. Members, My appeal for Finns or Russians to help at last has brought a result. During 1990 to 1991 as the Soviet Union disintegrated, stations promoting the Russian point of view were placed in Republics which were trying to break away. In Estonia Radio Nadezhda operated with 20kW on 747kHz. After many enquiries Jari Lehtinen worked with me to narrow down that the army base where the transmitter and antenna were housed - called Tankipolk (in Keila) was at 59 18 26.9N 24 23 34.9E. This has been a fully resolved query where one initial Facebook post (on WRTH) alerting members of that Group to the existence Andres Aule's audio clip of Radio Nadezhda led via more posts from many DXers, to the full piecing together of information about the short lived station. When it was working, the 747 kHz station was on air 0330-0500, 0930- 1100, and 1530-1700. The transmissions seemed to have stopped a little before 31 August 1991. 73 and 88 (Dan Goldfarb, mwmasts yg via DXLD) ** ETHIOPIA. 891 kHz. While Algiers still silent, this evening EBC, National Radio, Dese came through on the empty channel. At 2000 UT with short musical bridge, brief anthem and ID by man in Amharic. Into news. At 2017 UT again with HoA music. At 2100 UT closing with National Anthem. SIO: 322 (On Jan 05). (Zeljko Crncic, Germany, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Jan 5, BCDX 09 Jan via WORLD OF RADIO 1860, DXLD) See also LESOTHO ** ETHIOPIA. 6030. R. OROMIYA. Enero 4. 0355-0416 UT. Cantos africanos y desde las 04 en adelante, al parecer noticias, alternándose una voz femenina y una masculina en un idioma sin identificar, al parecer Oromo. SINPO: 43443 con QRM marcado de R. MARTI en la misma frecuencia. No obstante, R. Martí se escucha por debajo. Luego de las 0415, se vuelve un poco más dominante Radio Martí (Claudio Galaz, RX: TECSUN PL-660, ANT: Hilo de 40 metros, QTH: Ovalle, IV Región, Chile, condiglista yg via DXLD) And no Cuban jamming too?? (gh, DXLD) ** ETHIOPIA [and non]. 6090, Jan 7 at 0332, PMS ANGUILLA S9+40, still distorted as always, but they don`t care in The Valley. With CCI talk underneath, at this hour, probably R. Amhara, and no het. It must be stronger than 6110 R. Fana to start with, since that is quite weak, very poor; but WRMI-less 5950 with HOA music is fair to poor hitting S9. Wolfgang Büschel was monitoring via Qatar remote a few minutes earlier, putting Tigray Revolution on 5949.999, Amhara on 6089.997, while Fana was on exactly 6110.000; nothing on 7236v, as I also noted, nor any Eritreans, while Somaliland carrier was there on 7120 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Viz.: ** ETHIOPIA. Ethiopians heard in Doha Qatar remote unit at 0317 Jan 7: 5949.999, Tigray Revolution, S=9+10dB in Doha Qatar unit. excellent sound, enjoyed HoA music 0315-0330 UT 6030.000, Oromya, S=9+5dB at 0315 UT Jan 7. Fluttery unstable signal wanders 4-5 Hertz up and down. 6089.997, R. Amhara, only S=7-8, music at 0318 UT on Jan 7. 6110.000, R Fana, S=9+5dB in remote Doha Qatar unit. Amharic, local music at 0329 UT. Nothing on air on 7236v kHz this morning (Wolfgang Büschel, DF5SX, this Jan 7th morning in Doha Qatar site, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews via DXLD) ** ETHIOPIA. On Jan 2nd at 1801 starting with drum “dum-dum” sounding IS and ID something like “Edi laskomedati Ertrain”, at 1804 march, and program in vernacular till 1836 when only carrier till 1841 and s/off on 7237.0. On Jan, 6th two stations whistling in English, CRI(?) on 7235 and Ethiopia on 7236.8. BTW on same day at 0356 started V of Eritrea on 7235.0. On Jan 5th at 1300 started on 7235.9 and whistling with (?) VOA in Korean (Rumen Pankov, Sofia, Bulgaria, Jan 12, 2017, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 7236.571, Jan 7 at 1358, poor carrier here, presumed the constantly varying R. Ethiopia by long path (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 7237.111v, Jan 9 at 1405, JBA carrier from R. Ethiopia, constantly drifting downward as I try to measure it, but not getting back to the 7236+ range while I`m on it, just as well to avoid non-variants on 7235, 7240. 7236.79v, Jan 10 at 1512, JBA carrier by long path from R. Ethiopia. Keeps varying as I try to measure it, so will dispense with the third decimal place (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** EUROPE. Laser Hot Hits, on Facebook 30 minutes ago: "We are on 1494 kHz Medium Wave + 4029, 5800 & 6205 kHz Shortwave this weekend." Good reception here in Caversham on 1494 kHz, Sat 7/1 at 2210 UT. Announced email for reports studio@laserhothits.co.uk 73, (Alan Pennington, AOR 7030plus, longwire, 2218 UT Sat Jan 7, BDXC-UK yg via DXLD) ** FRANCE. Re: 162 Allouis France Inter at 2300 UT Dec 31: "Have this recorded via Twente and will archive later." Last one hour of France Inter on 162 kHz archived with discussion: https://archive.org/details/FranceInter0.162MHz31December20162200UTC and here: https://shortwavearchive.com/archive/france-inter-longwave-162-khz-final-sign-off-december-31-2016 (-- Richard Langley, Jan 6, dxldyg via DXLD) Hi everyone, I'd like to make some remarks after reading the article entitled FRANCE INTER CLOSES LW in the recent issue of MWN. 1/ The footnote says: ``Programming has stopped but blank carrier still on air, seemingly at full power --- won`t save that much money!`` It will save Radio France 13 million euros a year, as the money was taken from the RF budget. Of course it won't save the taxpayer any money, as now the money comes directly from the state. Therefore I would like to rephrase the footnote and say ``If the taxpayer still has to pay, wouldn't it have been simpler to leave the programme on and let the government pay the bill directly?" Anyway, CSA and ANFR, the authorities in charge, and TDF, who runs the transmitter, are hastily looking for a new programme provider. 2/ The station does not send a blank carrier; it still carries the time signals that drive thousands of clocks in the country, especially those of the railway network. 3/ The article also says ``RTL, Europe 1 and RMC continue to broadcast on long wave to reach areas where they are not present in FM.`` The trouble is, RTL, E1 and RMC can be well heard on LW where their FM network is very good as well, but much less so in areas where they are not present on FM. At my place, for instance, RMC cannot be heard on FM and the longwave transmitter is only heard in the early morning and late evening. No trace of it during the daylight hours, even in the winter. That's why RMC seems to be interested in using the Allouis transmitter, which is well heard in the east of the country, precisely in the area where there are no FM outlets. Whether they can afford it is of course another kettle of fish. 73, (Rémy Friess, Jan 5, MWCircle yg via DXLD) So, it has been over a week now and this transmitter is still on air with no modulation (apart from the inaudible time signals). So what is the point of that? An AM transmitter with a 100% mod sine wave will take 50% more ‘juice’ than an unmodulated one, but when speech/music is carried the extra power required is somewhat less than 50%. So this France Inter closedown is clearly not an energy saving effort but some form of political move. Regards, (Gareth Foster, Jan 9, BDXC-UK yg via DXLD) Explained above, and now he explains it again: (gh) It saves Radio France 13 million euros a year. Before Jan 1st the bill was paid by RF. The time signals were sent at no cost. Now the costs are carried directly by the state, as the service cannot be scrapped or the whole railway service in France for instance will collapse, as they rely heavily on the Allouis time signals to regulate traffic. Radio France doesn't care about the fact that the taxpayer still has to put in some money. They have cut THEIR bill by 13 million euros. That's why ANFR and TDF are looking for a new user. But who can afford it? So far none have come up, although RMC seem to have expressed interest. Regards, (Rémy Friess, Jan 9, ibid.) 162 KHZ OPPORTUNITY Amateur Radio Newsline Report No. 2045 By Jeremy Boot G4NJH January 6, 2017 If you're a licensed amateur in France and eager to get on the air at 162 kHz, you have until January 16th to let the CSA, the French Superior Council of Audio-visual, know you support its use as an amateur frequency. Radio France, the public radio broadcaster, ceased operations on the frequency at the end of 2016 and the CSA is seeking expressions of interest for another radio service there. The frequency had been in use by France Inter, one of the public broadcaster's channels. The discontinued service had been announced as a cost-saving measure. Their departure from the frequency created an opportunity for hams and the CSA will be seeking input during the first half of January about amateur use. Again, you have until January 16th to let them know. Visit the authority's website at http://www.csa.fr where there is a link to download details about expressing interest. Posted by: (Mike Terry, dxldyg via DXLD) Oooh, they overlook something (gh, DXLD) The expression of interest at the link he gives, unless I'm missing something in the translation, is for a broadcast radio service and nothing to do with amateur radio use. The CSA has also stated there that 162 will be continued to be used as a time signal service for the forseeable future (Mike Barraclough, ibid.) It should suffice to simply consider what the CSA in fact is: http://www.csa.fr/en/The-CSA/An-Independent-Authority-to-Protect-Audiovisual-Communication-Freedom What will be next? Appeals to discontinue the outdated 198 kHz broadcasting service and free the frequency for ham use? (Kai Ludwig, Germany, ibid.) Hi everyone, From Monday Jan 2, to Friday Jan 6, France Bleu Berry, the local FB station in the Allouis/Issoudun area, carried a daily 3- Minute Programme about the history of the Allouis transmitter. If you understand French you can hear or download these programmes at: http://radiofrance-podcast.net/podcast09/rss_14721.xml 73, (Rémy Friess, Jan 8, BDXC-UK yg via DXLD) I often read of an EU ruling, though I've never fully checked this, that if a public service broadcaster leaves a radio frequency it should be made available for commercial or other non public broadcasters. As to the time signal service, this is a slightly edited version of the google translated press release about this: "The National Frequency Agency (ANFR) was commissioned by the Government to maintain the broadcast of the hourly signal after France Inter longwave closes down at the end of December. This service is widely used in key sectors of the French industry to synchronize more than 200,000 clocks. Since 1977, the frequency of France Inter also transmits a reference time signal elaborated from atomic clocks. This signal is inaudible but, when it is picked up by an appropriate apparatus, it provides French legal time. Some public service undertakings, such as SNCF, Enedis or Aéroports de Paris, but also local authorities, use this signal to synchronize clocks in public places, information panels, Public lighting or the synchronization of pay and display machines. This radio-synchronization service on the 162 kHz frequency provides a time reference of very high accuracy and reliability. It has the advantage of being better received in indoor spaces than other time bases, such as GPS or mobile phone networks. The Government wished to maintain the broadcasting of these hourly signals after the termination of France Inter's programs. In this context, it has tasked the National Frequency Agency (ANFR) to organize the maintenance of this broadcast as from 1 January 2017. ANFR, in close collaboration with TDF, the CFHM (French Chamber of Watchmaking and Microtechnology), and the main users of the signal, will carry out tests from the beginning of 2017 to adjust the parameters for broadcasting the time signal." You don't need 2 MW to broadcast a limited bandwidth time signal to France. The UK and German time signal services are on lower frequencies which propagate for longer distances but Anthorn [UK] 60 kHz uses 17 kW and DCF77 Mainflingen [Germany] uses 50 kW. My radio controlled clock in North Hertfordshire works off DCF77 but not Anthorn. If there is no interest in the frequency, they can begin these tests. I wouldn't be surprised in the long term if the French time signal service moved to a lower frequency though that would need modification or replacement of all the current clocks that rely on the signal (Mike Barraclough, BDXC-UK yg via DXLD) Le 10/01/2017 16:09, barraclough.mike [bdxc-news] a écrit: ``I often read of an EU ruling, though I've never fully checked this, that if a public service broadcaster leaves a radio frequency it should be made available for commercial or other non public broadcasters`` I don't know about that EU ruling; Who cares about EU rulings anyway? You guys voted for Brexit. FREXIT is coming soon, hopefully. Anyway ANFR have advertised the frequency. But there is only one possible candidate: RMC. ``I wouldn't be surprised in the long term if the French time signal service moved to a lower frequency though that would need modification or replacement of all the current clocks that rely on the signal.`` Well, I would be; You can't just throw away 200000 clocks. I don't expect a significant power reduction either, as the Allouis signal does not always reach certain areas of the country very well, even with 2 MW. The north-east, where I live, is one instance. Corsica is another. I would rather expect an adjustment in the filters they use. A 9 kHz bandwidth is useless. With narrower filters they might make much better use of the power available. 73, (Rémy Friess, France, BDXC_UK yg via DXLD) The much decreased bandwidth is why you need less power. http://forums.digitalspy.co.uk/showpost.php?p=84938521&postcount=1201 (Mike Barraclough, BDXC-UK yg via DXLD) Viz.: The detection bandwidth for the digital time information is probably only a few tens of Hertz, so transmitter power could be massively scaled back from whatever it's set at now (claimed to be 2 MW). As an example, the actual radiated power from the time signal at Anthorn in Cumbria is just over 15 kW and probably reaches a couple of thousand km on 60 kHz. The antenna array at Allouis, if that's the site that will eventually be used, will be much more efficient than the 'T' at Anthorn but the frequency is higher and therefore more lossy, so probably 30-50 kW EMRP would do it for the time signal (Vectorsum, 21- 12-2016, via DXLD) When there is no modulation (most of the time now) there is no bandwidth, but that doesn't mean there is no power. As I said earlier, a 100% mod sine wave will increase the transmitter power by 50% (regardless of the mod frequency and thus bandwidth). Average music/speech will increase the tx power somewhat less than that. So the power will now be a little under 2 MW. The reason MSF and DCF can use much less power is the lower frequency which has a much larger ground wave range, nothing to do with phase mod. Your digital spy member is misinformed. Regards, (Gareth, Sent from my iPad, Westfield, not Foster?, BDXC-UK yg via DXLD) How is he misinformed? This was originally brought up by a retired BBC engineer one of whose tasks was coverage maps using criteria based on AM, FM and DAB reception on domestic receivers, many of which are insensitive. You are now looking at reception of a time signal on a frequency no longer transmitting a broadcast radio service, not on domestic receivers but on complex sensitive receivers designed solely for one purpose located in France; the coverage area of France Inter extends beyond that. It's greater than DCF77 which is used by clocks sold for domestic use outside Germany including mine as it can't pick up Anthorn. The fourth link shows that the weakest reception is in eastern Corsica. So as someone on that or another thread says, go down there, drop the power and see if the time signal service can still be received. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TDF_time_signal Increasing transmitter power is the law of diminishing returns. I've a report somewhere about Droitwich going to half power for some time and the engineers finding out that the difference in coverage area within the UK was marginal if that (Mike Barraclough, ibid.) I am also a retired BBC engineer, but I don't want to get involved in an argument here. Suffice to say the power of an AM transmitter does not change with the modulation bandwidth, though it does change a little with the modulation depth. It is possibly true that narrow band dedicated phase mod receivers could work at a lower signal level. It is also possible that the actual receivers used were not designed to be particularly sensitive due to the high signal levels available. Only by dropping the power will we know. Remember, though, it is a broadcast transmitter in a broadcast band that they are hoping to find a new broadcaster for. Rgds, (Gareth, Sent from my iPad, ibid.) "There are a few other eastern European stations on the frequency." Well, no. In DXLD 1701, Glenn corrected me with the comment "?? 162 kHz? Nothing but France anywhere" I had consulted a clearly out-of-date list of LW stations when I came up with my remark. At one time, there were also stations from Turkey, Mongolia, and the U.S.S.R. on 162 kHz. Long since disappeared. Should have consulted a recent copy of WRTH. Caveat lector! (Richard Langley, Jan 11, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) As reported by Stephen Cooper in his latest DigiDX program: "Last week, from Monday to Friday at 1210 local time, the French radio network France Bleu broadcast a mini series on the history of the longwave transmitting station in Allouis: 'L'histoire de l'émetteur d'Allouis avec Jacques Lane'. The five short broadcasts available on https://www.francebleu.fr/emissions/histoire-en-berry/berry/l-histoire-de-l-emetteur-d-allouis-avec-jacques-lane." (-- Richard Langley, ibid.) ISSOUDUN FEATURED ON TV http://dl.francetelevisions.com.ipercast.net/pic/orleans/HD_1900_orleans_jtregional_060117.mp4 1 GB file, with the piece in question starting at 20:00. (No link to a streaming player page, not requiring to download the whole file, has been provided.) This is supposed to be a 53 MB extract, but on a very slow server: http://dl.free.fr/msdXbxY5G At 21:57, the ex-Pori transmitters, further featured in the following close-ups, can be seen besides the remaining old Thomson-CSF rigs. (By the way, does someone know if the 963 kHz equipment [FINLAND] still remains or has meanwhile been dismantled as well? On Google Maps it looks as if a big clearing of the building was under way...) The dead transmitter hall with the museal collection had been closed in 1996 and the related curtains shortly afterwards removed to clear the space for further ALLISS units. Program host again confuses Radio France Internationale with France Inter; and the referenced Saint-Aoustrille is the village closest to the transmitter complex (Kai Ludwig, Germany, shortwavesites yg via DXLD) ** FRANCE. A Facebook page has been set up to keep LW on the air: https://www.facebook.com/Maintiende-la-diffusion-grandes-ondes-de-France-Inter-102914426773097/?fref=ts This is linked to a petition at http://162khz.wesign.it/fr (Jan BDXC-UK Communication via DXLD) ** FRANCE. M6 GROUP TAKES OVER RTL --- M6 Group is to acquire the French radio assets of RTL Group as part of a move by the pan-European broadcast giant to group its French broadcasting activities in one company. RTL is M6 Group’s principal shareholder, with a 48.26% stake. Under the terms of the deal M6 plans to acquire 100% ownership of RTL Group’s French radio assets – RTL, RTL 2, Fun Radio, and advertising sales house IP France – for €216 million on a debt and cash-free basis. Following the transaction, M6 will combine a portfolio of TV channels, radio stations, digital services, content production/rights trading and diversification. RTL said that creating an integrated sales house for TV, radio and digital advertising would create new growth opportunities, notably by meeting advertisers’ growing demand for cross-media advertising solutions. It also said that the deal would create efficiencies by sharing investments in technology and digital distribution platforms and by pooling certain central support functions. M6 will have the right to use the RTL trademark for its radio services under licence. RTL’s French radio services posted revenues of €168 million last year, with EBITA of €24 million. M6 said it expected EBITA of €40 million from the radio unit by 2020. The French broadcaster said that the acquisition would see it bring together TV, radio and digital commercial teams to propose integrated offers to advertisers. It said that the deal would also enable it to take advantage of new opportunities to innovate in digital media and content, notably in news and music broadcasting (Medium Wave News 62/08, 5 January 2017 via DXLD) ** GERMANY. FM FREQUENCY CHANGES COMING TO AFN KAISERSLAUTERN, WIESBADEN By JENNIFER H. SVAN | STARS AND STRIPES Published: January 4, 2017 http://www.stripes.com/news/fm-frequency-changes-coming-to-afn-kaiserslautern-wiesbaden-1.447274 KAISERSLAUTERN, Germany -- After years of negotiation, American Forces Network has secured an FM radio frequency compatible with cars made to U.S. specifications for listeners in the Kaiserslautern area, the agency announced this week. At 11 a.m. on Jan. 18, AFN Kaiserslautern will switch to 105.1 FM, from 100.2. The change will allow the station's signal to be heard on most modern American car radios, whose digital dials tune to only odd-numbered frequencies. "This change is a long time coming," said Master Sgt. Christina Nelson, the AFN Kaiserslautern station manager. "We felt our audience's frustration at not being able to access their local radio station in their cars, and we wanted to fix it." Nelson said AFN worked with the German government and Media Broadcast -- Germany's largest service provider for the broadcast and media industry -- to coordinate the frequency change. Deutschland Radio, Germany's national radio station, which currently broadcasts over 105.1 FM, will take over AFN Wiesbaden's 98.7 FM frequency, Deutschland Radio announced in a news release. AFN Wiesbaden will switch its FM frequency to 103.7 at the same time AFN Kaiserslautern changes, Nelson said. While the AFN Kaiserslautern signal strength is expected to remain the same, AFN Wiesbaden will have a smaller reach after the frequency switch, extending mostly to Wiesbaden and the Maniz areas. Until now, it could be heard in Kaiserslautern. An AFN Wiesbaden post on its Facebook site said that the station currently broadcasts from the Feldburg tower to nearly all of the German state of Hessen and that "our range will be smaller from the new location." Deutschland Radio said in its statement that taking over 98.7 from AFN, after more than 10 years of negotiations, will significantly improve its reception, allowing it to reach about 5 million people between Marburg, Aschaffenburg, Bad Kreuznach and Mannheim. The reduction of American forces in Germany to significantly fewer sites allowed the frequency change, Deutschland Radio said. A network of stations, "tailored to the needs of the American armed forces," has been created from parts of "the former frequency islands of" Deutschland Radio. svan.jennifer@stripes.com related articles: A cameraman shoots video at the new headquarters for American Forces Network Pacific Korea at Camp Humphreys, South Korea, Tuesday, Nov. 15, 2016. AFN will provide high-definition television for all channels by the end of next year, a senior official told Stars and Stripes (via Mike Cooper, DXLD) ** GERMANY [non]. SHORTWAVESERVICE TESTTRANSMISSIONS COMING UP Hi folks, we are performing the 3 following weekends some 100 kW test broadcasts as following: Sat, 14.01.2017 1200-1300 UTC 9900 kHz SEAsia / Australia Sun, 15.01.2017 1200-1300 UTC 9900 kHz SEAsia / Australia Sat, 21.01.2017 1200-1300 UTC 9900 kHz Western Russia / CIS Sun, 22.01.2017 1200-1300 UTC 9900 kHz Western Russia / CIS Sat, 28.01.2017 1500-1600 UTC 6015 kHz Europe Sun, 29.01.2017 1500-1600 UTC 6015 kHz Europe Thanks for tuning in. Best regards, (Christian Milling, Jan 11, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1860, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Christian: Any idea what the programming will be during these test transmissions? Thanks. – (Richard Langley, dxldyg via dXLD) And I was about to ask, from where? Probably Armenia, but no HFCC registrations for these in latest update (Glenn Hauser, ibid.) Christian Milling posted some times and frequencies for test transmissions, but no indication came to me of who is doing the tests, nor from where. Can someone fill in that information, please? (Philip Hiscock (in Newfoundland, at the most eastern part of what is usually thought of as North America), ibid.) Noratus, Armenia? That's what they've used in the past for the higher power transmissions (-- Richard Langley, ibid.) The content will be a test with music and announcements every 2.5 minutes by shortwaveservice itself. Power is 100 kW. Due to a non- disclosure agreement I can’t tell you the transmitter sites, but it is not Armenia. Of course you are free to guess from where it will come. 73, (Christian Milling, Jan 12, ibid.) Secretbrod is then guessed, then ruled out. Different secret sites on same frequencies different days (gh) ** GERMANY. DX Diary: TUESDAY 21 FEBRUARY: Annual SW broadcast of Radio Öömrang from Amrum Island, German North Frisian Islands. Tentatively 1600-1659 UT on 15215 kHz via Issoudun or Nauen in Frisian dialect, German and English. QSLs via transmitter operator Media Broadcast: qsl-shortwave@media-broadcast.com (Jan BDXC-UK Communication via DXLD) It`s always on 21 Feb, and details are as observed last year(s). IIRC, it was a bust in 2016, had to be repeated a few days later. Some careful listener also thought it was exactly the same recording from previous year(s). No entry, yet? in HFCC B-16 for it as of Jan 11 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GREECE. Greek radio still recovering from the 2013 lockout: MEDIUMWAVE RADIO FROM MEGARA TO OPERATE AGAIN radiofono.gr 5 January 2013 The medium wave broadcasting center of the Greek Radio in Pachi Megara is likely to go live again after three and a half years, since the procedures for the necessary maintenance and repairs have recently been initiated, with a high possibility that one of the two transmitters will operate again soon. It is worth noting that the broadcasting center, which used to host two powerful mediumwave transmitters (the ones of multilingual "Filia" and of EPA Sport) had been subject to looting by burglars, few days after the ERT closure by the Samaras government, which left the premises unattended. Since then, it has not operated --- Full article here: Greek radio still recovering from the 2013 lockout: Mediumwave radio from Megara to operate again http://www.thegreekradio.com/node/28583 (via Mike Terry, Jan 6, dxldyg via DXLD) WTFK, WTFK? (gh) ** GUAM. DRM test broadcast from KTWR Guam Date 9–13 January 2017 Time UTC 1445–1515 UT (2015 - 2045 IST) Freq 9910 kHz Power 90 kW Mode B 64 QAM Azimuth 290 Target South Asia (Ciraf 41) Mail reports to KTWRDRM@twr.org --- (Alokesh Gupta, New Delhi, Jan 9, dx_sasia yg via DXLD) ** GUINEA. 9650, R. Guinea, Jan 03 0716-0731, 35332-35333, French, Afro pop and talk, ID at 0716 and 0719 and 0725. 9650, R. Guinea, Jan 05 0709-0729, 33333-35333, French, Afro pop, ID at 0716 (Kouji Hashimoto, JAPAN, RX, IC-R75, NRD-525 + RD-9830, ANT, 130m Sloper Wire, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 9650, Jan 5 at 0823, R. Guinée, W&M in French conversation, S9+10, better than I hear it at more waking hours, as I am finally about to QRT. No sign of CCI from North Korea in Japanese from 0730, which bothers listeners in South America, Europe (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ICELAND. CHINA'S ARCTIC AMBITIONS TAKE SHAPE IN REMOTE ICELAND VALLEY LAUGAR, Iceland (AP) — In a remote valley near the Arctic Circle where the wind whips the coarse yellow grass, China and Iceland are preparing to look to the sky — and a shared future. Construction workers are building a research facility to study the Northern Lights, whose spectacular streaks of color light up Iceland's winter skies. Funded by China's Polar Research Institute, the facility will house Chinese, Icelandic and international scientists when it opens next year. This cement shell is a concrete achievement in the burgeoning relationship between the rising Asian superpower, population 1.37 billion, and this tiny North Atlantic island nation of 330,000 people. [So there are 4151 Chinese for every Icelander --- gh] It may seem a lopsided friendship, but both countries perceive benefits. Beijing wants an Arctic ally as climate change opens up new sea routes and resource-extraction opportunities, while Iceland seeks heavyweight friends to anchor it against stormy economic waves. [caption] Workers at the site of the Aurora Observatory in Karholl, northern Iceland. Construction workers are building a research facility to study the Northern Lights, whose spectacular streaks of color light up Iceland’s winter skies. Funded by China's Polar Research Institute, the facility will house Chinese, Icelandic and international scientists…. (AP Photo/Dorothee Thiesing) "It is better to be a friend to everyone when you are small than be an enemy to anybody," said Reinhard Reynisson, director of the nonprofit company building the Aurora Observatory. Reynisson speaks with the confidence of a country that has weathered earthquakes, volcanoes, famine and financial meltdown since it was settled by Vikings in the 9th century. But China's growing interest has also aroused suspicions among some Icelanders, who are wary of big powers trying to grab their resources, whether fish, energy or land. "We are a very small country, we are only 300,000 people, so we don't look at our independence as an automatic thing," said Asgeir Jonsson, an economist at the University of Iceland. "It's something that you have to protect and look after. "In our history, we have a long story of fighting with the bigger powers around us over fish and the resources that we have. That has left its mark on the population." Iceland was nudged in China's direction by financial calamity. When the global credit crunch hit in 2008, Iceland's banks — whose debts had ballooned to more than 10 times the country's GDP — collapsed. Iceland's currency nosedived, unemployment soared, and Iceland was forced to go the International Monetary Fund and the European Union for bailouts. It also began looking for new economic partners to help it rebuild — and China was willing. In 2010, the two countries agreed currency swaps between Iceland's krona and China's yuan, and in 2013 they signed a free trade agreement — the first between China and a European country. With Iceland's support, China was granted observer status in 2013 at the Arctic Council, whose core members are Canada, Denmark, Finland, Sweden, Norway, Russia, the United States and Iceland. It also attends annual Arctic Circle Assemblies hosted by Iceland — gatherings of politicians, officials, scientists and businesspeople to discuss the future of the region. "China's got a broad range of Arctic interests — economic, scientific, political, strategic," said Anne- Marie Brady, editor in chief of the Polar Journal and a global fellow at the Wilson Center in Washington. "But the main thing it wants at the moment would be to make sure it has a seat at any... (cr-AP, November 16, 2016 via Jan CIDX Messenger via DXLD) cut off incomplete ** INDIA. 4896.0, AIR Kurseong, occasionally this off frequency anomaly happens, as it did today (Jan 9), as noted at 1242; Dave Valko also noted same about this time; normally, on most days, heard on 4895.0 (Ron Howard, Calif., dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1860, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Jan 11 bandscan had carrier back on 4895 (Glenn Hauser, ibid.) ** INDIA. All India Radio broadcast special Uttarakhand programmes on short wave from Delhi (until about 2014). To my knowledge there are (were?) special programmes broadcast on medium wave from neighbouring Najibabad in Uttar Pradesh (954 kW, 200 kW) for state wide coverage. (Dr Hansjoerg Biener 8 January 2017, dx_india yg via DXLD) From B-16, AIR Delhi has resumed Uttarakand programs like in the past 6030 0200-0230, 1215-1430 Yours sincerely, (Jose Jacob, VU2JOS, National Institute of Amateur Radio, Hyderabad, India Mobile: +91 94416 96043 http://www.qsl.net/vu2jos Jan 8, ibid.) Thanks for the info. I also heard AIR Delhi unscheduled after 1430 on 7555 kHz, unfortunately with some strong spurious signals heard even here in Finland on 7527.3v, 7582.7v, 7610.4v and 7666.5v kHz. I wonder if this 1430-1515 segment is on the air regularly? All the best for 2017, (Mauno Ritola, Finland, Jan 9, WORLD OF RADIO 1860, ibid.) ** INDIA. 9445. Jan 10 at 2108, All India Radio, Bangalore, in English. Woman announcer talks; ID; 2112 Indian Mantras; 2122 ID, Man talks. Transmission with good signal, fair modulation, 45433. 13695. Jan 10 at 1913, All India Radio, Bangalore, in English. A musical program: Indian songs; 1920 Woman annnouncer talks, ID, and now, folk songs; 1930 ID and folk songs. AIR has a good signal and modulation this afternoon, here in Cabedelo, 45544 (DXer: José Ronaldo Xavier (JRX), Cabedelo-PB, Brazil, Tecsun S-2000, Antenna: Own home- made, Hard-Core-DX mailing list via DXLD) No more QRMI (gh) 13695. AIR. Enero 2. 1911-1945 UT. Servicio en Inglés. Lectura, por parte de dos mujeres, de informes de recepción llegados por carta y email hasta las 1920. Luego un espacio de música instrumental y cantada de modo tradicional. A las 1943 se leen las frecuencias del servicio y los horarios. 1945 salida del aire. SINPO: 55444 (Claudio Galaz, Rx: Philco IC-18R; Ant: Telescópica; QTH: Barraza Bajo, IV Región, Chile, condiglista yg via DXLD) ** INDIA. Fq Änderung im Doppelpack: [see PHILIPPINES [and non]] 11840, R Veritas Asia via Philippinen und Santa Maria di Galeria: re 11825 kHz schweres scratchy Spurious Signal von Bangalore 11670 kHz, auch symmetrisch auf 11517 kHz. Will man dem Störsignal ausweichen ? wb (Wolfgang Büschel, Jan 8, WORLD OF RADIO 1860, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 14-15 ut That would be minus 153, plus 155 kHz, or ~154? (gh, DXLD) ** INDONESIA. Some observations for late Jan 6 to early Jan 7 (UT) from Masset: [3325] RRI Palangkaraya very strong this morning from 1355 initial tune in. Taped and listened for several hours. Will have to see when they finally pulled the plug. Armchair level. 73, (Walt Salmaniw, BC, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1860, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 3325, Pro 1 RRI Palangkaraya, 1109, Jan 9. Ending the local news with usual patriotic song “Bagimu Negeri” (For You Our Country); NBC Bougainville QRM, which was slightly stronger at times (Ron Howard, Calif., dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1860, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INTERNATIONAL INTERNET. ENTER THE RADIO GARDEN Ever since the first commercial station — Pittsburgh's KDKA — began broadcasting on November 2, 1920, radio has functioned as a powerful cross-pollinating medium, capable of bringing new culture and ideas across even the most impenetrable borders. And in the internet age, a radio signal can reach clear to the opposite side of the Earth, if only you know where to look. Created by Amsterdam's Studio Puckey and Moniker, Radio Garden is a gorgeous, Google Earth-style browser for the world's radio stations. No matter where a station is — from Reyjkavik's Kiss FM to Radio Fri¨a FM in Ushuaia, Argentina, which might be the only station you can listen to with a transistor radio in Antarctica — Radio Garden makes it easy for you to tune in. All you do is rotate the 3D globe and then click on the station you want to listen to. The whole experience of tuning into stations on Radio Garden was exactly like the analog radio I used to tune several decades ago. Even the crackle and interference of other stations sounded the same. The only difference was that I was using the track pad of my laptop — not the radio dial. First and foremost, the site is a fascinating way to be a fly on the wall in cities around the world, whether you tune into some obscure station in the middle of nowhere or some major station in an urban hub. For example, in Nome, Alaska, KICY is located so close to Russia that its non-stop broadcast of proselytizing Christian pop music almost seems like it is aimed straight across the Bering Strait. [it is] Similarly, as I write this, WBRT in Bardstown, Kentucky, has some guy shredding on the fiddle; Radio ZP 30 seems to be playing Paraguayan Pop 20; and two Bangladeshi gentleman are shouting at each on Radio Shongi. Outside of just a great way to listen to the world's radio stations, though, Radio Garden has a broader purpose: it was commissioned by the Netherlands Institute for Sound and Vision as a way to show the way radio crosses borders. Consequently, there are no geopolitical demarcations on the Radio Garden's globe — just tens of thousands of glowing lights scattered around the world, showing everywhere the planet's "ON AIR" signs are lighting up. Check out Radio Garden here. http://radio.garden/ (source? via Medium Wave News 62/08, 5 January 2017 via DXLD) One could already do this via e.g. publicradiofan.com, without the globe gimmick (gh, DXLD) RADIO.GARDEN; READING EUROPE by Kate Chisholmi --- The Spectátor (Great Britain) January 7, 2017 A new website, radio.garden, lets us browse radio stations across the globe. Nothing new about that. That's been a key feature of wireless since the days of valves and crystals. Turning a knob and stopping off at Hilversum, Motala, Ankara or Reykjavik, if and when short-wave reception was possible, is part of radio's magic, listening in to life elsewhere without having to leave the house. Now, though, with radio.garden (developed in Amsterdam by Jonathan Puckey for the Netherlands Institute for Sound and Vision, and part-funded by the EU), it's possible to turn the globe that appears on your computer screen as soon as you log on to the site and to sweep across India, Africa or Australia, stopping off wherever you find a green dot. Click on the dot and you could find yourself listening to Gene Pitney in Namibia, to Norwegian country-and-western from Stavanger, or to a discussion on women's rights from Abeokuta in Nigeria. The website went viral as soon as it was launched just before Christmas, with ten million hits in ten days. Part of its fascination is the ease with which you can traverse the globe, stopping off wherever you see a dot. Not every radio station is yet identified on the site (more are being added each week). There are only two green dots in Egypt; the vastness of Russia has a mere handful. But it's as if the sounds of the world are suddenly free and available to listen to at the swipe of a fingernail. It's a bit disorientating at first to discover that many of the stations sound very alike, playing the same kind of universal pop, with jingles straight out of the Radio 2 songbook (you can change settings on the site so that the green dots become yellow dots for 'stories', short clips of people talking about their listening experiences, red dots for 'history', tapping in to key moments in broadcast history around the world, or blue dots for 'jingles', those irritating earwigs by which stations identify themselves). Puckey says that he likes the way tuning in to a station in China can give you the 'same kind of feeling', the 'same radio voice', as if you were listening to Radio 2 or a station in deepest Africa. I was a bit disappointed to realise just how many stations are playing the same kind of music. But then I found a station in Japan where I couldn't understand a word yet was somehow taken into the conversation as if the two men on air were talking to me. I didn't stay for long, but was glad of the chance to get out of my own skin and imagine myself elsewhere (via Mike Cooper, DXLD) ** INTERNATIONAL VACUUM. SHF Satellites: Television: 103 W, SES-3, 11.940V / 20000 Msps, MS10/MS20 streams in the same transponder as RT and NHK that I've reported before. This pair of channels is odd to say the least. The are both just shots off the pier at Huntington Beach CA (I wonder if Stew M[acKenzie] has anything to do with this?) but they are NOT 'real time' shots (since it is NEVER dark there!) so I'm not sure exactly what this is supposed to be useful for. No audio, and although the waves break and people move around, this must be some sort of looped video stream. VERY odd. In well, 55% quality, 1729-1732 1/Jan, QPSK/MPEG2 in SD (480i). WHY is this on the air? (Ken Zichi, Pt Hope MI2, for Satellites: Manhattan DJ-1997 FTA receiver +96 inch movable dish, MARE Tipsheet Jan 6 via DXLD) See also CHINA [non], UAE [non], USA [non] ** IRAN [non]. 9990, Jan 9 at 1423, YL song at S4 from R. Farda, via KUWAIT scheduled at 0830-1430 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ITALY. 1350.00, 2300-2325 10.1, I Am Radio, near Milano, English programme, 2300-2305 relaying NPR News: "You are listening to NPR News in Washington", pop songs with frequent ID's and jingles: "I am Radio" 35444 AP-DNK (Anker Petersen, Denmark, loggings made in Skovlunde on my AOR AR7030PLUS with 28 metres of longwire, wbradio yg via DXLD) ** JAPAN [non]. 6855, Jan 7 at 0402, Radio Japón as clear from second news item, following top news about Ft Lauderdale airport shootings, extremely indirectly via Toquio. WRMI relay at 0400-0430 on new frequency, still // 5985; replacing Hermano Asusto who has withdrawn to only four WRMI transmitters at a time. More at USA (Glenn Hauser, OK, WORLD OF RADIO 1860, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** KENYA. Dear Glenn, Hope you are well. I am just back from a two- week trip in Kenya, where I listened to local FM stations (on my Samsung phone). Below is a list of the stations I received - hope this will be of interest to someone. Town of Voi, 27 December 2016 89.3 Kameme FM 89.7 Milele FM 90.9 Anguo FM 91.8 Radio Citizen 92.3 Radio Jambo 92.5 Pilipili FM 93.0 modulation only, plus ticking sound 94.9 Radio Kaya 96.1 Mwanedu FM 96.9 Radio Taifa 97.1 Malindi FM 99.3 Baraka FM 104.5 Capital FM (in English) 104.9 modulation only 106.0 Bahari FM 106.3 Radio Maisha //107.4 106.9 Classic 105 (in English) 107.4 Radio Maisha //106.3 Amboseli National Park, 28 December 2016 93.1 Matu FM (?) Nairobi, 29 December 2016 and 6 January 2017 87.7 2FM 88.0 Sound Asia FM 88.3 Waumini FM (Christian) 89.1 Kass FM 89.5 Ghetto Radio 89.9 Radio France Int. (RFI) in French and English 90.4 Chamgay FM 90.7 Truth FM (Christian, in English) 91.0 ATG Radio 91.3 UNID - non-stop music with occasional jingles mentioning „Popo on the Beat“ 91.6 Kubamba Radio (Christian) 91.9 China Radio Int. in Chinese and English 92.2 Gukena FM 92.5 Mbaitu FM 92.9 Radio Taifa 93.3 Hope FM (Christian, English) 93.6 Milele FM 93.9 BBC WS 94.2 Muuga FM 94.4 QFM 94.7 East Africa Radio 95.0 UNID Islamic station - probably Iqra FM, although the announcements sounded like „Muzeek Radio“ or smth similar 95.3 Qwetu Radio 95.6 KBC English service 96.0 Hot 96 96.3 Nation FM 96.7 Biblia Husema Broadcasting (Christian) 97.1 One FM 97.5 Radio Jambo 97.9 Mulembe FM 98.4 Capital FM 98.9 Inooro FM 99.5 Shoro FM (spelled Coro in other sources - but pronounced as „Shoro“) 99.9 Pamoja FM (Kibera slum radio), in parallel with ECN Radio 100.3 Kiss FM 100.8 Radio Citizen //106.7 101.1 Kameme FM 101.5 Radio Nam Lolwe (also mentions „Oduadu“ or smth similar) 101.9 Iftiin FM (in Somali) 102.2 Musyi FM 102.7 Radio Maisha 103.2 Egesa FM 103.5 Homeboyz Radio 103.9 Family Radio 316 (Christian) 104.8 104.8 FM (also mentions „Shasherinya“ or smth similar) 105.2 Classic 105 (in English) 105.5 XFM 105.9 Star FM (relay of Somali station, mentioned frequencies in different Somali towns) 106.3 East FM (probably in an Indian language) 106.7 Radio Citizen //100.8 107.1 Radio Ramogi 107.5 VOA in English 107.8 Meru FM Narok, 30 December 90.5 UNID 95.5 Radio Citizen 97.3 Radio Jambo 100.1 Mayian FM, possibly in parallel with another station 100.7 UNID (Christian) 101.3 Kameme FM 102.3 UNID 103.1 UNID (Christian) 103.5 Sidai FM 104.7 UNID (NCM?) 105.5 UNID Eldoret, 2 January 88.1 BBC (in English) 88.6 Radio Taifa 88.8 Imani Radio 89.4 UNID (probably Upendo FM) 90.0 Kass FM 90.4 Hot 96 (in English) 91.1 Radio Maisha 91.5 KBC English Service 92.6 Njata FM 93.0 Capital FM (in English) 93.9 Hope FM (Christian, in English) 95.1 Touch FM 95.8 Mulembe FM 96.0 modulation only 96.3 Biblia Husema Broadcasting (Christian) //101.5 96.7 QFM 97.5 Chamgay FM 98.0 Kitwek FM 98.7 Radio Sayare (Christian) 99.5 Radio Jambo 101.5 Biblia Husema Broadcasting //96.3 101.9 Kameme FM 102.3 Classic 105 (in English) 102.7 Nation FM 103.1 Milele FM 105.9 Jesus is Lord Radio (Christian) 107.0 Inooro FM Kabarnet, 3 January 2017, and Baringo, 4 January 2017 87.9 modulation and beeping sounds 88.9 Inooro FM //89.8 89.5 MBCI Radio (Christian) 89.8 Inooro FM //88.9 90.2 Milele FM 90.5 Radio Maisha //104.6 92.5 Kass FM 93.3 Njata FM 95.0 Chamgay FM 95.4 Radio Ramogi 96.0 modulation only 97.3 Radio Jambo 98.1 Kiss FM 98.3 modulation only 98.5 Capital FM (in English) 99.4 Kameme FM 99.7 Shoro FM 100.5 Radio Citizen //103.6 100.9 Sauti ya mwanaichi 102.1 Radio Watchman (in English) 102.5 Hot 96 102.9 Biblia Husema Broadcasting (Christian) 103.6 Radio Citizen //100.5 104.1 modulation only 104.6 Radio Maisha //90.5 105.2 Jesus is Lord Radio 105.3 Jesus is Lord Radio 105.5 Kass FM 106.0 Muuga FM Mombasa Moi airport, 7 January 2017 87.9 QFM 88.7 Kiss FM 89.9 UNID (Sound Asia FM?) 90.7 Radio Salaam 91.5 Radio Rahma (Islamic) 92.3 Radio Jambo 93.1 Radio Kaya 94.2 Free FM 95.5 Baraka FM 97.3 Radio Citizen 97.9 Family Radio 316 (Christian) 98.4 Capital FM (in English) 100.0 Musyi FM 100.3 Meru FM 100.8 Radio Taifa 101.9 Hope FM 102.3 Anguo FM (?) 103.1 China Radio Int. (in English) 104.7 Pwani FM 105.5 RFI in English and French 105.9 Classic 105 (in English) 106.6 Sheki FM (Robertas Pogorelis, Jan 11, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Thanks for some great on-site original research. I wonder if there are any equivalent listings, official or otherwise (gh, DXLD) ** KOREA NORTH [non]. Hi Glenn, On Jan 11, on 6145, again heard the same special Shiokaze programming as heard on Dec 29 and originally recorded Dec 10. Preempted regular Shiokaze programming. 1331+ with nice segment of EZL orchestra music ("Moon River," etc.). I suppose we should be thankful to N. Korea for not jamming this entertaining show (Ron Howard, California, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** KOREA NORTH [non]. 9355. R. FREE NORTH KOREA. Enero 2. 1245-1259 UT. Mujer habla en coreano sin parar hasta las 1257, luego un poco de música. SINPO: 35322. Fading permanente (Claudio Galaz, RX: TECSUN PL- 660, ANT: Hilo de 40 metros, QTH: Ovalle, IV Región, Chile, condiglista yg via DXLD) Site UZBEKISTAN, from 1230, per Aoki (gh, DXLD) ** KOREA SOUTH. Some observations for late Jan 6 to early Jan 7 (UT) from Masset: Seoul Met radio heard well on 5857.5 this morning. Don't recall it being reported often or at all. 73, (Walt Salmaniw, BC, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Full Masset report forthcoming, assume ** KOREA SOUTH. 9100, Echo of Hope - VOH, briefly heard at 1403, Jan 11, Very surprised to find them on the air at this time, as their schedule is supposedly 1800-2400 on this frequency. Once it was heard (not jammed), went to check for //; yes, definitely // 4885, which was well heard as usual and not jammed, while // 3985 // 6003 and // 6348 were all jammed; news in Korean; when I tuned back to 9100 at 1405, found they had already gone off the air. A brief test of some type? Thinking of expanding their schedule? (Ron Howard, Calif., dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1860, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Close, but no cigar to 2 x 4557 Voice of the People. Aoki shows EOH started 9100 on Jan 1, 10 kW ND from Seoul. Watch out for Sound of Hope, Taiwan which may also appear on 9100 (Glenn Hauser, OK, WORLD OF RADIO 1860, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Sorry, an oversight on my part. Of course I should have thanked Chris Kadlec, for the original info about this new VOH frequency. He has recently been providing great info about Korean broadcasting! (Ron Howard, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1860, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** KURDISTAN [non]. 11600, Jan 4 at 1501, dead air to 1501.5, Denge Kurdistane resuming at S9. 11600, Jan 5 at 1459 I`m paying closer attention. Kurdish music is S9 to S9+10 but stops at 1500:24, no carrier break but now it`s reading only S7 to S9, so slickly switched site? Resumes chanting at 1501:19. 11600, Jan 6 at 1500, Denge Kurdistane talk and music briefly with asynchronous double-audio, apparent overlap during site switch, at first S8-S9, then S7-S9 with more fading, but no break in the carrier(s). No dead air this time. I`m awaiting Ivo Ivanov`s latest take on this. His Dec 30 issue of DX Re Mix News, showed Issoudun at 15-16 as of Dec 22, but also Pridnestsrovye at 13-16 on 11600. Bulgaria site was out of the picture, but he could tell if it came back due to local-range second harmonic on 23200. 11600, Jan 9 at 1457, Denge Kurdistane talk with music, S7-S9 and fluttery; 1500:01 stops modulating but carrier remains, weaker at S6- S8. No break in it, so must have been overlapping sites zero-beating. 1501:13 resumes modulation. Probably switching from PRIDNESTROVYE to FRANCE (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENNG DIGEST) ** KYRGYZSTAN. KYRGYZ REPUBLIC, 4010.222, Birinchi Radio-1 from Bishkek in Kyrgyz at 0307 UT on Jan 7, low S=6-7 or -87dBm signal, but a little stronger S=8+ noted on UT tonight, on \\ 3rd tx unit on exact measured 4819.903 kHz kHz this afternoon. 4010.222, Birinchi Radio Bishkek in Kyrgyz at 1520 UT, low S=6-7 or - 87dBm signal, nothing observed on 3rd transmitter unit vary on 4819- 4820v kHz this afternoon. 5129.963, Afghan Christian Radio via Bishkek KGZ in 59 mb, noted at 1518 UT on Jan 4 (Wolfgang Büschel, DF5SX, in Doha Qatar site, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Jan 4 / 7, via DXLD) ** 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, DXLD 17-01 via WORLD OF RADIO 1860, DXLD 1702) See also ETHIOPIA ** MADAGASCAR [and non]. 5008v-5000, Jan 7 at 0316, haven`t heard RNM varying around here lately, but thought I had it now. Instead of back & forth, weak carrier kept running downward, hitting WWV by 0318. Maybe instead, one of those birdies the NRD-545 likes to produce, especially on lower bands. WWV 5000 weak, so quick switch to 2500 for :18 prop info: SF=72, Ap=16, Kp at 03=4, no storms past or future. The other southern Africans on 90m, 3240, 3320 were in very well, but no Angola 4949.7 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MADAGASCAR [and non]. [Re 17-01:] Gentlemen, For your consideration. Please give a listen to the brief attached audio recorded today (Jan 11), at 1400 UT, on 6055 kHz, with Japan (R. Nikkei 1) already in progress, with a good signal (normal status for them), and underneath the start of CRI. Here in California, no possibility of hearing Adventist World Radio. Japan and China mixing together make it impossible (Ron Howard, to Rodney Johnson and gh, via DXLD) ** MADAGASCAR. 17640, Jan 7 at 1838 check, no signal from MWV English, but it is on at 2048 during the repeat, discussion of Bible correspondence courses for Africans, now S4-S7 and the OSOB, its major competitor, 17790 WRMI having evacuated, and its other, 17775 KVOH being silent on Saturdays, or supposedly everyday after 1900 but sometimes runs later. [and non]. 17640, Jan 9 at 1821, MWV APR is good at S9+20. Equally good signals from 17655 VOA GB Portuguese, 17775 KVOH LA Spanish (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 11790, World Christian Broadcasting (KNLS) at 2220 in Egyptian Arabic with lively Middle Eastern vocals and a woman with brief talk and brief Middle Eastern instrumentals and a man with excited talk – Good Jan 10 – the best signal noted today with little noise (Mark Coady, Ont., odxa yg via DXLD) 17640, Jan 11 at 2013, the MWV repeat English hour still with fair signal, and modulation is always good, making easy listening, if one cares to put up with proselytizing from this faraway station, on the SWBC island closest to our antipodes. By this time there is hardly anything else listenable on 16m (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MEXICO. [Re Turx & Caicos:] 530, no movement in the past several months. I've been pounding the drum to go back to 1570, only the gang across from Del Rio to worry about and they are limited to 30 kW. No concern for the PSSA operators. If they do fire up on 530 again it's going to be non stop QRM (Jerry Kiefer, FL, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Jerry, I could believe XERF is only 30 kW, judging from reception here, but is that official? Source for info? I think they still claim 100, FWIW. Or did you mean ERP in some direction? No, it`s supposed to be ND unless that is not correct either (Glenn to Jerry, ibid.) HI Glenn, Mike Van Hooser in Dallas showed me a Mexican government web page where they were listed as 30 kW/Radio Poderosa. Evidently been that way for a few years. When I was in Dallas they cooked from twilight till a few hours after sunset and slowly diminished. I've picked them up early evening, here in Orlando, on a Superradio GE a couple times a month or so ago but they were too far down in the mud to understand anything. Take care (Jerry Kiefer, FL, Jan 10, WORLD OF RADIO 1860, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MEXICO. Cozumel, Mexico Digital TV Band scan --- So here it is - ATSC digital TV received in Cozumel, Mexico. I noticed a couple of oddities: 1. Channel 2.1 came in with two different IDs (same network) in two scans 2. Channel 8.1 was identifying themselves as TVCTEST. I assumed this was XHCCU. Picture seems like SD stretched into HD. 3. channel 5.1 identified as XHGC. This is hardly possible as XHGC is out of Mexico City. There is a local Canal 5 affiliate XHCQR. No sign of analog signals, seems like all have been turned off by now (Ivan Cholakov, Miami/Hollywood FL, NO2CW, Jan 10, WTFDA Forum via DXLD) If 5.1 XHGC is 480i, then it's a subchannel of XHCOQ mux. Is the same thing with my local Las Estrellas XHCDC (Gargadon, Ciudad del Carmen, Campeche, ibid.) You have: XHCCQ (Playa del Carmen xmtr) XHCOQ (Cozumel) + "XHGC" sub (Gargadon is correct, this is only the case on muxes and I've also seen it on XHTAM. Eventually stations will be required to make their subs have their actual calls in them.) XHCCN (Playa del Carmen xmtr) XHAQR (Playa del Carmen xmtr) XHCCU (Playa del Carmen xmtr) — Cancún Vive is one of their shows https://es-la.facebook.com/Canc%C3%BAn-Vive-240593682742983/ XHCOZ (Cozumel) I'm not seeing shadow XHQRO which is odd. They would have 5.1 as well. I'm also glad to see XHCOZ on 11 — and those folks still can't figure out what logo to use! All their promos changed logos last year but their profile picture and bug are the old logo. And that is most definitely not Canal Once. As to the locations of the Playa del Carmen shadows: Televisa and XHCCU broadcast from 20 39'36", -87 03'07" https://www.google.com/maps/@20.659629,-87.0516319,3a,74.5y,309.99h,107.27t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1siSI7gglu0ik3211C78pN5g!2e0!7i13312!8i6656 While it was built in around 2008 as an analog shadow, the signage has not been updated. There is a large SIPSE logo and the slogan "TVCUN Es Lo Tuyo" (TVCUN Is Yours) with their former (pre-Gala TV Cancún name). The XHCCN, XHQRO and XHCCU shadows are all identical 20 kW stations — a rare case in which the broadcast infrastructure of a Televisa local partner and that of Televisa itself are identical. Azteca's shadows in PDC are more powerful than the Cancún transmitters they relay - 53 kW ERP versus 38.8 in Cancún. You'll find them nearby at 20 39'31.6", -87 03'16.9". (Note the purple trim on the transmitter shack - Azteca's stations are almost all painted in the same trim scheme these days, with a purple top, white body with yellow, white and gray trim. It's so distinctive I stumbled upon a closed Cozumel xmtr site for them by complete accident and knew it was Azteca just by the trim!) https://www.google.com/maps/@20.4908387,-86.9595786,3a,75y,177.06h,98.34t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s9621Jf1F-KA5DHKnjqLvWw!2e0!7i13312!8i6656 Note how close these sticks are — so close both fit in one shot. That's all five TV transmitters in PDC as SQCS either will have merely a shadow or more likely nothing at all here after losing all but one permit. I believe in analog, one of the Azteca shadows was on UHF (I want to say 48)*— making it the only Mexican UHF for some 450 miles until you reached Comitán and XHITC. Last edited by Raymie; 01-10-2017 at 11:06 PM (Raymie Humbert, Phœnix AZ, ibid.) ** MEXICO. RAYMIE`S MEXICO BEAT this week --- [including DTV] Radio Franchises Imagine that you went to your local Burger King one day to find that it had relaunched as a McDonald's. Curious, you go to your local McDonald's to see it's become a Wendy's. And the local Wendy's is now no longer a chain at all. Televisa Radio and MVS Radio are best described as franchisors. They each own a pair of franchise brands, one in the grupera format and the other with pop/CHR. Televisa Radio's franchises are Los 40 (itself a franchise in its own right) and Ke Buena. MVS Radio, on the other hand, franchises out Exa FM and La Mejor, which are similar concepts. The recent radio shakeups in San Luis Potosí offer a convincing test case for the idea of these stations not just carrying network formats, but for station groups being large franchisees. To start, we'll take a look at the SLP radio market as we started 2016. MG Radio was not really franchised. Its three stations were Más FM 90.9, an adult contemporary/hits format; Factor 96.1, pop; and La Z 102.1, one of the comparatively fewer stations in Grupo Radio Centro's franchise stable. (It did have a franchise, of sorts, in being close to Radio María and essentially operating XHCSM-FM, but that's beside the point.) MG struck a deal with MVS Radio and flipped the first station to La Mejor and the third station to Exa FM. Now, each franchise is geographically exclusive, so there can't be two Exa FMs in a given radio market. That's where GlobalMedia, which had held those franchises, comes in. GlobalMedia traces its roots in part to MVS Radio itself, which in the 70s and 80s owned XHPM and XHOD. MVS Radio was, and still is in most areas, a franchisor with a lot of corporate-owned units. (They still have franchisees, but they own and operate their own stations in most major cities. It helped that Joaquín Vargas Gómez was an early promoter of FM and obtained many concessions on the FM band.) In the 90s, MVS Radio San Luis Potosí morphed into a local joint venture called Centro de Frecuencia Modulada. CFM, in turn, merged with a company called Controladora de Medios and became the modern GlobalMedia. When it comes to franchises, GlobalMedia had seemingly everything. It operates the Radio Fórmula station in San Luis (whose concession is held by Fórmula itself), the Imagen station, and until this year, Exa FM. It also had XHPM "Hundred FM" and XHBM "Poder". With the loss of the Exa franchise (and La Mejor which had been in SLP before but was not being programmed), GlobalMedia cozied up to Televisa Radio. It transitioned XHBM to the Ke Buena franchise (like your local Mexican fast food restaurant becoming Taco Bell), and Televisa Radio also — and this is the news part of this story — gave it the operating rights to XHEWA-FM, which had been part of the Radiorama/Grupo AS stable in town. GlobalMedia takes over XHEWA on Monday and will flip XHOD to something other than pop music. The name on the concession won't change, nor will the transmitter site. XHEWA-FM was, is and will still be owned by Cadena Radiodifusora Mexicana, S.A. de C.V. — which owns the pieces of the old XEW booster network, along with XEW AM and FM, XEQ AM and FM and XEX AM and FM. But the operation of the station will. The DJs and on-air personalities will. Televisa Radio, as a franchisor, operates precious few stations in its franchise chains: Mexico City Los 40 and Ke Buena, Guadalajara Los 40 and Ke Buena, and Los 40 in Mexicali (XHMOE) and Veracruz (XHWB). It relies on Radiorama and local station owners to make up for the fact that it owns few radio stations. The recent convulsions in radio in SLP are more of a realignment of franchisors and franchisees. MVS moved its stable of stations from GlobalMedia to MG. Televisa Radio reintroduced Ke Buena to SLP and then gave GlobalMedia its Los 40 station to operate, because Televisa Radio does not want to actually establish itself alone in San Luis. As a consequence, there are format shuffles within those clusters, especially GlobalMedia. Now, not every radio format is a franchising situation. Only Radiorama stations carry formats like Arroba FM, Romántica or Éxtasis Digital (and leaving Radiorama means leaving those formats, as has been the case in Sinaloa lately). Grupo ACIR has precious few franchised stations, and most of those it does have (XHPP Orizaba to Grupo Radio Digital, XHMT and XHYU in Mérida to SIPSE, XHDC in Aguascalientes to ZER) were formerly owned by ACIR itself (Raymie Humbert, Jan 5, WTFDA Forum via DXLD) Remember how I mentioned GlobalMedia operated Imagen Radio San Luis Potosí? Well, turns out that's important. Because XHOD goes RMX on Monday morning alongside XHDL-FM Mexico City (whose imminent format flip was already being reported). http://www.imagenradio.com.mx/patricia-rodriguez-calva/no-te-pierdas-el-inicio-de-transmisiones-de-rmx-traves-del-985 (Raymie, Jan 6, ibid.) The name and operation might have changed, but XEX remains sports. It relaunched today as W Deportes, reportedly being entirely run by the Prisa side of Televisa Radio. http://mediatelecom.com.mx/index.php/radiodifusion/television/item/127786-asume-prisa-lo-deportivo-en-radi%C3%B3polis-arce-en-tv-con-imagen With a rumored 2,000 layoffs looming over the media conglomerate, this was probably a cost-cutting move (Raymie Humbert, Jan 9, ibid.) So I just ran across a piece that mentions the IMER used to operate a station in Quintana Roo, and by that time they had also shed a station in Tlaxcala. We know the latter is XHTLAX-FM, which signed on in early 1986 with some of its equipment salvaged from the 1985 Mexico City earthquake (!). But what could be the QR station? (Raymie, Jan 11, ibid.) Turns out the U de O getting shut out from television — which occurred in the December 21 meeting — was more due to one station being available than anything else. Of course, that station in Culiacán went to the SPR. As to the others: XHFX's multiprogramming authorization is for Foro TV, the first time the service has been carried as a mux. The UDG station at San Andrés Cohamiata is not getting the callsign they requested, for whatever reason. (My guess: they requested XHSAC-FM, which exists already.) Commissioner Teja had the same worry I had about XHAGP being a religious wolf, which as you know is prohibited. Teja worried that the use of assigning concessions to members of a religious association to circumvent not being able to have an association own them was concerning. XHOXO's multiprogramming authorization is also interesting. It's not Surestv. It's XHP, which will now be on the air in Oaxaca. XHTTG's is for Telesecundaria programming as managed by the state government known as Ingenio TV — which, mind you, isn't the same one on the SPR transmitters. That was the subject of a good amount of debate over the need for multiprogrammed channels to have their own identity. The meeting notes say that there was "a certain urgency to get this programming on the air because of the current educational situation in Chiapas". I'm guessing it has to do with striking teachers (Raymie, Jan 12, ibid.) We've got Mexico City radio ratings, and it's a grupera war at the top. According to INRA, Ke Buena XEQ-FM pulls a 14.8 share while its competitor XEQR-FM La Z has a 14.1. http://radionotas.com/2017/01/13/ke-buena-y-la-zeta-se-pelean-la-audiencia-de-la-cdmx-inra/ Meanwhile, the pop battle is even closer — Exa FM at 8.61, Los 40 at 8.58 (Raymie, Jan 13, ibid.) ** MOLDOVA. Re: Estonia: Former clandestine station Radio Nadezhda 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 (Leo Barmaleo, Moldova, Jan 6, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) > I believe this station must have been mentioned in WRTH, too... It's interesting how the entries about the Grigoriopol-Maiac transmitters, in particular 999 kHz, evolved there over just a few years. 1994: "Due to a take-over of the Grigoriopol facility by separatists temporary changes as shown within brackets were in force at the time of editing." 1998: "Relays of V. of Russia, BBC, Deutsche Welle, TWR." http://forums.frocus.biz/index.php?showtopic=2688&view=findpost&p=169538 Requires a log-in. A German publication ("Sender & Frequenzen 1991"), edited in autumn 1990, includes this remark for the USSR, indicating a lot of vague reports, or just rumours, floating around at this time: "In 1990 some internal external services appeared that, in the sense of the central government in Moscow, broadcast into some Soviet republics, like the Baltics. However, none of these transmissions could be heard here." (Kai Ludwig, Germany, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MOROCCO. 9575, R. Mediterranee Int., Jan 05 0729-0742, 45443, French, News, ID at 0737 and 0740 and 0741 (Kouji Hashimoto, JAPAN, RX, IC-R75, NRD-525 + RD-9830, ANT, 130m Sloper Wire, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** NICARAGUA. 8989-USB, "El Pescador Preacher" 2235 to 2350 preachers in Spanish, good signal 4 January. 73s de Bob (Robert Wilkner, Pómpano Beach, Florida, Icom 746 Pro, NRD 525, Drake R8, wire antennas, NASWA yg via DXLD) ** NIGERIA. 7254.92, V. of Nigeria, Jan 05 0558-0613, 35332-35333, Hausa, Drum's IS, ID at 0600, Opening announce, Sound of a whistle at 0600 and 0603 and 0609 (Kouji Hashimoto, JAPAN, RX, IC-R75, NRD-525 + RD-9830, ANT, 130m Sloper Wire, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 7255-, Jan 9 at 0707, no signal from VON which is supposed to be, and usually is, in French at this hour. Is it just slipshod management, or some technical issue beyond their control? 7254.920, Jan 10 at 0739, VON with usual good signal, not in French, but now in African language, Fulfulde listed for 0730-0800; talking about Boko Haram and Maiduguri (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 7255. Jan 10 at 2047, Voice of Nigeria, Abuja, in Hausa. Men announcers talks. Station with good signal and very slight interference by China Radio International, presumably, 44533 (DXer: José Ronaldo Xavier (JRX), Cabedelo-PB, Brazil, Tecsun S-2000, Antenna: Own home-made, Hard-Core-DX mailing list via DXLD) ** NIGERIA [non]. CLANDESTINE, 7415, Dandal Kura, Jan 03 0651-0659*, 35443 Kanuri, Talk, ID at 0651 and 0657 and 0658, 0659 s/off. 7415, Dandal Kura, Jan 05 0644-0659*, 35443-45444, Kanuri, Talk, ID at 0656, 0659 s/off (Kouji Hashimoto, JAPAN, RX, IC-R75, NRD-525 + RD- 9830, ANT, 130m Sloper Wire, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** NORTH AMERICA. 6925 USB, PIRATE (No. Am.), WRRI – Radio Random International, 2217, 1/1/17. “Marion’s Attic” program; New Year’s program (not necessarily this New Year) with Marion, Christina, and another man (whose name I didn’t catch) talking, laughing, reading listener’s letters, and playing very old recordings. 2230 WRRI ID over a song, program played until it ended at 2258, off. Fair to good (Mark Taylor, Madison, Wisconsin, Perseus, SDRPlay, RTL2832 V3 dongle for SDR’s; Eton e1, Grundig Satellit 800, Tecsun PL 660, and various other portables for physical radios; 40 meter dipole, 100’ long wire, Mini whip, NASWA Flashsheet Jan 8 via DXLD) ** NORTH AMERICA. UNIDENTIFIED. 6925.0-AM, Jan 10 at 2124, very poor pirate signal with music, S8 vs noise level of S7, but better than 6855 WRMI, and apparently off by 2126. No logs of it on Free Radio Café, nor on HF Underground, but Chris Smolinski heard an unID signing on 6925, Jan 8 at 2043 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** NORTH AMERICA. 5791.99, Jan 7 at 0314, Martin K. Elliott (as FCC identified him), with [Station YHWH] monolog at S9+5, soon fading to S8-S7, and by 0339 to JBA at S6. Resurged at 0403 to readable S9, enough to tell that the modulation is scratchy, about how Yahweh does not countenance sacrificing animals, not in the Ten-Coms, after all, therefore: ``Christianity, the greatest hoax ever``. Getting to be a reliable time and frequency for him, facilitating his next bust. Ron Howard was also listening to 5792, Jan 6 from the earliest yet, 0232, past 0402. See also USA WMLK 9275 log (Glenn Hauser, OK, WORLD OF RADIO 1860, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 5792-AM, religious pirate (formerly "Radio Station YHWH"). On Jan 6, first heard at 0232, which happens to be the earliest I have heard him since his resurrection; still on the air at my last check at 0402; poor reception the whole time. Certainly is his current favorite frequency. Thanks again to Glenn for first finding this frequency back on Dec 21 (Ron Howard, Calif., dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1860, DX LISTENING DIGEST) [Station YHWH] on 15300 now --- He`s active now Jan 7 before and after 2100 on 15300 (Glenn Hauser, OK, 2119 UT Jan 7, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Tough copy here at 2123z but recognizable (Rich Ray, Chicago, ibid.) 15300, Jan 7 at 2054, a signal where normally there is none --- and it`s [Station YHWH], Martin Elliott with same old stuff on a new frequency, poor at S3-S5 but then surges up to S9, 2057 mentions ``California time, Universal time`` as if schedule info but can`t copy details in a fade; reads a short letter, then 2059 refers to his ``53- page document`` and apparently starts over reading it, about ``false God, Jesus``, ``Christianity, greatest hoax ever foisted upon Mankind``. Somewhat undermodulated and distorted but quite readable at fade-ups. I had just checked 9275 in case he showed up on competing Yahweh frequency of WMLK. Anyhow we know this Yahweh guy does not take Sabbathdays off (Glenn Hauser, OK, WORLD OF RADIO 1860, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 5792-AM, religious pirate (formerly YHWH), Jan 9, heard here again (not here on Jan 8) at 0208, the earliest yet that I have heard him; have yet to catch his sign on; subsequent checking till 0417; semi- readable, which is above the norm. Jan 8, had an UNID on 7362.0, at 0247, that I very tentatively thought might be him, but audio never reached a level for me to be positive. Checked again at 0305 and found station moved to 7361.0, but only heard an open carrier, with nothing on 7362.0. So this might be a place to check for him in the future, but definitely tentative at best (Ron Howard, Calif., dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1860, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 15300, after hearing [Station YHWH] here once around 2100, further chex have not found it, such as Jan 10 at 2100; nor Jan 11 at 2043. He could well be trying other higher-band frequencies in daytime, like two+ years ago (Glenn Hauser, OK, WORLD OF RADIO 1860, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** NORWAY. NORWAY TO SWITCH OFF FM RADIO IN RISKY, UNPOPULAR SHIFT TO DIGITAL --- Reuters Oslo Jan. 05, 2017 http://www.theglobeandmail.com/technology/norway-to-switch-off-fm-radio-in-risky-unpopular-shift-to-digital/article33510755/ Norway is set to become the first nation to start switching off its FM radio network next week, in a risky and unpopular leap to digital technology that will be closely watched by other countries considering whether to follow suit. Critics say the government is rushing the move and many people may miss warnings on emergencies that have until now been broadcast via the radio. Of particular concern are the 2 million cars on Norway’s roads that are not equipped with Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB) receivers, they say. Sixty-six per cent of Norwegians oppose switching off FM, with just 17 per cent in favour and the rest undecided, according to an opinion poll published by the daily Dagbladet last month. Nevertheless, parliament gave the final go-ahead for the move last month, swayed by the fact that digital networks can carry more radio channels. Switzerland plans a similar shift from 2020, and Britain and Denmark are among those also considering such a switch. A smooth transition to DAB, which is already beamed across Norway, could encourage these countries to move ahead. The shutdown of the FM (Frequency Modulation) network, introduced in the 1950s, will begin in the northern city of Bodoe on Jan. 11. By the end of the year, all national FM broadcasts will be closed in favour of DAB, which backers say carries less hiss and clearer sound throughout the large nation of 5 million people cut by fjords and mountains. “We’re the first country to switch off FM but there are several countries going in the same direction,” said Ole Joergen Torvmark, head of Digital Radio Norway, which is owned by national broadcasters NRK and P4 to help the transition. Torvmark said cars were the “biggest challenge” – a good digital adapter for an FM car radio costs 1,500 Norwegian crowns ($174.70), he said. One member of the ruling coalition was scathing, however, voicing concerns similar to those expressed by thousands of elderly and drivers in surveys and elsewhere. “We are simply not ready for this yet,” Ib Thomsen, an MP from the Progress Party, a partner in the Conservative-led government, told Reuters. “There are 2 million cars on Norwegian roads that don’t have DAB receivers, and millions of radios in Norwegian homes will stop working when the FM net is switched off. So there is definitely a safety concern,” he said. For the same cost, digital radio in Norway allows eight times more radio stations than FM. The current system of parallel FM and digital networks, each of which cost about 250 million crowns ($29-million), saps investments in programmes. Among other nations, Britain plans to review the need for a switchover once digital listening reaches 50 per cent. That could be reached by the end of 2017 on current trends, Digital Radio UK spokeswoman Yvette Dore said (via Mike Terry, dxldyg via DXLD) Norway FM switch off starts Just covered at length in tonight's 6 pm news on BBC Radio 4. The Norwegian public's concern was emphasised, and that 2 million cars didn't have digital radios. Then reference was made to future digital plans in the UK and other countries, in none too positive terms. A few minutes later a BBC digital radio public service announcement (some might say "advert" although these are not permitted under the BBC's charter) was aired! They are airing these on all BBC stations. Posted by: (Mike Terry, Jan 6, dxldyg via DXLD) And here's a link to the aforementioned piece, and the the DAB promo following the end of the news (with apologies to Mike, who has, owing to my inability to master Yahoo, received this message twice before!) Norway drops FM - BBC R4 - TX date 6/1/16 - Clyp Listen to Norway drops FM - BBC R4 - TX date 6/1/16 | Clyp is the easiest way to record, upload and share audio. No account required. https://clyp.it/tbnzryda Posted by: (martin.peters, BDXC-UK yg via DXLD) NORWAY PREPARES FOR CONTROVERSIAL FM RADIO SHUTDOWN --- 10 Jan 2017 https://www.afp.com/en/news/206/norway-prepares-controversial-fm-radio-shutdown AFP/File / Odd Andersen The skyline of Aker Brygge, the Norwegian capital Oslo's waterfront and entertainment area [caption] Norway on Wednesday will become the first country in the world to start shutting down its FM radio network in favour of digital radio, a bold move watched closely by other countries around Europe. Supporters of Digital Audio Broadcasting say DAB offers better sound quality and more channels at an eighth of the cost of FM (frequency modulation) transmission, which was first launched in the US in 1945. The authorities also say DAB offers better coverage, allows listeners to catch up on programmes they have missed and makes it easier to broadcast emergency messages in times of crisis. "The big difference and the main reason behind this big technological shift is that we want to offer a better radio service to the whole population," Ole Jorgen Torvmark, the head of Digitalradio Norge, a company owned by public broadcaster NRK and commercial radio station P4. Norway, generally a technology-friendly country, has been preparing for the switchover for years -- DAB and FM have existed side-by-side since 1995. There are currently 22 national digital stations, along with around 20 smaller ones. The FM spectrum has room for a maximum of only five national stations. The big switch-off begins in Nordland, in the country's north, at 11:11 am (1011 GMT) on Wednesday before expanding to the rest of the country by the end of the year, making millions of old radios obsolete. - 'It's too expensive' - But many think the shift is premature. A poll in Dagbladet newspaper in December found 66 percent of Norwegians are against shutting down FM, with only 17 percent in favour. While around three quarters of the population have at least one DAB radio set, many motorists are unhappy, as only about a third of cars currently on the road are equipped. Converting a car radio involves buying an adaptor for between 1,000 and 2,000 kroner (110 to 220 euros), or getting a whole new radio. "It's completely stupid, I don't need any more channels than I've already got," Eivind Sethov, 76, told AFP in Oslo. "It's far too expensive. I'm going to wait till the price of adaptors comes down before getting one for my car." So while the switch to digital will reduce the cost of transmission for broacasters, it is listeners who will pick up much of the cost of the transition. But Torvmark insists the time is right. "It's clear that when there's a big technological change, some people ask difficult questions and are critical," but "most listeners are ready," he said. "Every week more than 2.1 million listeners -- half of the listeners - - listen to stations that wouldn't have existed without this technological transition." Part of the reason Norway is the first country to switch away from traditional analogue transmission is to do with topography -- it is expensive to get FM signals to a small population scattered around a landscape riven with fjords and high mountains. - Closely watched - The process will be watched closely in Europe by Switzerland, Denmark and Britain, where listeners have taken strongly to digital radio and which all plan plan to shut down FM radio broadcasts at some point in the future. The UK has not set a date but has said it will switch off the FM signal when 50 percent of all radio listening is digital -- the figure is currently over 35 percent -- and when the DAB signal reaches 90 percent of the population. But other countries, including France, where neither commercial nor public broadcasters have been convinced by the new technology, are lagging behind. "It's taken an awfully long time," said Simon Spanswick of the Association for International Broadcasting. "Trying to persuade the public to invest in a new radio... it's a tough ask." And some governments are naturally reluctant to upset voters by forcing them to buy new radios. Germany for example had set 2015 as the FM switch-off date, only to see it dumped by lawmakers in 2011. 10 Jan 2017 (via Mike Cooper, DXLD) NORWAY STARTS TUNING OUT ANALOG RADIO IN FAVOR OF DIGITAL AP Photo/Mark Lewis Jan 11, 5:59 AM EST OSLO, Norway (AP) -- Norway began shutting down analog radio technology Wednesday as the Scandinavian country becomes the first in the world to phase out the FM signal for national and some regional broadcasting. The FM signal was switched off in the Arctic Nordland district in favor of Digital Audio Broadcasting, or DAB. The switchover was performed by radio listener Bertih Pauline Olderskog who moved a lever to drum rolls and a countdown from the audience at a public library in Bodoe, northern Norway. Olderskog said she had been listening to FM radio for more than 70 years. Graham Dixon, head of the European Broadcasting Union`s radio unit who took part in the event that was webcasted, said the switchover shows that "media can be renewed for the contemporary world." The head of the public Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation NRK, Thor Gjermund Eriksen, called it a "historic moment." Norway gradually switches to digital and the shutdown process is due to be completed by Dec. 13. The Norwegian government has cited its landscape with deep fjords, high mountains and scattered communities for making it expensive to operate FM networks. Norway`s Parliament made the decision in May 2011. An estimated 200 million kroner ($23.4 million) will be saved, according to official figures (via Mike Cooper, DXLD) Please tell me how DAB is any better than FM in covering difficult terrain, ``deep fjords and high mountains``. DAB operates on even higher frequencies than the 87-108 MHz FM band, roughly twice that in what used to be the high-VHF analog TV band, does it not? That means even more limited to line-of-sight. Guess what, for broad coverage of terrain, ``bending`` over and past obstacles, nothing beats MF or even LF! And with digital, it`s all-or-nothing (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** OKLAHOMA. 820, Jan 8 at 2344 UT, as I am trying to hear what else is on here besides WBAP at sunset, burst of wideband RF noise, as my nearest streetlight starts to ignite; almost clear sky in pink cirrus sunset, which was at 2333 UT, already 16 minutes later than earliest a month ago (while our latest sunrise has just passed at 1344) (Glenn Hauser, Enid, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** OMAN [and non]. 15140. Jan 6 at 1812, Radio Sultanate of Oman, Thumrait, in Arabic. Man announcer talks, says Arabia, Islam; Woman talks (short participation); 1825 Man talks. RSO with fair signal and modulation this time, 35432 (sometimes 35433). At 1900, in collision with Radio Habana Cuba in Arabic and Creole (1900-2000): Confirmed! After 2000, continues collision (DXer: Jose Ronaldo Xavier (JRX), Cabedelo-PB, Brazil, Tecsun S-2000, Antenna: Own home-made, Hard-Core- DX mailing list via DXLD) Oman was there first (gh) 15140, Radio Oman - Thumrait, at 1608-1632 UT on Jan 7, noted with English segment running late with talk features with short musical breaks between items. At 1616 UT switched to Arabic language as someone finally figured out that English shouldn't be on at this hour. Fair (Rich D'Angelo-PA-USA, DXplorer via wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Jan 8, BCDX 09 Jan via DXLD) 15140. Jan 10 at 1903, Radio Sultanate of Oman, Thumrait, in Arabic. Man announcer talks. In collision with Radio Habana Cuba, in Arabic, too (today, RHC it´s a little better than RSO). (DXer: José Ronaldo Xavier (JRX), Cabedelo-PB, Brazil, Tecsun S-2000, Antenna: Own home- made, Hard-Core-DX mailing list via DXLD) ** PAKISTAN. 7265, For the first time again heard Islamabad Azad Jammu & Kashmir, in Kashmiri, at 0530 UT on Jan 9, S=9+10dB in Doha Qatar. Aoki Nagoya list/ Excel file has wrong timing for Kashmiri Pakistan. 73 (Wolfgang Büschel, Jan 9, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PAPUA NEW GUINEA. 3260, NBC Madang, 1202-1237*, Jan 9. Running later than usual (normally off about 1206 or so); 1202-1206 NBC news in English; promo; DJ in English playing pop songs in English; several on air phone conversations; mostly unreadable; suddenly off in mid-song (Ron Howard, Calif., dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PERU. 5025, R. QUILLABAMBA. Enero 2. 0025-0036 UT. Misa en idioma español. SINPO: 54554 con leve QRM de otra emisora sin ID en la misma frecuencia (Claudio Galaz, RX: TECSUN PL-660, ANT: Hilo de 40 metros, QTH: Ovalle, IV Región, Chile, condiglista yg via DXLD) Rebelde, CUBA ** PERU. 5980, R. CHASKI. Diciembre 30. 2351-2359 UT. Programa de lecturas bíblicas, himnos, hora local y devocional. SINPO: 54454 con leve QRM como un heterodino muy débil e inestable. Por lo visto la emisora volvió al aire, tal como fue reportada por Glenn Hauser. 5980, R. CHASKI. Diciembre 31. 2350-2359 UT. Música, avisos de la emisora. SINPO: 54554 con leve QRM de otra emisora sin ID, quizás una emisora china. 5980, R. CHASKI. Enero 2. 0055-0103 UT. Finalización del programa: `Los Grandes Temas`, producido por Radio Transmundial, a las 01 hay ID: ``Red Radio Integridad``, hora local y saludos de Año Nuevo, por parte de la emisora. A las 0102, ID larga con lectura de la frecuencia de 700 AM y luego inicio del programa: `Pensemos` del Dr Zacarias hasta las 0103, cuando la emisora sale del aire. SINPO: 53453 con marcado QRM de PBS en tibetano al parecer, aunque aquella se escucha muy baja, aunque no está listada en EIBI más allá de las 0100 5980. R. CHASKI. Enero 5. 2339-2357 UT. Programa: `Momento Decisivo` con predicación. SINPO: 42432 con QRM marcado en la misma frecuencia, al parecer PBS desde China (Claudio Galaz, RX: TECSUN PL-660, ANT: Hilo de 40 metros, QTH: Ovalle, IV Región, Chile, condiglista yg via DXLD) = Hour of Decision, BGEA? (gh) 5980, Jan 8 at 0103, JBA carrier from R. Chaski, until autocutoff at 0104:20* which slippage is 26.5 seconds later than last capture 4 nights before, Jan 4 until 0103:53.5*, or averaging 6 and 5/8 seconds later per (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PHILIPPINES [and non]. PHILIPPINES/VATICAN: Effective 8th January, Radio Veritas Asia is changing their evening frequencies. Bengali at 1400-1427 on 11840 kHz via PUG 280deg (ex-11825*) and Urdu at 1430- 1457 on 11840 kHz via SMG 89deg (ex-15330 kHz). (Alok Dasgupta, Kolkata, INDIA via Wolfgang Büschel, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PUERTO RICO. 1520, WVOZ, San Juan, PR – changed call twice in November, to WBYM then ten days later to WRSJ. Still airing TIVA TV simulcast. WVOZ is now on 1580 which used to be WMTI (SOUTH AMERICAN NEWS with Tore B. Vik, Norway, Medium Wave News 62/08, 5 January 2017 via DXLD) ** ROMANIA. Radio Romania used some pathetic words to remind its audience of the 25 year anniversary of Antena Satelor (* Christmas 1991). The programme is currently broadcast on medium wave (531, 603, 630, 1314 kHz) and long wave (153 kHz) as well as only three FM stations (Comanesti 89 MHz, Sulina 103,2 MHz and Zalau 106,9 MHz). According to the news item Antena Satelor http://www.antenasatelor.ro has an audience of more than 700,000 listeners. http://www.radiomures.ro/stiri/radio-romania-antena-satelor-povestea-unei-relatii-de-25-de-ani.html (via Dr. Hansjoerg Biener 6 January 2017) If Hj was thinking ``armselig`` perhaps a better translation would be paltry, not as negative as pathetic (gh, DXLD) ** RUSSIA. 7345 // 7295, Radio Sakha, via Yakutsk. The New Year's Holiday extended schedule is over; back to the usual *0300-0500*; Jan 6 at 0258 with Sakha's open carrier, but also RRI (Romania) IS; at 0300, no IS nor time pips; started out with "Radio Sakha" ID; 0340 Jew's harp (khomus) music; 0358 "Jingle Bells"; 0400 IS (Jew's harp) and time pips; 7345 fair, while 7295 is as usual very poor. Typically they are still giving the ID at xx:50 and followed by ads. Recently with fair/good reception. For those interested in this truly unique Jew's harp (khomus) music, here is a nice performance on Youtube - http://goo.gl/DMFC70 (Ron Howard, Calif., WORLD OF RADIO 1860, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Some observations for late Jan 6 to early Jan 7 (UT) from Masset: Radio Sakha very strong, and near armchair level from around 2200 UT. First on 7295 in Yakutian, but realized who they were since // to much stronger 7345. 7295 was initially fair to good. By 0000, both frequencies were much stronger and when last checked at 0130, still going strong. 73, (Walt Salmaniw, BC, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1860, DX LISTENING DIGEST) NVK Sakha 7345 --- Superb reception with This day in Russian history, in Russian. It's so strong that I've used the 12 kHz filter! Back to Yakutian at 0030. // 7295 is weaker but still decent. 73 from a cold and snowy Masset! (Walt Salmaniw, Jan 8, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1860, DX LISTENING DIGEST) As I type this, I'm enjoying armchair copy from Russia's NVK Sakha, albeit on SW 7345 at 0056 UT. Can't complain! 73, (Walt, UT Jan 8, IRCA via DXLD) ** SAUDI ARABIA. 21505. Diciembre 31. 1441-1454 UT. Dos hombres hablan en árabe y nombran a Al Jazeera y a Qatar hasta las 1450 cuando comienzan rezos islámicos. SINPO: 55454 (Claudio Galaz, RX: TECSUN PL- 660, ANT: Hilo de 40 metros, QTH: Ovalle, IV Región, Chile, condiglista yg via DXLD) Haven`t heard this in ages, and thought it off; about all I ever hear on 13m now is 21675 WRMI R. Africa, and that quite weak. Aoki shows BSKSA General Program 1, 1155-1457, 500 kW at 295 degrees from Riyadh (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SOLOMON ISLANDS. 5020, Jan 7 at 0814, JBA carrier in splash from 5025 Cuba, no doubt SIBC on night frequency and propagable (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) When tuned in in Brisbane Queensland remote unit at 2003 UT tonight Jan 11, mid morning in Australia, grayline in Adelaide, nighttime at Perth western Australia, noted music theme in progress from Honiaria Solomon Islands, at S=7 or -88dBm at fade-out time. 5019.999 kHz exact fq on lower side to state. Compared to ABC 4835 and WWVH 5000 kHz. 73 de wolfie df5sx (Wolfgang Buschel, all the best in 2017 to the channel islands, dxldyg via DX LISENING DIGEST) See also UNID 5020 ** SOMALIA. (or non): Warsan Radio FM in vernacular on Jan 5th started in the middle of sentence at 0435 on 7750.1 AM (Rumen Pankov, Sofia, Bulgaria, Jan 12, 2017, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SOMALILAND [and non]. 7120, Jan 9 at 1400, R. Hargeisa carrier until 1403*. Always fun to check what else is coming by long path from the Horn of Africa on 40m: Much weaker Eritrea carrier stays on 7175, but no 7146+, and even weaker Sudan 7205. See also ETHIOPIA (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SOUTH AFRICA. 7158-LSB, Jan 7 at 0407, ZS6CCY working lots of US stations, RI, LA, IN, contest? Bit of a co-channel pileup but not severe. QTH.com shows: ZS6CCY WILLIAM (BILL) HUNTER, HOSIE SIBAYA RANCH, VAALWATER 0530, South Africa, while his QRZ.com lookup has lots of photos of his setup (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SOUTH CAROLINA [non non]. 9505, WHRI Cypress Creek SC (presumed); 2253-2308+, 5-Jan; Bro. HyStairical rudely interrupted a run-on supportive caller. B.S. implied that he has enough cash to broadcast thru 2017 (another year of last days!) No ToH break or ID (I wouldn’t either) SIO=454- [non] 11580, WRMI Radio Miami International (presumed); 1954, 3-Jan; Tuned by to hear Bro. HyStairical shout, “Gird up the loins of your mind!” (Well now, there you go. I’ve learned something by listening to B.S. I never knew that my mind had loins.) SIO=453+ fady. 11825, WRMI Radio Miami International (presumed); 1643-1653+, 1-Jan; Brother HyStairical read excerpts from a “Bible prophecy researcher” who says that there will be an Atlantic Ocean tsunami before September 2017 that will wipe out a U.S. east coast nuclear power plant. He also said that World War 3 might break out before that, possibly in January (which would make the tsunami pretty much irrelevant). 1650 B.S. wants reception reports & mentioned WRMI, WHRI & WWCR. S10 peaks (Harold Frodge, Midland MI, USA, Drake R8B + 185' & 60' RW + 125' bow-tie ---- - All logged by my ears, on my receiver, in real time! ----- DX LISTENING DIGEST) 11825, Jan 6 at 1503, no signal, altho TOM per latest WRMI sked is supposed to start at 1300. See also USA: WRMI (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 11825, Jan 7 at 1907, WRMIBS is back on after AWOL yesterday, also // 11580 and 15770. Altho sufficient, it`s a relief that the much stronger daytime blasters across North America, 13695 and 15440 (and 17790, not so much) are the ones BS gave up --- except that going with them from 13695 to much weaker 11580 are the 2100-2200 panoply of programs (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SPAIN. 15390. Jan 6 at 1908, Radio Exterior de España, Noblejas, in Spanish. Men announcers present "24 Horas" by Radio Nacional de España: All national and international News; ID: RNE. Station with very good signal and modulation, 55544. 1919 UT: Parallel on 15500 kHz, 35433 (DXer: Jose Ronaldo Xavier (JRX), Cabedelo-PB, Brazil, Tecsun S-2000, Antenna: Own home-made, Hard-Core-DX mailing list via DXLD) Manuel y amigos: Siendo las 1900 UT, REE abre sus emisiones hacia Sudamérica en los 15390 con una señal casi imperceptible, muy al contrario de ayer. Cabe destacar también, que a media hora de estar con una señal estable y fuerte, decayó fuertemente a eso de las 1940 UT en la emisión de ayer miércoles. Si hay algún cambio que destacar lo informo por este medio. 73's (ce3BBC, Hugo López C., Santiago de Chile, Jan 5, noticiasdx yg via DXLD) Radio Exterior de España, 1855-1905, 06-01, señal muy débil en 15390 y 15500, y nada en 9690, parece que esta última frecuencia está desde primeros de año fuera del aire. Saludos (Manuel Méndez, Lugo, España, Noticiasdx yg via DXLD) Manuel y amigos: Hoy viernes 6, desde las 1900 hasta las 2230 UT, pude seguir los 15390 con señal estable y con promedio 45444, es decir, en nada comparado con el día de ayer. También pude sintonizar los 15500 kHz con 35443. Estarán bajando y subiendo potencia desde Noblejas? Por qué tanta diferencia entre un día y otro? Frecuencias cercanas en la banda de 19 metros, que todos los días son recibidas en las tardes sudamericanas, se han mantenido estable, es decir, las condiciones de propagación no han cambiado los 15 MHz. Atte. (ce3BBC, Hugo López C., Santiago de Chile, noticiasdx via DXLD) 9690, Sat Jan 7 at 1839, REE is still missing from North American frequency, which on Sat is scheduled to start at 1500, and fading up enough by now. 15390 & 15500 to elsewhere are fairly audible. Recheck 2102, however, 9690 is finally reactivated after at least a week, now good at S9+10 for REE`s most important show, `Tablero Deportivo`. 15390 & 15500 remain fairly audible at S9, and I can even detect the fourth transmitter on 11685, S5-S6 vs constant RTTY on its hi side from NAA (Glenn Hauser, OK, WORLD OF RADIO 1860, DX LISTENING DIGEST) España. REE. Hoy sábado siendo las 2210 UT, señales muy buenas en los 15390, 15500 y excelente en los 9690 kHz (S9 + 30 dB) acá en Miami. Todo luce normal en estas transmisiones. Saludos a todos (Dino Bloise, Frecuencia Al Día, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 9690, Sunday January 8 at 1516, REE is still reactivated here, at very poor S3 to North America --- and for the early weekend broadcasts sorely needs to be on a higher band, as // 15500 is best at S8, but with some short/longpath echo: it`s at 110 degrees for Mideast, exactly the opposite bearing from 9690 at 290 degrees. Second best at S5 is 15390, which HFCC shows also at 110, but that can`t be correct, as it is really for South America, per EiBi. Also on 17755, 161 degrees across Africa, the one I detected first with a VP carrier aside much stronger 17750 Cuba (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) At 2230 I can hear 11685 kHz instead of 17755 kHz, as scheduled. 73, (Mauno Ritola, Finlandia, Jan 8, playdx yg via DXLD) Saludos estimado Dino y amigos: Efectivamente hoy las emisiones de 15390 y 15500, estables y fuertes en todo momento hasta el cierre a las 2305 UT. Incluso por Santiago de Chile, sur de Sudamérica, la emisión de 9690 y 11685 eran audible al cierre de transmisiones, con dificultad pero llegaban. 73's (Hugo López, Chile, Jan 8, noticias dx yg via DXLD) Radio Exterior de España, 1500-1530 y 1800-1806, 08-01, se vueleve escuchar por aquí en 9690, aunque con señal muy débil. Mejor en 15390 y 15500, pero, señal débil y en 17755 señal muy débil. Parece como si hubiese reducido potencia. Saludos (Manuel Méndez, Lugo, España, noticiasdx yg via DXLD) 15390. Jan 10 at 1935, Radio Exterior de España, Noblejas, in Spanish. Man announcer makes a interview and comments about politics: Reforms of the Liberal, Socialist and other parties of Spain and Europe, too. Very good signal and modulation, 45544. Parallel logs on 9690, 35333; 11685, 35332 and 15500 kHz, 15441 (DXer: José Ronaldo Xavier (JRX), Cabedelo-PB, Brazil, Tecsun S-2000, Antenna: Own home-made, Hard-Core- DX mailing list via DXLD) ** SRI LANKA. SRI LANKA BROADCASTING CORPORATION TURNS 50 TODAY SLBC 5 January 2017 Written by slbc news http://www.slbc.lk/index.php/slbc-news/slbc-local-news/3028-slbc-turns-50-today Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation marks the 50th anniversary today. The corporation has organized a number of programmes to mark this event during the New Year. The inaugural ceremony in this connection will be held today at the Kumarathunga studio under the patronage of President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremasinghe. The newly constructed administrative building and modified studio complex will be declared open by the president. A commemorative stamp and a first day cover will be issued to mark the golden jubilee anniversary of the SLBC. An investigative magazine regarding the history of Sri Lanka’s broadcasting will also be launched. An awarding ceremony will also be held to felicitate the staff members of SLBC. An all night pirith chanting ceremony will be held tonight and an alms giving will be offered to the maha sangha tomorrow. All religious observances will also be held at the new building complex on Monday. The government has spent over 207 million rupees to upgrade the SLBC’s studio complex. Haputale transmitting station will also be developed at a cost of 100 million rupees. The Sri Lanka Broadcasting department was renamed as Ceylon Broadcasting Corporation in 1966. It was again changed as Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation in 1972. Posted by: (Mike Terry, Jan 5, dxldyg via DXLD) ** SUDAN SOUTH [non]. 7315, Jan 7 at 0340, WHRI colliding with R. Tamazuj via VATICAN as has been going on all season. Roughly equal levels here. WHRI registered for 250 kW at 152 degrees, likely bleeding into Sudan too (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SYRIA. SAWT AL-SHAAB RADIO REPORTEDLY TO CLOSE It's being reported in Syria that the Information Ministry plans to close Sawt al-Shaab (Voice of the People) radio and Channel One TV. Sawt al-Shaab used to be on AM, but as various transmitters have been knocked off the air during the course of the war it has become an FM and satellite-only service. There's also a rather erratic live stream at http://live.rtv.gov.sy/RShaab.aspx?live=1 It should be noted, however, that the Syrian government has launched various other TV and FM stations during the war. Although Channel One TV is a terrestrial service, it can also be seen via a live stream on the official YouTube account of the Syrian Arab Radio and TV Organisation: http://bit.ly/2iHaAee Live Streaming Of Syrian Aloula Channel http://www.rtv.gov.sy Posted by: (chrisgreenway, Jan 5, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Sawt al-Shaab has indeed closed down for good. It went off the air with a farewell message just after 2200 GMT (midnight local time) last night (7 January). One of the presenters spoke about the station closing down with sadness and said it "will remain in our hearts and in our ears". The two presenters then hailed Syria and signed off with the national anthem (Chris Greenway, Jan 8, ibid.) see in web too - of 2013 year https://latestnewssyria.wordpress.com/2013/06/15/latest-news-syria-anniversary-sawt-al-shaab-radio/ what's the background of this decision? (wolfie bueschel, ibid.) And now the web stream is already shut down and the link removed from the portal. While checking this out I came by chance across Syrian Satellite Channel while they were broadcasting news in Russian, wrapping up at 1527. These news are also posted to Youtube and embedded at http://en.rtv.sy/index.php?m=2 (Kai Ludwig, ibid.) ** TAHITI [non]. Early 6th Jan TP Kona -- 0720 UT Lower noise levels tonight - 1098 Marshalls booming in with Island music. Nothing on 738. Hints of other stuff but it's early yet. Eton E100 with Debock treatment. Tecsun PL380 (Colin Newell, HI, IRCA via DXLD) Thanks Colin. There's no point in chasing 738 any longer I'm afraid. Via Mike Terry, via Andy Robins, via Bill Whitacre: http://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/321809/loss-of-am-radio-irks-french-polynesia (Nick Hall-Patch, BC, ibid.) Wow! What struck me as ironic is that the loudest SW station in the condo is ABC On 9580 kHz - also soon to vanish. End of an era, Boys and Girls (Colin Newell, ibid.) Viz.: LOSS OF AM RADIO IRKS FRENCH POLYNESIA --- RNZ 5 January 2017 French Polynesia's public radio broadcaster says people in remote locations have complained about the end of transmissions on its AM frequency. Radio Polynesie Premiere switched to an all FM service at the beginning of December, leaving pockets of inhabitants in valleys and on remote atolls without any local radio service. The broadcaster added five FM transmitters to its network of 48 to improve its reach but in an area the size of Europe, the signal fails to reach all communities. Concern has been expressed that vital weather warnings are no longer heard. The mayor of Makatea in the Tuamotus Julien Mai said there is a risk to public safety because people have always been advised to have an emergency kit that includes a radio when severe weather strikes. Mariners can still receive weather updates via radio. Posted by: (Mike Terry, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1860, DXLD) WTFK? 738 kHz, widely DXed including here (gh, OK, WORLD OF RADIO 1860, DXLD) ** TAIWAN [non]. 6855, Jan 7 at 0311, RTI in Spanish via WRMI with ID and address info, S9+25 here added to // 5985 at S9+20; 0313 starting `Plaza Pública` programa in one-hour transmission. 6855 has been repurposed to // various other WRMI services rather than nada más que Hermano Histérico. More at USA (Glenn Hauser, OK, WORLD OF RADIO 1860, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** THAILAND. 7600, Jan 5 at 1413, S Asian language, S9-S9+10 with flutter. Aoki shows it`s BBC Hindi via Nakhon Sawan at 1400-1430. Surprised to hear two more signals above 7600; see UNIDENTIFIED (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** TURKEY. V of Turkey - I noted yesterday (Wednesday 4 January) during the 2300 UT broadcast that the Letterbox Programme was aired. This is normally scheduled on Saturdays. No announcements were given in the programme to indicate whether this was a on-off change or whether the programme has been permanently rescheduled. Programme ended by saying that it would be back in two weeks. We may have to wait until Saturday 14 January (the next Saturday that we would have expected to hear Letterbox). (Alan Roe, Teddington, UK, Jan 5, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 6080, UT Sat Jan 7 at 0405, VOT ID amid English news, S9 over VOA São Tomé collision, making a fast SAH with it. Need to check whether Letterbox appear UT Sunday, as Alan Roe heard it back on a Wednesday broadcast Jan 4 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) The edition of the Letterbox programme aired on Wednesday 4 January was repeated Saturday 7 January which would have been an "off-week" based on the 2-week cycle leading up to end of 2016. Will need to monitor further to confirm schedule and 2-weekly cycle (Alan Roe, Teddington, UK, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Has anyone any form of current English program schedule from them, on line or on paper?? (gh, DXLD) Turkey. "Voice of Turkey". Russian edition. ---------------------------------------------------------- The station is on the air daily 1400-1500 UT at a frequency of 9410 kHz. Since January 2017 the program broadcasting schedule. Each transfer news, review Presses Turkish and Turkish music. Monday and Saturday: - Agenda. - Anatolian palette. Tuesday: - The View from Turkey. - The city and the people. - Guide for Foreigners (1 per month). Wednesday: - The economy of the world. - Istanbul. Thursday and Sunday: - Middle East: The View from Turkey. - Best Turkish cuisine. Friday: - Sports. - Great love. - Our service (1 time per month) (The "Voice of Turkey" 31 December 2016 via RusDX Jan 8 via DXLD) ** TURKEY. MY UNSUCCESSFUL MONITORING OF THE VOICE OF TURKEY INTERNET STREAM Having found the Voice of Turkey in German on short wave after midnight and VoT in Urdu on an internet stream, I decided to monitor the internet streams of the Voice of Turkey. The reason: I did not find a schedule on the VoT-website. Unfortunately, a more collaborative effort is necessary. Yesterday and today, I found the parallel internet broadcasts of the German programmes on different streams. My Portuguese is not as good as it should be, but I think that I have caught an announcement of a schedule change. So maybe, my recent observations may have been in vain. The result of today’s my monitoring of VOT West http://www.trt.net.tr/Anasayfa/canli.aspx?y=radyo&k=trtvotwest 0800 Radio Glas Turske (either Serbian/Croatian/Bosnian) 0830 Radio Glas Turske (Croatian!) ---- 1000 Arabic 1100 Unidentified 1200 Bulgarian 1230 Romanian ---- 1500 Italian 1530 Serbian 1600 Croatian 1630 Azeri 1700 unidentified ---- 1800 Hausa the day before: 1830-1930 German 1900 Arabic 2000 Portuguese 2100 Spanish Listening to many hours of programming in languages I understand at least partly, I realize how much of the content is centrally prepared. I note a dominant word in all languages: „terrorist” (PKK, PYD, Gulen movement, Daesh). And I not as inconsistent compositions of quotations from international press reports into a commentary programme as in the German programme. Some of the language services (e. g. Haussa) provide very little content (Dr Hansjoerg Biener 9 January 2017, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Frequency and programme schedules missing on most language sites of http://www.trtvotworld.com/ During my ongoing research of their web stream http://www.trt.net.tr/Anasayfa/canli.aspx?y=radyo&k=trtvotwest I note that the designer of the web site of Voice of Turkey did not envisage pages for frequency and programme schedules in the different languages. I see that a number of the services available via http://www.trtvotworld.com/ are not broadcast on short wave; nonetheless interested listeners of those on short wave should ask for current frequency information to be included. It would also be in the general interest of the specific language services to have all platforms (incl. FM affiliates) mentioned that they are on. The German Service does give frequency and programme schedules for their short wave transmissions. So, I did not note this deficiency of the design of the web site before. I just came across this problem when finding German on internet streams and not finding any references on the German site. Listeners of the English service should also note that the link at http://www.trtvotworld.com/ directly leads to the TV service http://www.trtworld.com/ This leads me to ask whether there is still any English audio content to be found on the web site of the Voice of Turkey (Dr Hansjoerg Biener 11 January 2017, DX LISTENING DIGEST) All reference to radio disappeared some time ago on the trtvotworld.com when VOT World TV Service was launched. I have written to the English section on a couple of occasions about this and it was acknowledged in their English service Letterbox Programme, but the answer was pretty much that VOT World had hijacked the website and there was nothing that they could do. I continue to periodically mention the lack of web presence when I write to VOT (Alan Roe, Teddington, UK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** TURKS & CAICOS [and non]. 530, no movement in the past several months. I've been pounding the drum to go back to 1570, only the gang across from Del Rio to worry about and they are limited to 30 kW. No concern for the PSSA operators. If they do fire up on 530 again, it's going to be non stop QRM (Jerry Kiefer, FL, UT Jan 6, WORLD OF RADIO 1860, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Jerry, I could believe XERF is only 30 kW, judging from reception here, but is that official? Source for info? I think they still claim 100, FWIW. Or did you mean ERP in some direction? No, it`s supposed to be ND unless that is not correct either (Glenn Hauser, WORLD OF RADIO 1860, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** UGANDA [non]. 15240, Sat Jan 7 at 1903, poor signal S5 in presumed Luganda, from Radio Munansi via WWRB; no signal at 2054 recheck, as the exact schedule seems to remain flexible. 15240, Sunday January 8 at 1702, S9+10 open carrier from WWRB; 1704, gradually fade-up lo-fi urgent presumed Luganda talk from Radio Munansi; 1720 audio feed loses out to whine. 1728 feed restored, now two guys conversing, less urgent. Usually JBA, but now Dxmaps.com confirms there is a sporadic E MUF up to 27 MHz between TN and OK. The Es opening spreads geographically but not much upward MUF into VHF, by 1800 as WWRB signal remains good, now finally some music, until 1805 talk finally higher-fi than the previous hour. Still in well by 1845 with some deep fades, and never notice any English so far. After 1850 some interruptions, phone ringing and reconnecting, 1853 music, 1855 mentions Los Angeles, studio. Still going at final check 1909 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** UKRAINE [non]. 6855, Jan 7 at 0214 mid-ID in RUI relay via WRMI on new frequency, S9+10, in addition to or replacing inaudible 11580 which is still the only one shown on WRMI schedule; ex nothing but Brother HyStairical on 6855 following his cutbacks. More under USA (Glenn Hauser, OK, WORLD OF RADIO 1860, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U A E [non]. SHF Satellites: Television: 97 W, Galaxy 19, 12.145V/22000 Msps, Abu Dhabi TV in Arabic with new year's countdown and celebration, including a short English section with a foreign tourist waiting for the fireworks. Interesting how they 'defaulted' to English when they realized the announcer spoke Arabic and the tourist didn't. It was NOT the first language of either, but it worked.. There was a man and a woman announcer, and the woman was absolutely stunning, and had the prettiest dress [illustrated] I've seen in a dog's age. The fireworks were pretty impressive too. In well, 51% quality QPSK MPEG2 480i SD, 1950-2010 31/Dec. Did I mention the female announcer was pretty? (Ken Zichi, Pt Hope MI2, for Satellites: Manhattan DJ-1997 FTA receiver +96 inch movable dish, MARE Tipsheet Jan 6 via DXLD) ** U K [and non]. BBCWS changes as of Jan 4 per HFCC: 3255 1600 2000 52,53,57 MEY 100 0 804 1234567 311216 Eng AFS ENAFES 5855 1330 1400 41NE TAC 100 131 218 1234567 010117 Ben UZB BENGA 5875 1700 1730 40E,41NW ERV 300 100 218 1234567 010117 Prs ARM DARIA 5875 1730 1800 40E,41NW ERV 300 100 218 1234567 010117 Pus ARM PASHA 5875 1800 1830 40E,41NW ERV 300 100 218 1234567 010117 Prs ARM DARIA 5875 1830 1900 40E,41NW ERV 300 100 218 1234567 010117 Prs ARM DARIA 5875 0030 0100 41NE TAC 100 131 218 1234567 010117 Ben UZB BENGA 5875 1630 1700 41NE TAC 100 131 218 1234567 010117 Ben UZB BENGA 5875 0000 0030 49NW TAC 100 131 218 1234567 311216 Mya UZB BURMA 6045 0700 0800 28 WOF 300 102 611 1234567 291216 Kor G KBS 6135 0600 0629 37 WOF 300 180 216 1234567 291216 Fra G FRENAN 6190 1600 2000 52,53,57 MEY 100 15 803 1234567 311216 Eng AFS ENAFES 7235 1800 1900 29N,29SE WOF 250 74 611 1234567 030117 Rus G KBS 7235 1900 2000 46 WOF 250 170 611 1234567 241216 Haus G IBRWAF 7285 0400 0500 47E,48NW WOF 250 140 611 1234567 241216 Ara G ARABAN 7445 1600 2000 48SW,53W MDC 250 315 218 1234567 311216 Eng MDG ENAFEE 7445 0030 0100 40E,41NW WOF 250 82 611 1234567 241216 Prs G DARIA 7445 0100 0130 40E,41NW WOF 250 82 611 1234567 241216 Pus G PASHA 7445 0130 0200 40E,41NW WOF 250 82 611 1234567 241216 Prs G DARIA 7465 1400 1500 41,42SW SNG 250 315 147 1234567 211216 Eng SNG ENASS 7485 0200 0230 49NW SNG 100 340 146 1234567 010117 Mya SNG BURMA 7485 1330 1415 49NW SNG 100 340 147 1234567 010117 Mya SNG BURMA 7485 1415 1500 49NW SNG 100 340 147 23456 010117 Mya SNG BURMA 7560 1800 1830 40E,41NW ERV 300 100 218 1234567 010117 Prs ARM DARIA 7560 1830 1900 40E,41NW ERV 300 100 218 1234567 010117 Prs ARM DARIA 7565 1330 1400 41NE TAC 100 131 218 1234567 010117 Ben UZB BENGA 7600 1545 1600 41SE ERV 100 125 218 1234567 010117 Tam ARM TAMLA 7600 1630 1700 41SE ERV 100 125 218 1234567 010117 Sin ARM SINHA 7600 1400 1430 41N,42SW TAC 100 141 158 1234567 010117 Hin UZB HINDA 9410 0100 0200 41,42SW SNG 100 315 147 1234567 010117 Eng SNG ENASS 9510 1400 1430 41N,42SW SNG 100 320 145 1234567 010117 Hin SNG HINDA 9560 0100 0130 41N,42SW SNG 250 315 207 1234567 010117 Hin SNG HINDA 9560 0130 0200 41NE SNG 250 340 207 1234567 010117 Ben SNG BENGA 9560 0200 0230 49NW SNG 250 340 207 1234567 010117 Mya SNG BURMA 9760 1100 1130 28W WOF 100 102 618 6 291216 Eng G NHK 9760 1100 1130 28NW WOF 100 102 618 7 291216 Eng G KBS 9760 1130 1200 28W WOF 100 102 618 6 291216 Rus G NHK 9810 1700 1730 40E,41NW SNG 250 315 207 1234567 010117 Prs SNG DARIA 9810 1730 1800 40E,41NW SNG 100 315 207 1234567 010117 Pus SNG PASHA 9920 1500 1600 41NW ERV 300 100 218 1234567 010117 Urd ARM URDUA 11700 0000 0030 49NW SNG 250 340 145 1234567 301016 Mya SNG BURMA 11750 1330 1400 41NE SNG 250 330 207 1234567 211216 Ben SNG BENGA 11895 1200 1300 43E,44 SNG 100 13 207 1234567 010117 Eng SNG ENASEF 11910 1500 1600 41NW DHA 250 70 146 1234567 211216 Urd UAE URDUA 11995 1400 1430 41N,42SW SNG 250 315 147 1234567 211216 Hin SNG HINDA 12095 1400 1500 48 MDC 250 0 217 1234567 241216 Som MDG SOMLA 12095 0100 0200 41,42SW SNG 100 315 607 1234567 010117 Eng SNG ENASS 15215 1200 1230 41NE DHA 250 70 146 1234567 241216 Bod UAE FECTib 15310 0830 0900 40E,41NW SLA 250 35 146 124567 030117 Prs OMA DARIA 15310 0830 0900 40E,41NW SLA 250 35 151 3 030117 Prs OMA DARIA 15310 0900 0930 40E,41NW SLA 250 35 151 3 030117 Pus OMA PASHA 15310 0900 0930 40E,41NW SLA 250 35 146 124567 030117 Pus OMA PASHA 15310 0930 1000 40E,41NW SLA 250 35 151 3 030117 Prs OMA DARIA 15310 0930 1000 40E,41NW SLA 250 35 146 124567 030117 Prs OMA DARIA 15310 1000 1030 40E,41NW SLA 250 35 151 3 030117 Pus OMA PASHA 15310 1000 1030 40E,41NW SLA 250 35 146 124567 030117 Pus OMA PASHA 15510 1300 1330 30S,40NE DHA 250 20 206 1234567 010117 Uzb UAE UZBKA 15530 1100 1130 48 DHA 250 220 206 1234567 301016 Som UAE SOMLA 15755 0200 0230 40E,41NW SNG 100 315 547 1234567 010117 Pus SNG PASHA 15755 0230 0300 40E,41NW SNG 100 315 547 1234567 010117 Prs SNG DARIA 17640 1600 1700 52,53,57 ASC 250 114 558 1234567 311216 Eng G ENAFES 17720 0830 0900 40E,41NW DHA 250 45 146 1234567 010117 Prs UAE DARIA 17720 0900 0930 40E,41NW DHA 250 45 146 1234567 010117 Pus UAE PASHA 17720 0930 1000 40E,41NW DHA 250 45 146 1234567 010117 Prs UAE DARIA 17720 1000 1030 40E,41NW DHA 250 45 146 1234567 010117 Pus UAE PASHA 17720 1030 1100 40E,41NW DHA 250 45 146 1234567 010117 Prs UAE DARIA 17720 1100 1130 40E,41NW DHA 250 45 146 1234567 010117 Pus UAE PASHA 17745 1500 1700 48 MEY 250 32 411 7 311216 Som AFS SOMLA 17745 1400 1500 48 SLA 250 215 206 1234567 241216 Som OMA SOMLA 17780 1430 1700 46SE ASC 250 65 547 7 311216 Hau G HAUSA 17830 1600 1800 47SW,52 ASC 125 65 547 1234567 311216 Eng G ENAFWC 17830 1200 1230 37 WOF 200 170 618 1234567 291216 Fra G FRENAN 21470 1500 1700 48 ASC 125 85 216 7 311216 Som G SOMLA 21470 1400 1500 48 DHA 250 225 146 1234567 241216 Som UAE SOMLA 5985 0230 0330 40 WOF 250 90 607 1234567 010217 Fas G FARSA 6095 0230 0330 40 TAC 100 236 158 1234567 010217 Fas UZB FARSA 7230 0230 0330 40 WOF 250 86 611 1234567 010217 Fas G FARSA 7300 0230 0330 40 KCH 300 116 218 1234567 010217 Fas MDA FARSA 9540 1500 1600 40 SNG 250 315 207 1234567 010217 Fas THA FARSA 13660 1500 1600 40 WOF 250 92 216 1234567 010217 Fas G FARSA (via Wolfgang Büschel, DXLD) ** U K. Ofcom News --- BBC ROYAL CHARTER 8 DECEMBER, 2016 This sets out how we will take on our new duties over the course of the next Charter from the effective date, 3 April 2017. This is in advance of the imminent publication of the final BBC Royal Charter, which details how the BBC will operate in the new Charter period from 2017 to 2027. This will see the biggest reform of the governance and regulation of the BBC since it was founded. The Government has decided that a new BBC unitary board will govern and run the BBC, and ultimately be responsible for editorial and management decisions. Ofcom will become the new external regulator of the BBC. Our job will be to hold the BBC to account (Jan MW News via DXLD) ** U K. LORD HALL BACKS IN-DEPTH 'SLOW NEWS' AS PART OF BID TO MAKE BBC 'IRRESISTIBLE' The BBC is to take a "slow news" approach to storytelling in an attempt to offer audiences more in-depth analysis, the broadcaster's director-general Lord Hall has said. http://home.bt.com/news/uk-news/lord-hall-backs-in-depth-slow-news-as-part-of-bid-to-make-bbc-irresistible-11364135524987 Press Association Last updated: 11 January 2017, 00:20 GMT The BBC is to take a "slow news" approach to storytelling in an attempt to offer audiences more in-depth analysis, the broadcaster's director-general Lord Hall has said. In a speech to be made to staff on Wednesday, Lord Hall will challenge the organisation's news teams that it is more important than ever to help audiences "understand what's happening in the world today". Lord Hall will say: "We're up there with the best in the world at telling people what's happening right now, and being where they come to find out what's really going on. "But I want us to do much more to help our audiences understand what's happening in the world today." He is expected to announce that, alongside "fast" breaking news, the BBC will put a stronger emphasis on "slow news" - meaning a deeper focus on topics and issues impacting people. Lord Hall will also challenge the iPlayer to become the number one online television service in the UK by 2020 and will call on the BBC to "reinvent public broadcasting for a new generation". He is expected to say: "I want a BBC that is irresistible to all our audiences. "In a world of near-limitless choice, I want people to carry on choosing us. "I want us to have shown that public service broadcasting has even more to offer Britain and the world in the next century - even more than it has done in its first hundred years. That excites me. "Reinventing the BBC for a new generation is where I will be pouring all my energies. I want to ask each of you to do the same." (via Mike Cooper, DXLD) ** U S A [and non]. 5520-USB, Jan 8 at 0621, Cubana 444 flight in contact with New York Radio on Caribbean area ATC frequency. They have trouble talking over each other, as no-one likes to say ``over`` or ``cambio`` (rather, strictly English even for non-native pilots) but NY tries to inform 444 that his secondary frequency is 6586. Various selcall tones also interrupting. EiBi shows site for this is bg = Barnegat, NJ, 39N45, 74W23'30" --- that`s down the coast off the Garden State Parkway between Toms River and Tuckerton. According to flightaware.com, Cubana 444 did not take off from Habana until 0626, way late after scheduled 0240 UT departure, for a 5- kilomile, 8-hour flight to Paris, which arrived at the Orly gate at 1426 UT (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. 13565, Jan 6 at 1520, K6FRC Part 15 beacon ID repeating, vs CODAR. Notably this bitsignal from California is better than the JBA carrier from 17775 KVOH (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. 25910/FM, WQGY434, Eldorado TX (Dallas xmtr? [confirmed as such: see previous coverage in DXLD]), KLDE 104.9 FM studio relay (presumed); 1558-1604, 30-Dec; Just two brief peaks before diving under the QRN. Last heard in August, if them (Harold Frodge, Midland MI, USA, Drake R8B + 185' & 60' RW + 125' bow-tie ----- All logged by my ears, on my receiver, in real time! ----- WORLD OF RADIO 1860, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. This is VOA Radiogram in Olivia 64-2000 ... From ARRL.org FEMA REGION 10 TO CONDUCT MONTHLY INTEROPERABILITY COMMUNICATIONS EXERCISES DURING 2017 --- 01/03/2017 FEMA Region 10 (Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, and Washington) will conduct interoperability communications exercises (COMMEX) during 2017 on the third Wednesday of each month, 1500-2100 UT. The initial exercise will take place on January 18. “The intent of this COMMEX is to test and exercise interoperable communications (federal/state/local/tribal/amateur) during a major disaster, where communications infrastructure would be significantly damaged or destroyed,” FEMA Region 10 said in announcing the exercises. FEMA Region 10 will use the call sign WGY910. Others that may participate in this exercise include, but are not limited to, other FEMA stations, SHARES stations, and Air Force and Army MARS stations. All stations are encouraged to participate. The COMMEX will use the five 60-meter channels: 5330.5 kHz, 5346.5 kHz, 5357.0 kHz, 5371.5 kHz, and 5403.5 kHz. The area of operation is the Continental US. bit.ly/2iUU8qk (VOA Radiogram Jan 7 via roger, via WORLD OF RADIO 1860, DXLD) ** U S A. VOA CELEBRATES 75 YEARS ON 1 FEBRUARY 2017 Dear Friends, The Voice of America celebrates its 75th anniversary on February 1, 2017. In honor of this momentous occasion, we are taking you on a journey around the U.S. to showcase vibrant and exciting celebrations that take place in various diaspora communities every year. From Persian New Year celebrations in Los Angeles to the West Indian American Day Parade in New York City, to Carnival in Puerto Rico, these celebrations highlight the multicultural diversity that makes the United States what it is today. For example, did you know that the Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington, D.C. all started with a gift of cherry trees from the mayor of Tokyo more than 100 years ago? Voice of America’s audience growth has been exponential [sic]. In fact, our 2016 numbers were the highest to date. We now reach a record number of 236.6 million people weekly around the globe through various platforms – television, radio, and the web. Every year more people get their news and information from digital platforms, so we placed a greater emphasis on social media this year, and our numbers skyrocketed. VOA sites now enjoy nearly seven million hits weekly from people around the world. See full article here: https://docs.voanews.eu/en-US-INSIDE/2017/01/03/561d9621-e45c-4ef5-93c2-b49f658c826c.pdf Posted by: (Mike Terry, dxldyg via DXLD) This article is actually a page from a colourful 2017 VOA calendar. Download the article PDF file and you have the calendar. Will there be a special VOA QSL card to celebrate the 75 years? Kim? (-- Richard Langley, NB, ibid.) ** U S A [and non]. WORLD OF RADIO 1859 monitoring: confirmed UT Fri Jan 6 at 0030 on WBCQ 9329.894v-CUSB, just barely audible but at least we know it`s on tonight. The frequency is varying slightly as I try to measure it. Maybe reception is better elsewhere: I had a report from a listener in California. Next: 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 Also check WRMI airings, especially 9955, for possible // on 6855. Also allegedly at random times on WBCQ 5130v-AM during Radio Jennifer service expanded hours, altho not noted lately. Updated full WOR sked: http://www.worldofradio.com/radioskd.html WORLD OF RADIO 1859 monitoring: confirmed Sat Jan 7 at 2332 on WBCQ 9330v-CUSB, when signal surged up after JBA carrier from 2330. Next: 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 WORLD OF RADIO 1859 monitoring: confirmed UT Monday January 9 from 0402 on Area 51 webcast and presumably WBCQ 5129.82; also confirmed UT Mon Jan 9 at 0430 on RMI webcast, and presumably WRMI 9955. Next: 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) Glenn. I can verify WOR on 9330 this evening. Poor signal with some noise. For most of the show signal bounced from S3 to S5 and back. Several deep fades down to S1. I was able to copy ninety-five percent of the program. I normally listen to WOR on 5130 UT Mondays. Have lost 5130 at approximately 0140 to 0145 on the weekends for the last four weeks. Have not heard AWWW for four weeks either. Lose 7490 between 0000 and 0030 the last four weeks. Switching to 5130, lose AWWW between 0010 and 0020. Very frustrating (John Carver, Mid-North Indiana, 0115 UT Tue Jan 10, DX LISTENING DIGEST) WORLD OF RADIO 1859 monitoring: confirmed UT Tue Jan 10 at 0030 on WBCQ 9330v+CUSB, very poor. Also same time on WRMI 7730, very good. Confirmed Tue Jan 10 at 2130 on WRMI 15770, fair S9+10. Confirmed Tue Jan 10 at 2300 on WRMI 9955, fair with lite jamming (but not // now on 6855, other programming). Not confirmed UT Wed Jan 11 at 0030 on WBCQ 9330, no signal (but propagation is really poor with 9265 WINB JBA carrier, even 9395 WRMI JBA carrier, and no 9955, and 6855 VP carrier). Also confirmed Wed Jan 11 at 1415.5 on WRMI 9955 with poor signal, and now // 6855 very poor. Also confirmed Wed Jan 11 at 2200 on WBCQ 7490, fair. WORLD OF RADIO 1860 ready for first airings January 12: Thu 1230 WRMI 9955 to SSE, 6855 to WNW Thu 2130 WRMI 11580 to NE Fri 0030 WBCQ 9330v-CUSB Sat 0030 WBCQ 9330v-CUSB 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, 6855 to WNW Wed 1030 WRMI 5850 to NW 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, 6855 to WNW Wed 2200 WBCQ 7490v to WSW Thu 0030 WBCQ 9330v-CUSB to WSW WORLD OF RADIO 1859 monitoring: confirmed UT Thursday January 12 at 0030 on WBCQ 9330v-CUSB, poor. WORLD OF RADIO 1860 monitoring: confirmed first SW airing, Thursday January 12 at 1230 on WRMI 9955, very poor S2, and yes, now on // 6855, which is S9! But by 1255 recheck the reception is reversed, 6855 faded down to S4-S6, and 9955 up to S9 to +10 (and no jamming). Seeking Okeechobee sunrise at gaisma.com, not among the scores of Florida towns included, nor any close ones around the Lake, but the nearest I can find is Yeehaw Junxion, just north of Okeechobee, when the sunrise today was 1216 UT, so within half an hour, 6 MHz was dropping out and 9 MHz building up. However, busy with other things, I miss checking the Thu 2130 on 11580, and the UT Fri 0030 on 9330. If anyone can confirm hearing either, or hearing the frequency but not the program, please let me know. Next: Sat 0030 WBCQ 9330v-CUSB 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, 6855 to WNW Wed 1030 WRMI 5850 to NW 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, 6855 to WNW Wed 2200 WBCQ 7490v to WSW Thu 0030 WBCQ 9330v-CUSB to WSW (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. 9955. WRMI. Enero 2 [Mon]. 0230- UT. Repetición del programa especial del DSWCI, con audios de entrevistas, además de nombrar a `Radio Enlaces` de ``Radio Nederland``, además de varias emisoras latinoamericanas y luego avisos de la asociación y luego habla una persona con un acento sin identificar, luego nombran a Francia, prosiguiendo con entrevistas y nombres de otros clubes diexistas, a las 0256 se dan los datos de donde mandar el informe de recepción. SINPO: 55555 (Claudio Galaz, RX: TECSUN PL-660, ANT: Hilo de 40 metros, QTH: Ovalle, IV Región, Chile, condiglista yg via DXLD) 11580, WRMI at 2332 with a special program on the closing down of the DSWCI (Danish Shortwave Club International) about the club closing down after 60 years in operation with recorded comments from many club members and shortwave media personalities. Very Good Jan 7 [Sat]. Anker Peterson has archived the club info here at their website (Mark Coady, Selwyn, Ontario, Drake SPR4 Receiver, Drake TR7, Kenwood TS440S, and YouKits TJ5A Transceivers, AEA AT-300 and MFJ-941E Manual Tuners, LDG Z-100 Plus Auto Tuner, 40 meter and 80 meter off centre- fed dipoles, ODXA yg via DXLD) Extra airings of special which was supposed to be only in early December. Had it been repeating every week at those times? (gh, DXLD) 6855, Jan 5 at 2255, WRMI in Spanish about Cuba, turns out to be // 9955 during R. Libertad prepeat hour; no jamming yet on 6855, but there sure will be once the DentroCuban Jamming Command catches on (or Arnie reads this). At 2302, now it`s `La Rosa de Tokio`, as also scheduled now on 9955 Thursdays, historical media program playing clip of Radio Atlántico del Sur, 9710, British clandestine during the Falklands war, as that is this week`s topic, an episode they keep repeating over and over, altho the anniversary isn`t until our spring/their fall. LRT still refuses to concede the Malvinas to Britain. Until now, I think, WRMI has not put any Cuban exile programming on any frequency but 9955, thus protecting all the others from jamming. (I had suggested to Jeff at the outset that all jammable programming, only, be put on some new frequency instead of 9955, thus freeing it from overrun jamming.) Anyhow, 6855, which had been all-BS-all-the-time for 24/7, for 2017y has been converted to a variety of other programming, some of it // 9955, some of it not, but it has the same color coding on the grid as 9955. 9955, however, is shown with TOM during daytime and overnight hours, unlike 6855. Supposedly on a 285-degree antenna now, 6855 remains quite weak here, especially in daytime, so hard to tell what`s on it, and no program schedule for it has yet been published! So, much more monitoring of it is required. 285 is the same bearing to the WNW as on 7730, which has a *much* stronger signal. Note that WORLD OF RADIO and other DX programs on 9955, could well be showing up on // 6855, but can`t be sure unless confirmed by monitoring, or a true-new 6855 program schedule be provided. 6855, at 0229 UT Friday January 6 is playing `Sandunga` as brief fill during a break, not // 9955, and then the latter is running `Blues Radio International` as scheduled UT Fridays 0230, and has quite a good signal until fadedown/out around 0250. 6855 is too weak to tell what else is on it now, but could be R. Prague as on 11580 which is hardly propagating this late. 6855, at 0300 January 6 is starting Radio Taiwán Internacional, Spanish relay, which had been scheduled only on 5985 during this hour, and indeed can be detected //, both JBA. 6855, Fri Jan 6 at 1452, `Viva Miami` // 9955. It`s the same old episode which has been running for more than a month, the second part interviewing somewoman about promoting El Salvador tourism, the first part having been about the Everglades. At 1505, when 9955 has gone to BS, 6855 is playing some music, unseems familiar `World Music`. 5850 // 7730, Fri Jan 6 at 0658, WRMI with `World Music`, both former TOM frequencies, but I had long noted them // with WM or other programming after 0700. Now the skedgrid finally shows them // at 06- 08, but the 06-07 part all blank except for Fri 0600-0630 `Sounding the Alarm`. Following at 07 UT Fri it claims `Media Network Plus` which I should have stayed tuned to confirm, as it had been a no-show the past weeks (but PCJ programming was appearing 24 hours earlier on UT Thursdays 07-08). 6855, further WRMI monitoring obs, lacking any published schedule: 6855, Fri Jan 6 at 2114, World Music // 9955, presumably for the full hour. (I previously found Radio Libertad on both after 2200.) 6855, UT Sat Jan 7 at 0214, ID amid R. Ukraine International in English, S9+10 here, and maybe still // inaudible 11580 where originally scheduled. 0229 fragment of Bob Zanotti ID cut off for 0230 R. Prague English relay, ditto. (7730 BS, allegedly on same 285-degree azimuth as 6855, is much stronger at S9+30) 6855, UT Sat Jan 7 at 0311, R. Taiwán Internacional ID in Spanish, address info, S9+25 now here, while // 5985 is only S9+20 (meanwhile, 9955 is S6 of jamming atop what`s left of WRMI). 6855, UT Sat Jan 7 at 0402, Spanish news all about the Ft Lauderdale airport shootings, finally some current Florida news from WRMI --- but via NHK Radio Japón, // 5985 (Glenn Hauser, OK, WORLD OF RADIO 1860, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 11825, Jan 7 at 2124, this WRMIBS frequency is still/again off the air as already noted 6+ hours earlier. It`s not one of the daytime frequencies deleted from the skedgrid, still shown as XMTR 8, from 1315 until 2400 at 355 degrees; while nighttime counterpart 5765 is delisted and unheard. 6855, Sat Jan 7 at 1401, WRMI is starting a gospel huxter, and // 9955. Seems reliably at this hour to be duplicating 9955; therefore I am expecting the Wed 1415.5 broadcast of WORLD OF RADIO also be added on 6855. May also apply to the Tue 1200 and Thu 1230; but not the Mon 0430 WOR airings, when 6855 has been // 5985. Altho November 6 remains the effective date displayed on the WRMI 9955 skedgrid, changes keep appearing here and there. Now I notice there is a show called ``Bajo el sol de Miami`, Sat 2330-2400 [and probably also on 6855 now], which seems like it could be interesting, but of course there is nothing about it on the programming page where many others are explained, yet many more are still absent: http://wrmi.net/index.php/programming/ Unfortunately, on Jan 7, I had just tuned out at 2328. 6855, Jan 8 at 2325, Spanish music // 9955 from WRMI. Scheduled for Sunday 2230-2330 is `Foro Revolucionario` a weekly clandestine deserving of jamming which is applied only to 9955 so far. Alternatively spelt ``Forum Revolucionario Democrático Cubano`` on the WRMI Schedule page, with no further info except contact only via WRMI`s own P O Box in Miami. During the hour do the speakers ever give their real names, or any names? By 2337 it`s AWR Wavescan as scheduled on 9955, still jammed, while // 6855 is clear, as Jeff reads a script about Carib MW history, such as PWX Habana and WKAQ San Juan. 15770, Jan 8 at 2330, WRMIBS is still on and JB audible at S5-S6 with TOM // 7570; instead of switching to night frequency 7780 at 2200 as the skedgrid still claims. They could run 15770 all night and no one would hear it. 7780, Jan 10 at 0030, after many weeks, WRMI is finally reactivated on this frequency, poor with BS, and nothing but BS all-night, presumably, still at 0737 check when it`s much weaker than // 7570 and non-// 7730 with `World Music`. 7780 still active Jan 11 at 0555 with BS // 7570. 6855 // 5850 // 7730, Tue Jan 10 at 0744, all three WRMIs playing ``Zorba the Greek``, part of the `World Music`` rotation. Likewise all three // with `World Music` at 0714 Wed Jan 11. Skedgrid shows 0600- 0800 on 5850 & 7730 with blanks for most of 06-07, variety 07-08 (and 5850 with another two hours of unknown System D content at 08-10, while 6855 is System D at 06-07; but 6855 as System B at 05-07 & 08- 10, i.e. like 9955, but is it BS or not, any more, at those hours??) 9955, Jan 10 at 2100, WRMI with TOM // 11825. For some weeks the 21-22 hour on 9955 had instead been filled with `World Music`. What`s on 6855 now? Too weak JBA carrier to tell. 11580, Tue Jan 10 at 2130, WRMI with `Frecuencia al Día`, one of its multiple airings, this one ex-13695 (while WOR is still on 15770). 6855, Tue Jan 10 at 2300, WRMI now with the AWR Spanish program from and to Cuba, originally on // 5950 only. Meanwhile, WOR is on 9955. 6855, Wed Jan 11 at 1207, DX program in Spanish about RNE, // weaker 9955, where Antena DX is scheduled. So I am confident 6855 will also be // 9955 during the World of Radio broadcasts Thu at 1230 & Tue at 1200. 11580, Wed Jan 11 at 2014 tune-in, `WNYW` style WRMI ID plays, 2015 music presumably `World Music`. The sked grid shows for 20-21 UT, only on Wed a blank hour, but something else must have run from 2000 to 2014, like `Viva Miami`, for a quarter-hour ID to fire. Skedgrid now shows 11580 with System D additionally at 2200-2400, but no details yet. That means non-BS variety of programming. Wed Jan 11 at 2200 it sounded like one of those European relays in English, this hour also // 6855. As of Jan 12, the WRMI transmission grid (but not the program grid) confirms much of our 6855 monitoring observations (Glenn Hauser, OK, WORLD OF RADIO 1860, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. (7490), UT Fri Jan 6 at 0030, `Broad Spectrum Radio` on WBCQ, reception so poor that I switch to the webcast. This week`s topic per advance publicity: ``Redtown Radio with Brenda Golden --- In this episode, recorded on Nov. 22, 2016, Brenda looks at institutionalized racism, through stereotypes in popular culture, sports, mass communications and other efforts to dehumanize and discriminate against Native Americans.`` Unfortunately, she is cut off just before 0100 for WBCQ ID, and into `Voice of the Report of the Week` as scheduled. On webcast, and no doubt the same happened on 7490. Got to keep your programs to under 29 minutes (or 29:54 if you dare). The automation is merciless. (7490), UT Sat Jan 7 after 0100, WBCQ webcast since 7490 is hardly audible, for `Allan [spelt] Weiner Worldwide`. Mentions the full name of the former WBCQ guy that died before yearend, Michael Shiteman, which I can only guess to spell fonetikaly. Soon a call from some guy in NC who says summers are cooler than before and it`s very cold now, so climate change is nonsense --- hey, you`re missing the big picture about rising ocean temps overall, seriously disrupting the food chain, killing coral reefs, etc., etc., etc. 9329.964v-CUSB, UT Sunday January 8 at 0055, WBCQ with DJ ``rockin` `n` rollin```, 0058 outro exactly the same playback I heard exactly one week ago, with Mike Shiteman (sp?) filling in for `Allan Weiner Worldwide` when he was on the road at least a sesquidecade ago. A 1- hour AWWW repeat is scheduled UT Sundays 00-01 on 9330. This was in tribute to Mike who recently died. I still can`t find anything about Mike on the WBCQ website, guessing at alternative spellings of his surname. Two WBCQ ID jingles before 0100 and into Blalock the Blaster, who always seems to be JIP rather than even introducing his program, officially called `Full Gospel Hour`. 7490.03-AM, Jan 8 at 0100, other WBCQ measured here, presumably starting Mitch & Kathy show. 5129.81-AM, Jan 8 at 0100, other other WBCQ measured here, `Radio Timtron Worldwide`, at midpoint of his bihour. Next check at 0616 Jan 8, open carrier at S6 on 5129.82, when Radio Jennifer expansion might have been airing, perhaps earlier (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) WBCQ: Ramsey told me about Michael dying. I'd have to dig out my copy of Access to the Airwaves to find the correct spelling of his last name. He helped Allan with the high school pirate stations and is famous for sleeping through the FCC raid that was going on around him. I heard the episode of AWWW that he hosted when it was originally broadcast. Sorry I didn't write sooner but I've been fighting my shitty internet, snow and ice and a cranky kerosene heater. Weather is breaking tomorrow for a few days after snow this evening and freezing rain overnight (John Carver, Mid-North Indiana, 0115 UT Tue Jan 10, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. 9275, Jan 6 at 2121, no signal from WMLK, unknown if on earlier today Friday, but nominally stops at 2100? [or 2200] Meanwhile, neighbor in more ways than one, 9265 WINB is well audible. Keep checking in case the other YHWH show up on 9275 after hours. Bob Lazar reported Dec 28: ``I heard the Yahweh pirate on 9275 at 2050- 2200 UT. Decent S9 signal with severe fading and down to BA at the end``. I replied that it must have been WMLK, but not so sure now. 9275+, Jan 9 at 1924, WMLK is on with DEJOM. Also Jan 10 at 2120, DEJOM at S9+10, obviously off-frequency+plus, making het with BFO on 1 kHz step tuning, so I downpin it to 9275.048. Seems nominal sked is until 2200 but sometimes off earlier. Also heard on 9275+ Jan 11 at 2013, fair signal but undermodulated DEJOM = deceased Elder Jacob O Meyer, WMLK founder, and hardly any non-deceased voice is ever broadcast (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. 5085, Jan 7 at 0327, at S9+50, ``Devil/Georgia`` by Charlie Daniels Band, 0328 on to Alabama, as announced by Ted, disrespecting the music by talking over it (I know, all the ``pro`` DJs do it to show off, except never vs classical). I knew WTWW-2 would be on, as tuning up from 5025, 5040 Cuba, I first encountered the telltale spur parasites around 5059, 5072. 9930, Sat Jan 7 at 1901 check, no signal from WTWW-2, so no `Theater Organ of the Ozarx` this week. Other WTWWs 9475 and 12105 are loud. 9930 is still off at 2103 recheck. 5085, Jan 8 at 0105, WTWW-2 is still off, as it was from 9930 all afternoon Jan 7. By 0615, however, it is on now with a song mentioning Mad Magazine, wild laughter, modulation distorted (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 5085, weak signal here in NB at 0235 UT or so. not too surprising as I am way off the beam. Tuned in to check on Bob Heil's program but too weak to make much out but songs were being played. So the organ music is just for the first half hour as previously noted (Richard Langley, 0314 UT Jan 8, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ``The beam`` is 180 degrees, due south per HFCC registrations. Yet due west of it here, off the side, it is blasting in whenever on, plus the four parasitic spurs. The nominal beam clearly doesn`t mean much, with its #902 rhombic antenna (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Well, you are only two states over from Tennessee, Glenn. NB is much farther away and more to the NW nor NNW -- almost the backside. Would be interesting to see the actually antenna pattern. Anyway, there is a HUGE difference in typical signal strength from a supposedly 100 kW transmitter compared to WRMI when they use their 44 beam antennas, which point right at us. But, I'll admit that on this evening perhaps it was just ionospheric conditions. I'll keep monitoring (-- Richard Langley, NB, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Richard, You mean NE or NNE from TN to you. Yes, being at closer ``ideal`` one-hop distance is also important. Typical patterns of rhombics I have seen show very big side/off lobes rather than one big lobe in the official azimuth. You could still happen to be near a null of those, while I am not. There is also vertical takeoff angle to be considered whether close-in is favored or not (Glenn Hauser, ibid.) [Rhombics: which is why stations inland like WTWW, WWCR and WWRB favor those for broader coverage rather than tight beams --- gh] Thanks for the correction, Glenn. Being a professor in a geomatics engineering department, you'd think I'd get that right. ;-) Guess I had "west" on the brain after thinking of your location. I went back and checked my logs for WTWW and right here I had reported good reception on 5085 kHz for a broadcast back in November. So, perhaps just a propagation thing. Perhaps the effective ionospheric height was lower when I was listening last week and the one-hop distance was therefore shorter. Anyway, I won't give up on listening to Bob Heil's program and perhaps I'll tune in again this Saturday evening (-- Richard Langley, ibid.) ** U S A [and non]. 7385, Jan 7 at 0341, WHRI gospel huxter with squealing modulator cards, in dire need of replacement. S9+25 here, also QRMing MWV La Voz Alegre on 7390 which otherwise would have a clear S9 signal in Spanish. See also SUDAN SOUTH [non] (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. 5810, Jan 7 at 0811, Spanish WEWN is off! Had been on as usual earlier in evening. I wonder if they always rest now in the nightmiddle when audience is minimal? I am normally fast asleep by this hour. Not propagational, as other US stations on 5830, 5850, 5890 are inbooming (which is not always the case as MUF plummets). 12010 & 12090 approx., Jan 7 at 1908, buzzy spurs with no specific carriers from the 12050 WEWN Spanish transmitter which itself has horrible buzz on it. Modulation peaks on the spurs match (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. 4840, Mon Jan 9 at 0654 and still at 0706, dead air from WWCR. Exactly the same thing happened exactly two weeks ago, Dec 19 at 0645 check, the listed program being `Inspirations Across America`. Others due a refund are at 0700 `Joni & Friends`, 0705 `Real Radio`. Apparently the automation is misprogrammed and there is no one in Nashville to notice. See if the DA re-repeat UT Mon Jan 16 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. I've enjoyed the discussion of 50 kW KKOB-770, Albuquerque and its 230 watt synchronous "booster" companion station in Santa Fe. I decided to do a study of this operation to see what gives. Santa Fe is northeast of Albuquerque at a distance of 80 kilometers (50 miles), at a vector of 48 degrees. Of a curious side note, the KKOB Albuquerque site sits in nice ground conductivity of 15 mS/m. Santa Fe and north/northeast sit in a rather poor ground conductivity area of 4.0 and 2.0 mS/m. Ignoring the 230 watt nighttime skywave signal component of the synchronous station at Santa Fe, three signals exist in the Santa Fe local area at night: 1. The 50 KW KKOB groundwave signal of the Albuquerque transmitter. 2. The 50 KW KKOB skywave signal of the Albuquerque transmitter. 3. The 230 watt groundwave signal of the KKOB Santa Fe synchronous transmitter. Note the Signal/Distance graph of the 50 kW Albuquerque transmitter. The Santa Fe distance (80 km) and azimuth (48 degrees) is shown at the left arrow. The skywave reception level at 50% and the groundwave reception level coincide at 0.9 millivolts per meter, receivable at moderate (but not local) strength at Santa Fe on a small portable. The potential problem, as I see it, is severe phase distortion since the signal levels are about the same level at night. The inset on the same graph shows the small lobe directed at high angle at Santa Fe by the Albuquerque transmitter. The 230 watt groundwave signal of the synchronous outlet at Santa Fe blankets the Santa Fe area with at least 2.5 millivolts per meter (greater right in Santa Fe), resulting in good local reception, and having the potential to overcome Albuquerque's phase distortion problems at night at this distance. Anyway, that would be my take on it. http://sj.uploads.im/t/gDkbE.png http://sm.uploads.im/t/feopX.png [later:] Let me see it I can post a better (larger) image. I don't see where I can edit the original post. http://uploads.im/gDkbE.png http://uploads.im/feopX.png Bill RADIO-TIMETRAVELLER http://radio-timetraveller.blogspot.com RADIO-TIMETRAVELLER is a blog about radio and radio DXing, antennas, opinions, reviews - basically all things concerning radio. My particular emphasis is medi... (ABDX via DXLD) Interesting, except Bill appears to have ignored the fact that the KKOB night pattern has a deep null from 40 to 110 degrees, minimum at 67.5 degrees, to protect WABC! https://transition.fcc.gov/Bureaus/MB/Databases/AM_DA_patterns/84381-2608.pdf https://transition.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/amq?list=0&hpat=2&facid=11251 Also, it`s not strange that main KKOB has good ground conductivity since it was by no accident located in the north valley of the Rio Grande not far from the river itself (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. Re: ``To answer Todd`s question about anyone hearing KKOB 770 Santa Fe, recently in my reports and DXLD: 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`` RIP DX Tests --- Sorry, DXers of the world, but it's high time that DX tests be done away with --- Back in the day, some unscrupulous participants in the hobby made it a practice of waiting about 2-3 weeks after tests were conducted, looking through the pages of DX News, DX Monitor, and other print publications, jotting down the details of what OTHERS were hearing, then sending their own faux reports based from those details off to the testing stations. Very often, engineers would happily mail back QSLs to the offenders, totally unaware of what was going on. Fortunately, a select few DID get wise to the shenanigans being perpetrated and then began conducting tests with the caveat that reports had to be mailed within a scant few days (say, within a week or so) after the test, or they would simply not reply to the report. This was, in effect, to curtail the cheating. But with the progress of technology comes a downside. Through reflectors such as these, along with message boards, DX chatrooms (WHEN they work), and other means of instant communication, the cheaters are once again seeing the information that others are posting without making their OWN efforts to hear the stations. DX tests were fun while they lasted, but, IMHO, they need to be put down. 73, (Rick Dau, South Omaha, Nebraska, NRC-AM via DXLD) Rick, I get your point, but that only matters if you gotta get QSLs. A test without even offering QSLs would allow one to KNOW whether oneself heard the station, sufficient. 73, (Glenn Hauser, ABDX via DXLD) Rick, I’ve got a tremendous amount of respect for you, and your considerable accomplishments within this hobby. But I could not disagree more. During my brief tenure as the CPC Chairman, I’d say about 80% of all loggings submitted to me contained electronic recordings of the actual loggings, along with detailed descriptions. And more than a few reported “no copy” as the result. If you look back at reports of DX test on this reflector and others, you’ll see a large number of reports where DX’ers fail to hear the targeted station. The only notable exception was one DX’er in California who literally claimed to hear every test, regardless of power and location—on a Sony portable radio. After speaking with him a few times by phone, I realized that he had some challenges with mental health—and accepted that. Most DX’ers are completely honest, and realize that “cheating” on a hobby like this cheats only yourself. Besides, I love DX tests! Wish we had a ton more of them. YMMV. And I still admire and respect you, sir. 73, (Les Rayburn, N1LF, Maylene, AL EM63nf, Member WTFDA, IRCA, NRC. Former CPC Chairman for NRC & IRCA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) The larger issues contributing to fewer / no DX Tests have to do with the industry itself. The industry isn't as it once was. There's less staff, more work, no interest on the part of stations today. Stations on the edge financially simply can't be interested as it does nothing for them, and many fit into that category. The FCC and some industry bigwigs have spent decades de-emphasizing anything but local reception, in terms of regulations but also increasing the numbers of stations on at any given time. The items Rick mentioned are part. So are the DX'ers who start badgering the station within a week after the test about verifications. The world has changed, and the DX hobby isn't immune (Russ Edmunds, 15 mi NW Phila, IRCA via DXLD) Rick, Anytime people could always cheat. There were reports from back in the 50s with faux reports. I like sending a cassette, reel to reel tape, or now CD of what I heard so the CE could tell the reception quality as well as it being accurate. But to give up totally on DX tests because of of a faux report or two, it ruins it for the rest of us. I love catching the rare stations that could never be heard without a test. One issue we are having is the reluctance of station personnel to reply to any reports now. Even e mail replies are hard to obtain. Even though I get fewer QSLs these days, I still go after them. But DX Tests should still be viable in our hobby. We do not get many these days as stations do not sign off like they did. I still look forward to them when we get them (Patrick Martin, NRC-AM via DXLD) I no longer have an full time operating AM station at my direct disposal 24/7 or y'all know I'd do a DX test. Being in the DX Hobby long enough, I can tell when a report is real, even if no audio clip is included. I did have a DX'er send me a reception report for KIYU- 910 from Belgium or Sweden or something. Reporting 4's across the board, when it wasn`t even on!! (Paul Walker, Galena AK, ibid.) One approach that has been successful in the past is to have the CPC offer to handle all verification and QSL duties on behalf of the station. This proved to be very successful in obtaining DX tests simply because it removed the burden from the station. We further would take the lead on producing test materials (CW Morse Code ID’s, sweep tones, phonetic voice identifications, etc.) and providing that as an MP3 file, or on a CD. At the end of the test, the CPC would verify reception reports and send out QSL’s. The station personnel received a detailed report showing all receptions (often plotted on a map using Google Earth). The CPC Chairman is often more familiar with DXing, and better able to judge any questionable reception. This approach allowed us to obtain DX Tests for a number of smaller stations, with limited resources. Another tactic we employed as to produce :60 long “Test Material” that could be run by a station during the overnight hours at the TOH as their ID. No change in transmitter power, pattern, etc., just distinctive test material that could cut through clutter. All that was required was for the station to insert the material into their inventory. These often ran for weeks at a time during the overnight hours. These too resulted in a lot of “new ones” going into the logs. I’m sure there are other innovative approaches that could be successful as well. The key is to acknowledge that times change. We have to change our tactics as hobbyists if we want to remain successful. 73, (Les Rayburn, N1LF, Maylene, AL, ibid.) Les, I do like that idea. We have done that in the past with great results. My only question, if we did that on all DX Tests, are the QSL's the CPC puts out considered legit? I have always wondered about that. I do know that the hams have had QSL Bureaus for years. There doesn't seem to be any issue with them. Too bad there isn't a DXer in most markets that could take over the duties of all QSLing AM or FM. That would sure change things a lot. But we do not have the resources for that (Patrick Martin, Seaside OR, NRC-AM via DXLD) Patrick, Always good to hear your sage input with these types of discussions, my friend. These concerns were raised almost a decade ago when we first started the process. Our response then was simple — if the station owner, chief engineer, or other person of authority authorizes the CPC Chairman to act as their “QSL Manager” then those QSL’s carry the full weight and authority of the station. As you point out, this process is common in amateur radio circles. And several DX’ers have acted as QSL Managers for individual stations for years. Given that the CPC Chairman often is a more reliable judge of valid reception than even a Chief Engineer might be (given their knowledge of distant reception) then I personally find these types of QSL’s to be very valid. As others have expressed. Ultimately, someone who cheats at a hobby activity, with no reward other than recognition of peers, then they cheat only themselves. 73, (Les Rayburn, N1LF, Maylene, AL, ibid.) I think you may be referring to QSL Managers. QSL Bureaus are simply an alternate means of delivering QSLs. Those QSLs are prepared by the hams themselves, in exactly the same manner as cards mailed directly to the receiving amateur. QSL Managers, on the other hand, are indeed appointed by an amateur to issue QSLs on his behalf. The procedure is fully accepted. Some managers handle QSLs for many different DX amateurs and their integrity is well recognized. (I think the CPC is an analogous situation.) The level of scrutiny depends on the rarity of the DX claimed. (Nobody would bother to forge a German QSL, it's way too easy to get a legitimate one. In much the same way nobody would bother to forge a verification from WBBM. Verifications from Iran, or KIYU, would see a much closer look!) It's not like there are $100,000 prizes awaiting the most successful ham, or the most successful BCB DXer. The consequences of cheating fall almost entirely on the cheater. He may claim bragging rights but he knows in his heart they're not legit. Cheaters frequently get sloppy, overreach. Once that happens, they get caught -- and their reputation is toast. In a pursuit without tangible prizes, one's reputation is the *only* thing one has. I'm not worried about it. == (Doug Smith W9WI, Pleasant View, TN EM66, NRC-AM via DXLD) Yes, Doug, that is what I was referring to. As I have been the QSL Manager for 1680 Fresno for several years now. So far, all but one report was legit. That one I never replied to and it came from overseas. There was one very well known DXer that his reports were not good. Basically they said "I heard your station. There was news, followed by an ID. Please verify." KSWB Seaside got one and my partner Bob who replied to QSL requests, as News Director of the station, brought the report home. He asked for my opinion. I told him not to reply. He didn't. The DXer in question complained later that KSWB never replied. Hearing KIYU 910 when they were on, would be quite a feat, from other than Northern Europe or AK. I have a lot of Alaskans, and some rare ones, but never heard that one. Even with a beverage pretty much aimed that way for years. IRAN probably would be easier. At least the stations are on splits. Hi. Never heard Iran, but some others in that part of the World. I have never heard of someone forging a QSL, but it would not surprise me. Sending false reports have probably been going on since DXing started. Like you said, there is no real money in QSLing, so your comment on bragging rights, would all there would be. But getting back to a QSL Manager. That may be more difficult to do as there are so many AM and FM stations and who would be willing to answer all the reports from let`s say NY or LA. The work involved to checking with the stations would be something else. I do feel that QSLing is on its way out as avid QSLer that I have been over 50 years, they are getting so much harder to get, even an e mail QSL. But I keep trying anyway. I may go more towards e mail reports rather than snail mail, as it is much less expensive and easier to do. But the attachment can be tricky for me to add. It would be nice to have a QSL manager in most cities, but I doubt that would ever happen. I have been the QSL Manager for 1680 Fresno, as the CE asked me if I would be willing to do it. I wish there were more (Patrick Martin, Seaside OR, KGED QSL Manager, IRCA via DXLD) Les, You are so right there. But with us DXers dying out and few young people to take over, I doubt another 20 years there will not be any left. Maybe in ham or SWBC circles. But even SWBC is dying out as so many stations only stream now or on FM. I am so happy I got started in the 60s. With over 3600 MW, SW, FM, TV, etc. QSLs, it has been a lot of fun. I will still continue to QSL, but unfortunately getting that reply is hard now. Take care my friend (Patrick Martin, ibid.) DX tests were once the best think a BCB Dxer could look forward to (along with regular monthly frequency checks by stations). I, and many others in our club were aware of a certain individual who was cheating on DX tests and doing so in a very brash manner. We made it known that these activities were not acceptable and even communicated the problem with station personnel. I believe that the vast majority of folks in our hobby are decent and honest folks and it would be a shame to completely do away with such a tradition due to one or two bad apples (Mike Sanburn, IRCA via DXLD) On the subject of DX tests, has anyone received a verification via any means from the WBOB 600 Jacksonville, FL test that ran about a year ago now? I reported within 24 hours of the test with obvious identification material in the mp3 file and still have not received anything in mail or email (Mark Connelly, WA1ION, South Yarmouth, MA, IRCA via DXLD) I also reported WBOB within 24 hours and never received a QSL. Anymore I only send for QSLs on DX Tests as the returns had gotten so poor. (Russ Edmunds, WB2BJH, Blue Bell, PA, Grid FN20id, ibid.) I don't think I got one from them either (Ira Elbert New III, GA?, Sent from my iPhone, ibid.) Nope, I have never got a QSL out of WBOB either. I have not sent a f/up, but I did sent an e mail report as well as a snail mail with a CD, just in case the attachment did not work. But nothing. I will be surprised if we get a QSL at this rate. Who knows if the same CE is even there now (Patrick Martin, ibid.) Marc, Russ, and others: I, too, have yet to receive a QSL from WBOB for their DX Test last year. Brandon Jordan, who was our CPC Chairman at the time, contacted the engineer once or twice after I inquired about whether he knew what the status of the verifications was, but to no avail. I haven't heard very many stations from Florida in northern Vermont, so I was really hoping to receive their verie. I have to agree with Les that having the CPC Committee or a QSL Manager handle the veries usually produces the best results (Steve Howe, Saint Albans, VT and Albany, NY, IRCA via DXLD) I have to receive one either, even though the person that put it on replied within a few days to my e-mailed report saying it was accurate and I receive one with in a few weeks (Larry K8YYY Shinnston, WV, ibid.) I'm commenting on this late. Many DXers will try to hear a DX test but most DXers today don't collect QSLs. So hearing a DX test is still a thrill for many without the QSL. It's just the change in the broadcasting industry, no more requirement for a Proof of Performance test. Most station are on 24 hours now so they have to interrupt programming for a test. Frequency checks went away too. I wasn't active in the hobby when that happened but suspect another requirement was dismissed during the deregulation of radio. I've received email veries from a couple CEs that mentioned they moved the antenna or were working on their ground systems. I mentioned the hobby would be interested if any testing was done. The CEs seem too busy with their workload. Wish it was easier to schedule DX tests. Don't kill DX Tests but I can't see them being a big part of the hobby anymore (Martin Foltz, CA, ibid.) Unfortunately I doubt BCB QSL Management is going anywhere except with a very limited number of stations. Proper verification IMHO requires access to the program logs or recordings, which requires station personnel search those logs. Most don't have the time. Having a DXer volunteer to write out & mail the cards helps but that DXer still needs station cooperation to know whether a given report is accurate. (It would be interesting to do a whole-band SDR recording in the local area of a common DX target - one could then roll back the recording & see if it matches a DX claim. Not really practical, if for no other reason than it's unlikely there's a sufficiently-dedicated DXer living close enough to most targets. But hams have begun doing this during major competitions.) DX reports have of course ceased to have any real value for stations. I wouldn't doubt in some cases, the person who sees your report doesn't even know there is an AM station in their cluster (especially if it's relayed on an FM translator). Email reporting is easier for the stations too (unfortunately, if my work email is any example it's probably buried in even more spam than one's personal mailbox). What kind of issues are you having with the attachments? MP3s should email without much trouble *provided* they aren't too long. GMail's attachment size limit is 25 MB. In *very* rough terms, that's enough for a 15-minute audio file (results will vary wildly depending on your encoding settings and the content of the audio. DX probably doesn't compress very well due to the noise & interference). == (Doug Smith W9WI, Pleasant View, TN EM66, NRC-AM via DXLD) Patrick, True enough. I just turned 55, and I`m just hoping that enough analog signals will remain to last my lifetime. Can`t imagine a world without radio to DX. The Chinese have a saying, ``Make friends with change.`` I`ve lived long enough to see the wisdom in that. I can say that radio has been a lifelong hobby of mine, licensed as a ham at age 9? and active in DXing even before that. I`ve tried a bit of everything. Ham, SWL, AM, FM, TV, Public Service Bands and enjoyed it all. There is magic in the ether and I hope that the younger generation find something similar to excite them. 73, (Les Rayburn, N1LF, IRCA via DXLD) Les, I often catch myself wondering about what the MW band would sound like here IF -- and this is just a hypothetical situation, mind you -- all of the AM stations in Canada and the U.S. were to permanently go silent. Will Mexican stations stay on? If THOSE go off, will AM stations in Central and South America stay on? Will AM stations across the Atlantic and Pacific stay on? The DX opportunities for us, should those scenarios occur, could be fascinating (it's been over 25 years since I've heard anything from Central America on MW, and I'd love to again). Personally, I honestly, FIRMLY believe there will always be SOMETHING on the 530-1710 band to DX, whether domestic or foreign. I just can't picture it drying up completely. Longwave, on the other hand, presents a different scenario. About 5 years ago, I began DXing non-directional beacons with much interest, and now those are slowly going away. Pity, since those are obviously much easier to ID than AM stations! For DXers on the North American coasts, a future without NDBs on longwave won't be as difficult to stomach, as they'll always have European broadcast stations to go after. But for people like myself in the landlocked middle of the USA, a longwave band without the beacons will be much more of a challenge to DX. 73, (Rick Dau, South Omaha, Nebraska EN21af, ibid.) Meanwhile, here's what the MW band sounds like now: http://youtube.com/watch?v=aiaacvYES8s (Steve Francis, Alcoa, Tennessee, Jan 9, IRCA via DXLD) We could always DX the CODAR stations. I'm sure they'll be encroaching on the AM band any time now. Sorry - I consider CODAR my nemesis. I've asked some of the SDR folks to come up with a way to filter them out. It's "theoretically possible". :^) BTW, great link, Steve, on what the AM band sounds like now! I think I'm going to do one for Gilligan's Island. That way I can watch them all at once. Gilligan's Island - such a DXer's show, wasn't it? Exotic South Pacific island setting, and an AM radio was a central prop! (Mark Pettifor, Goshen, IN, KC9DOC, ibid.) Rick, if you don't mind me chiming in. I have always wondered the same thing. What if at least most of the AM's disappear, what would we hear? Probably little in the daytime, but night would be interesting. Mexicans of course would populate the dial even in areas that they don't now. Like here. I get few XE's these days. I never got many in the past anyway. I am sure a few more TPs and DU's would be heard on the Pacific Coast and more would get rather inland like back in the 1920s & 30s. But who knows how many AMs would be left Worldwide by that time. At nearly 68 now, I had hoped I would be enough the demise of AMs by now, as few even listen to AM now. But the FMs support the AM's, so they stay. Of course if the FCC could start selling off the AM spectrum, but what would they use it for? Not nearly as valuable as the UHF frequencies. We are loaded with thousands of AM stations in the US & Canada that probably few people listen to. Here, I rarely hear any AM's on, other than KAST Astoria (Talk) in a couple locations, and KSWB Seaside (Oldies), again in a few locations. Most people around here stream a lot, or listen to CD's. This is a rural area. The cities I am sure more people stream. All young people stream their music to their Ipods, phones, etc. Pandora is very popular. They never listen to radio. At least the ones I know. Between their video games, and cel phones, they are happy. Their attitude, why would I bother listening to radio. Just full of ads and they do not play the music I like (Patrick Martin, Seaside OR, NRC-AM via DXLD) I totally agree. DX Clubs have a hard enough time to get editors. Becoming a QSL Manager, let`s say for LA or SF, Boston, etc., would be quite the undertaking. As you said, getting the stations to take the effort. I doubt few even care with no budgets for anything extra. Here, I can monitor a lot of AM & FM stations with a wifi radio, but SDRing them would be something I would not want to do on a regular basis. Again, except for the DXer that wants the QSL, there is no money in it for the station. Face it, QSLing is on its way out. Along with DXing. There will always be some form of the hobby for decades to come, but the number of DXers will die out in time. Right now I can only think of a couple DXers under 30. Back in the 60s & 70s, we were everywhere. Not so today (Patrick Martin, NRC-AM via DXLD) ** U S A. 780, WBBM IBOC off, et al.: See DIGITAL BROADCASTING -- IBOC ** U S A. [Re DXLD 17-01, on 1020, gh hearing KCKN Roswell NM again:] Glenn, Looks like they found a couple used final tubes to get the Continental going again. Rumor has it the transmitter was just out of tune. I'm too far removed to know the exact cause. That being said, there is no way you should be hearing it in Enid unless the pattern is out. Towards your direct we had a super tight null offering 40 watts towards you. The day pattern protected Amarillo 1010 and ERP was about 500 watts (Jerry Kiefer, FL, UT Jan 6, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. Glenn, Shortly before 9 PM CT this evening I caught KFAB, 1110 AM, Omaha, playing ABC's Perspectives program. The station has gone back to being an ABC affiliate after several years with Fox news. Perspectives airs from 8-9 PM CT Sundays [0205-0300 UT Monday]. A live announcer just prior to the top of the hour said it was their first airing of the show this year. 73, (John Wesley Smith, January 9, WORLD OF RADIO 1860, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. 1220, Jan 7 at 0400 UT, local weather by YL but too much QRM to copy detail, ID almost certainly WSLM, i.e. Salem IN, the cheater dominating 1220 west of Cleveland despite licensed 5000/82 watts (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. 1360, Jan 7 at 0358 UT, immediately at tune in, ``You are listening to WMOB Mobile, and WTOF Bay Minette``, into another gospel huxter before hourtop. Yes, the two are //, WTOF supposedly a 10 kW daytimer on 1110, and WMOB running only 200 watts at night, 9000 watts day. Contraindications explicable only as the Word of God thumping the Rules of Man (Glenn Hauser, OK, WORLD OF RADIO 1860, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. 2960 (2 x 1480) WERM Mobile, AL. 2960, with a decent signal and modulation during peaks with black gospel music. WERM calls clearly heard between songs making for an easy ID on 2960 but no luck logging them on their intended frequency of 1480 here. 73, (Tim Tromp, West Michigan, 0345 UT Jan 6, harmonics yg via WORLD OF RADIO 1860, DXLD) UNIDENTIFIED. 2960, Jan 7 at 0320, stable JBA carrier with trace of modulation, but with QRN adding up to S9+10. Checking here since Tim Tromp had reported the night before to the harmonics yg, ``WERM Mobile AL, 2 x 1480 on 2960 with a decent signal and modulation during peaks with black gospel music. WERM calls clearly heard between songs making for an easy ID on 2960 but no luck logging them on their intended frequency of 1480 here. 73, Tim Tromp, West Michigan``. It`s licensed for 4400 watts at night on 1480, so how much on 2960? A bit later I definitely did hear a Mobilian fundamental on 1360 (Glenn Hauser, OK, WORLD OF RADIO 1860, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. Larry Russell also passes along news about Cumulus -- I will resist the urge to say anything editorial beyond 'it couldn't happen to a nicer bunch of corporate folk: http://www.nasdaq.com/press-release/cumulus-announces-reverse-stock-split-20161012-00655 This isn't exactly 'news' since it dates back to October but the market reaction to all this is telling (Ken Zichi, ed., MARE Tipsheet Jan 6 via DXLD) ** U S A. WBGO IS GIVING JAZZ A HIGHER PROFILE ONLINE By BEN SISARIO JAN. 10, 2017 https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/10/arts/music/wbgo-radio-station-jazz-npr-partnership.html Amy Niles, WBGO's president and chief executive, in the radio station's master control room in Newark. Credit Stephen Speranza for The New York Times [caption] WBGO, the Newark public radio station, has long been one of the nation's premier outlets for jazz on the air. Now it wants to be a destination for the music online as well. Next week, the station will introduce a revamped website, featuring extensive commentary on jazz -- its online presence to date has been minimal -- and will also expand its partnership with NPR as that public radio network's primary source of jazz content. Along with these changes, the station has hired the jazz critic Nate Chinen as its director of editorial content. Mr. Chinen, who has been a regular contributor to The New York Times since 2005, will manage the editorial side of WBGO's website, wbgo.org; work on its signature program, "Jazz Night in America"; and join NPR's stable of music commentators, online and on the air. Photo [caption] A revamped website and an expanded partnership with NPR is expected to transform WBGO's online presence at a time when jazz is enjoying a creative renaissance. Credit Stephen Speranza for The New York Times "This is a new age," said Amy Niles, WBGO's president and chief executive. "What we want to do is create a digital environment that is as potent and powerful as what people rely on us for on the radio." The changes at WBGO-FM (88.3) should have little influence on its on-air programming, which leans toward the giants of jazz history -- think Miles, Coltrane, Billie -- and is the second-highest-rated jazz station in the country, with a regular weekly reach of 375,000 people, according to Nielsen. (No. 1 is KKJZ in the Los Angeles area, with an audience of about 520,000.) Photo [caption] Rhonda Hamilton, a radio host at WBGO, in the master control room. Credit Stephen Speranza for The New York Times The changes should transform WBGO's presence online at a time when jazz is enjoying a creative renaissance. The NYC Winter Jazzfest over the last week was one example of this energy; another is the popularity of younger artists like Kamasi Washington and Robert Glasper, who have pushed the boundaries of the genre and collaborated with stars like Kanye West and Kendrick Lamar. "Jazz is now in an intensively creative and vital phase," Mr. Chinen said. "I'm excited to bring some expertise and editorial focus into the digital realm, where there's a dire need for jazz content that upholds high journalistic standards." Jazz posters decorate the walls of the public radio station. Credit Stephen Speranza for The New York Times [caption] WBGO, whose annual budget is about $5 million, already works with NPR and Jazz at Lincoln Center to produce "Jazz Night in America," the expansive weekly show heard on nearly 200 radio stations around the country. WBGO will become NPR's "voice of jazz," Ms. Niles said. It will feed online content to the network, and Mr. Chinen will contribute to NPR on a national level. Jazz has been a steady presence on NPR for decades, including shows like Marian McPartland's "Piano Jazz." But its presentation has changed recently, including the end of NPR's weekly show "JazzSet" and of its jazz blog, A Blog Supreme. The planning began about three years ago, when NPR took stock of its jazz coverage and decided to take advantage of its various broadcast and online platforms, said Anya Grundmann, NPR's vice president for programming and audience development. Photo [caption]. WBGO in Newark is the second-highest-rated jazz station in the country, with a regular weekly reach of 375,000 people. Credit Stephen Speranza for The New York Times "This is the result of a huge commitment by both organizations to continue the legacy of jazz presentation and storytelling that we both have," Ms. Grundmann said. Through various platforms, NPR reaches 56.5 million people each month, she added. Among the other changes at WBGO is the addition of two weeks' worth of on-demand streams for its broadcast shows. This kind of feature, along with online commentary and reviews, is now common for most major radio stations. But Ms. Niles said that the station had not been slow in adapting to the digital age. "I don't think we've been slow; we've been strategic," she said. "Doing it in the way that we're doing it now is something that we really wanted to be able to do right." A version of this article appears in print on January 11, 2017, on Page C4 of the New York edition with the headline: WBGO Is Giving Jazz a Higher Profile Online (via Mike Cooper, DXLD) ** U S A. RESOLVE TO PROTECT YOUR STATIONS Glenn - New year, new you. And we have a resolution that you can actually keep: Resolving to #ProtectPublicMedia in 2017. A new Congress and President take office this month. We're asking viewers and listeners like you to help us build our case to protect funding for stations this year. It will only take a few moments but it might be the most important New Year's resolution you make this year. Here's how: Make Your Resolution: Go to protectmypublicmedia.org/tell-resolve and share why you resolve to #ProtectPublicMedia in 2017. Find an Accountability Buddy: After you've made your New Year's resolution, you will be directed to a page with a few easy options for spreading the word. Take a moment to share the campaign with 2 - 3 (or more!) of your fellow public media junkies and encourage them to make a resolution too. Please help us keep the public media stations that inform, educate, and inspire us strong in 2017 and resolve to #ProtectPublicMedia by January 31, 2017. Thank you, (The Protect My Public Media Team, Jan 10 to gh, via DXLD) ** U S A [non]. SHF Satellites: Television: 105 W, AMC-18, 3.780H / 30000 Msps, NBC West (Ch 12) feed getting ready for the evening news feed. Apparently they do a new feed for the West Coast which is not identical to the east coast feed earlier. In well, 60% quality, 0134- 0200, 8PSK/H.264 1080i HD 1/Jan (Ken Zichi, Pt Hope MI2, for Satellites: Manhattan DJ-1997 FTA receiver +96 inch movable dish, MARE Tipsheet Jan 6 via DXLD) ** UZBEKISTAN. 7600, Jan 7 at 1353, open carrier at S7-S9, maybe JBM, 1400 talk and now also a weaker signal on 7635, as both were heard after 1400 Jan 5. Aoki listed 7600 as BBC Hindi via Thailand, but checking these out Jan 6, Wolfgang Büschel says per latest HFCC info, both are via Tashkent, Uzbekistan, and both BBC Hindi, apparently testing 7635 (and he says also 7530; but nothing about my other unID carrier on 7670). 7600, Jan 9 at 1420, weak presumed BBC Hindi via Tashkent this semihour only. My previous unID logs of 7635 and 7670, with the lower one identified by Wolfgang Büschel as same program and site, leads me to suspect that 7670 was a leapfrog mixing product of 7600 over 7635 another 35 kHz higher; neither heard any more (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** UZBEKISTAN. [tentatively], 9600, BaBcoCk BBC control room pause music, over and over again, poor S=6 signal noted in 0530-0545 UT slot in Doha Qatar / Delhi India much weaker, than proper 9+10dB in Moscow Russia. Probably Tashkent relay site? 73 (Wolfgang Büschel, Jan 9, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** VATICAN. 6070, Friday January 6 at 0701, Vatican Radio is on with Gregorian chant, nice, but overrides poor CFRX. VR even better on // 7250, abutting 7255- Nigeria. I guess this is a holy day special from 0630 for Epiphany, if not a tip of the miter to the Orthodoxies, as transmission is normally on Sundays only any more. 7250, Tue Jan 10 at 0742, sounds like VOA news, American accent about Sen. Sessions --- NO, it`s Vatican Radio since next item is about Pope Francis. NO English scheduled here now, instead only on 15595 at 0730- 0745 except Sundays. Further checking sked, 7250 has Arabic to NW Europe(!) at 0745-0805 daily except Sunday, so another example of slipshod operation at SMG, turning on transmitter early with wrong program (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** VIETNAM. Voice of Vietnam, B-16 schedule, 301016-260317 requests 1242 1330 1430 49 OMO 500 nondir 4-mast Lao VTN VOV VOV 1242 1430 1500 49 OMO 500 nondir 4-mast Thai VTN VOV VOV 1242 1500 1600 49 OMO 500 nondir 4-mast Viet VTN VOV VOV 1242 1600 1630 49 OMO 500 nondir 4-mast Khmer VTN VOV VOV [how can it be non-direxional yet with four masts instead of one? gh] 5925 2145 1700 49 CK2 50 nondir 975 Viet VTN VOV VOV 5975 2145 1700 49 MET 50 nondir 975 Viet VTN VOV VOV 6020 2200 1530 49 DAL 20 nondir 975 Viet VTN VOV VOV 6165 1130 1400 49 CK2 50 nondir 975 Viet VTN VOV VOV 6165 2200 2300 49 CK2 50 nondir 975 Viet VTN VOV VOV 6165 2330 2400 49 CK2 50 nondir 975 Viet VTN VOV VOV 7210 2145 1700 49 DAL 20 nondir 975 Viet VTN VOV VOV 7220 1100 1330 31-33 VN1 100 27 0 218 MaRuMaRuMaVTN VOV VOV 7220 1500 1700 37-39 VN1 100 290 0 218 VieEngFra VTN VOV VOV 7220 2030 2130 37-39 VN1 100 290 0 218 EngFra VTN VOV VOV 7220 2200 2230 31-33 VN1 100 27 0 218 Mandarin VTN VOV VOV 7280 1600 1800 27-30,37-39 VN1 100 320 0 218 EnRuViFr VTN VOV VOV 7280 1800 2000 27-30,37-39 VN1 100 320 0 218 SpGeEnFrSpVTN VOV VOV 7280 2000 2200 27-30,37-39 VN1 100 320 0 218 GeSpFrEn VTN VOV VOV 7285 1100 1330 49 VN1 100 216 0 141 LaFrThaFr VTN VOV VOV 7315 0000 0200 HRI 250 173 -15 146 SpEnSpEn USA HRI FCC [no, it`s EnSpEnSp --- gh] alternate 7435 2145 1700 49 VN1 100 97 0 141 Viet VTN VOV VOV alternate 9530 2145 1700 49 CK2 50 non-dir 975 Viet VTN VOV VOV 9550 1500 1700 37-39 VN1 100 290 0 218 VieEngFra VTN VOV VOV 9550 2030 2130 37-39 VN1 100 290 0 218 EngFra VTN VOV VOV 9635 0000 2400 49 VN1 100 145 0 141 Viet VTN VOV VOV 9730 1600 1800 27-30,37-39 VN1 100 320 0 218 EnRuViFr VTN VOV VOV 9730 1800 2000 27-30,37-39 VN1 100 320 0 218 SpGeEnFrSpVTN VOV VOV 9730 2000 2200 27-30,37-39 VN1 100 320 0 218 GeSpFrEn VTN VOV VOV 9840 1000 1100 54 VN1 100 177 0 156 EngInd VTN VOV VOV 9840 1100 1230 44,45 VN1 100 57 0 156 JpnEngJpn VTN VOV VOV 9840 1230 1330 54 VN1 100 177 0 156 EngInd VTN VOV VOV 9840 1330 1430 44,45 VN1 100 57 0 156 EngJpn VTN VOV VOV 9840 1430 1530 54 VN1 100 177 0 156 IndEng VTN VOV VOV 9840 2200 2300 44,45 VN1 100 57 0 156 JpnMan VTN VOV VOV 9840 2300 2400 54 VN1 100 177 0 156 IndEng VTN VOV VOV 9850 0400 0600 49 CK2 50 non-dir 975 Viet VTN VOV VOV 11720 1030 1330 49 CK2 50 187 0 156 VoViet 4 VTN VOV VOV 11720 1330 1700 49 VN1 100 187 0 156 Viet VTN VOV VOV 11720 2145 1030 49 VN1 100 187 0 156 Viet VTN VOV VOV 12000 1100 1330 31-33 VN1 100 27 0 218 ManRus VTN VOV VOV 12000 2200 2230 31-33 VN1 100 27 0 218 Mandarin VTN VOV VOV 12020 1000 1100 54 VN1 100 177 0 156 EngInd VTN VOV VOV 12020 1100 1230 44,45 VN1 100 57 0 156 JpnEngJpn VTN VOV VOV 12020 1230 1330 54 VN1 100 177 0 156 EngInd VTN VOV VOV 12020 1330 1430 44,45 VN1 100 57 0 156 EngJpn VTN VOV VOV 12020 1430 1530 54 VN1 100 177 0 156 IndEng VTN VOV VOV 12020 2200 2300 44,45 VN1 100 57 0 156 JpnMan VTN VOV VOV 12020 2300 2400 54 VN1 100 177 0 156 IndEng VTN VOV VOV CK2 = Xuan Mai DAL = Buon Ma Thuot HRI = Cypress Creek SC-USA MET = Hanoi, Me Tri. VN1 = Son Tay OMO = Can Tho, Thoi Long. location 10 07 11 N 105 33 57 E all Babcock FMO brokered outlets of VoV at Woofferton UK, and ORS Moosbrunn Austria relay sites now ceased (WRTH 2017, page #508; transformed by Wolfgang Büschel, df5sx, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Jan 4, BCDX 09 Jan via DXLD) ** WESTERN SAHARA [non]. ARGÉLIA / Clandestina --- 1550, Frente POLISARIO, Rabouni, foi captada anteontem, dia 4JAN, após um período de inactividade de vários dias: 2255-2305*, emissão em árabe, que terminou abruptamente com o hino, cortando parcialmente o último trecho musical; 55444. Antes do dia 4, tentei duas outras freqs. que já usaram no passado, quando a de 1550 kHz estava em baixo, ou seja, 700 e 702 kHz, mas a única emissora norte-africana que se escuta é mesmo a estação local da R. Algérienne/ R. Al-Aghwat, em Al-Aghwat, 702 kHz. Agora, resta-me tentar descobrir se o que parece ter sido suspenso ou suprimido, as emissões matutina e vespertina, em castelhano, foram reactivadas. Bons DX e 73 (Carlos Gonçalves, PORTUGAL, radioescutas yg via WORLD OF RADIO 1860, DXLD) ** YEMEN [non]. Radio Yemen / Sana'a --- I haven't checked Radio Sana'a for ages, mainly because at the most interesting point it coincides with one of my favourite programmes on local radio. But it was there last night (Jan 5) with a good strong signal. Severe echo from 1748 to 1751, definitely not part of the program since it made the talk almost unreadable. Still a nice strong signal after the echo ended, but it was much more fadey (not an SAH) suggesting to me at least a (probably) different transmission path into South Africa. 11860, Country??? Rep. Of Yemen Radio / Sana'a, Location??? Jan 5, 2017 Thursday. 1737-1802. Tuned in to OM's talking in Arabic. Mentioned Baghdad at 1741. Serious echo from 1748 to 1751, after that still a strong signal but much more fadey. At 1749 an OM sang a brief song. Brief martial music at 1757, then OM with announcement. Music and clapping at 1759, into usual jingle at 1800 then sounded like OM reading the news. Tuned out at 1802. Jo'burg sunset 1659 (Bill Bingham, Johannesburg RSA. Drake R8E, Sony ICF2001D. dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ZAMBIA. 5915, Zambia Nat. B.C. Jan 03 1559-1604, 23332, vernacular, Fish Eagle's IS, Announce by man at 1600, Local music (Kouji Hashimoto, JAPAN, RX, IC-R75, NRD-525 + RD-9830, ANT, 130m Sloper Wire, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 5915, R. One/ZNBC, am daily hearing this via long path; mixing with Myanmar Radio also here; Jan 5, at 1627, clear GOtv promos; first spot in English, then vernacular promo and finally another English GOtv spot for sports coverage; these commercial announcements are often heard here, as Dave Valko noted the same series of ads on Dec 21, at 2104 UT. Jan 6, with open carrier/test tone at 0237; finally at 0248 started the unique African Fish Eagle IS; another day of an abbreviated transmission; 0319* suddenly off; assume still due to limited power supply (Ron Howard, Calif., dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1860, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Some observations for late Jan 6 to early Jan 7 (UT) from Masset: Zambia 5915 only weakly heard here in Masset. 73, (Walt Salmaniw, BC, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 5915, ZNBC1, Lusaka. Jan 7, 2017 Saturday. 0312-0340, Nothing heard at first check, 0312-0315. Either propagation or technical fault, propagation seemed unlikely because Zanzibar ZBC Radio on 6015 was coming in well at 0315. Whatever, ZNBC1 was on air at second check 0337 with fair signal, but only briefly, off in mid-sentence at 0340* presumably due to the daily power cut. Jo'burg sunrise 0323 (Bill Bingham, Johannesburg RSA. Drake R8E, Sony ICF2001D. dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 5915, ZNBC1, Lusaka. Jan 7, 2017 Saturday. 1304-1307. Afro music, but poor signal. Probably poor propagation this afternoon, very overcast and at least 15 hours of non-stop rain so far today, with some distant thunder and lightning. Jo'burg sunset 1705 (Bill Bingham, RSA, ibid.) 5915, R. One/ZNBC, 0315-0343, Jan 9. In vernacular; African music; long segment with drums and African vernacular singing; almost fair. Very enjoyable! (Ron Howard, Calif., dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ZANZIBAR. 6015, ZBC Radio, Dole. Jan 7, 2017 Saturday. 0315-0317 Good signal, YL in Swahili with several mentions of Zanzibar, followed by OM talking. Tuned out at 0317. Jo'burg sunrise 0323 (Bill Bingham, Johannesburg RSA. Drake R8E, Sony ICF2001D. dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 6015, ZBC Radio, 0250, Jan 9. Tuned in to open carrier; 0258 started with what seemed to be the normal Spice FM (pop African songs) intro (I miss their IS of years ago!); pips and 0301-0306 reciting from the Qur'an; well above normal reception (Ron Howard, Calif., dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 11735, Jan 10 at 2055, Ungujan music from ZBC until cutoff at 2100.4* (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. 1380, 1218 UT January 10, 2017. WWMI either off or barely on, not audible until near the Howard Frankland Bridge, Pinellas County side, and then just a whisper of audio. Before that, this one with Spanish contemporary Christian vocals, man at 1229 mentioning "13-80 la palabra de dios" though may not have been a true slogan. No FL stations fit the format. Heard on the car radio while driving locally (Terry L. Krueger, Clearwater FL, DX LISTENING DIGEST) How about KRCM TX? (gh) UNIDENTIFIED. 1499.08, 1133 UT January 7, 2017. Big het which has been here for months, looping WNW to NW. Suspect domestic but could be Mexico. Still strong at 1220, almost gone by 1300. Reading very approximate. Heard by Glenn Hauser, myself and others in FL back in the fall, around 1499.18 then (Terry L. Krueger, Clearwater FL, DX LISTENING DIGEST) This was discussed in DXLDs 16-35, 16-36, 16-37 and 16-38. Since there was a matching carrier circa 1481, I concluded that they were spurs out of some 1490 station, rather than an off-frequency 1500 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. 1560.93, Jan 7 at 0351 UT, stepping down the MW band, I hear a weak het of almost 1 kHz above 1560, KKAA SD, Family Radio hymn // 920 KYFR IA. The het seems to peak roughly N/S too (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. 1580, 1111 UT January 7, 2017. Someone with presumably sat-fed Oldies, with Bill Withers, Ronstadt, The Eagles, Yvonne Elliman, The Outlaws. Too much local buzz to hear any ID's. Not WVOK, as their web song list shows they are more Hot AC (Rhianna etc.), and not parallel CKDO's stream. Pointed NNW (Terry L. Krueger, Clearwater FL, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. 3245.0-USB, Jan 6 at 0235, MARS-like net discussing frequencies not by kHz but by secret number designators. One definite callsign fonetikaly is OH7, contact is 5R#, third character did not sound like any familiar letter fonetik, altho I was tempted to think it was Juliet to go with Romeo. Nothing further and `out` at 0238. Is this really MARS or something else? Strange calls do not correlate with ham-like formats MARS used to employ, i.e. never ending in a number! My only other log of this was a sesquimonth ago: ``UNIDENTIFIED. 3245.0-USB, Nov 19 [2016] at 0107, another AF MARS net in primetime as I heard a weak ``AAF`` call go by. They won`t have to worry about QRM de WBCQ 3250v; I wonder if 3250 was cleared as not anybody`s MARS frequency?`` (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. Hi Everyone, I`m getting a carrier on 5020 kHz early eves here from 17z; have not monitored when goes off, but will. I`m probably fooling myself but at times seems to be a bit of audio. Only Solomon Isles listed. Are they on at this time? Cannot see listed, but only just back at the dials after a long break. All the best (Mark, Isle of Anglesey, With snow on the way, Jan 11, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Hi Mark, Welcome back. We missed you! 5020 has made for some interesting monitoring. In Oct., Nov. and through mid-Dec, SIBC had many days of an extended schedule, running past the usual 1200* (Dec 2, with 1253-1550+), with either their own SIBC programming or more often than not with relay of "Wantok FM 96.3. Good times, great music" programming. Often after SIBC signed off (either at 1200* or after their extended broadcast), both Hiroyuki Komatsubara (Japan) and I noted there was a weak open carrier on 5020. We both believed it was not associated with SIBC, but we never heard any audio, so it still remains a mystery. Sorry, no definitive help for you (Ron Howard, California, ibid.) Thanks, Ron, great to hear from you!! I will keep monitoring. Got an SDR now so can record any band when I like. Any suggestions perhaps would help us all. All the very best (- Mark, ibid.) UNIDENTIFIED. On 5605 kHz and on 5970 at 0100-0200 on Jan 09, 2017, a Beijing type “ship siren” jamming, presumed vs Sound of Hope (Rumen Pankov, Sofia, Bulgaria, Jan 12, 2017, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. 6090-v, Jan 11 at 0717, in the absence of Anguilla, two JBA carriers beating slightly on the low side. One of them is constantly varying about 6 Hz from the other, so I don`t get a steady tone with BFO. Ethiopia is supposedly in a break from 06 to 09 (and too far into the dayside), leaving R. Bandeirantes, Brasil, and R. Kaduna, Nigeria if active? Aoki shows no Chinese or other Asians now, and never mind the imaginary Chilean (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. 7635, Jan 5 at 1414, very poor talk, S8-S5 with flutter. Nothing listed here in Aoki, HFCC or EiBi (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. 7670, Jan 5 at 1415, JBA carrier, another unID broadcaster, or something else? (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Okay, scheduled Hindi from Tashkent site [7600]. 7635 kHz channel is far behind the 41 mb range border, and such channels range 7500 to 7650 kHz are often used for various Korean Target stn programs {like 7590 and 7615} towards Korea D.P.R. via Tashkent site. So, the technician people at Tashkent made ON-AIR tests on 7530 and 7635 kHz channels at 1400 UT, using the Indian Ocean satellite feed channel of Hindi. Or even INTERMODULATION occurence on Tashkent site of various 41 mb outlets? Not Nakhon Sawan Thailand outlet. BBC Tashkent and Yerevan Armenia relays: 1234567 010117 260317 7600 1400 1430 41N,42SW TAC 100 141 158 Hin UZB BBC BAB HINDA 7600 1545 1600 41SE ERV 100 125 218 Tam ARM BBC BAB TAMLA 7600 1630 1700 41SE ERV 100 125 218 Sin ARM BBC BAB SINHA 73 wolfie (Wolfgang Büschel, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Dec 6, Yes, BBC Hindi heard at 1400 UT on all three frequencies. 7600 kHz is the far best and strongest BBC Hindi transmission in Doha Qatar and Delhi India. But signal SUFFER BY HEAVY continuously CW UTE signal on exact 7602.000 kHz. Latter S=7 signal - - - 1353 UT nothing visible on all 3 frequency channels. 1357:10 TX Tashkent 7600 kHz appeared, first with poor exciter signal and immed. at S=9+5dB level in Delhi, increased up to S=9+20dB during bcast from 1400 UT. 1359:40 a poor string could be also observed on 7530 kHz. 1410:20 BBC Hindi feed started as crash signal on air. 7635.002 kHz at 1402 UT S=6-7 in Doha Qatar, S=7-8 in Delhi. 7600.000 kHz both S=9+20dB in Qatar and India. 1430:50 TX switched OFF 7529.997 kHz S=6 in Doha Qatar, S=8 in Delhi India. Comparision: BBC Kranji Singapore English sce 7465 at S=9+40 powerhouse level. 7485 BBC Kranji Singapore relay site in Burmese S=9+30dB strength. see enclosed TEXT file of BBC changes Jan 1 / 4, taken from hfcc.org public file access. listen to the BBC Hindi 7600 kHz start, correct time > 14.01:20 UT BBC Hindi feed started as crash signal on air. on recording from 01 min 39 sec - onwards. and CW signal hit from 7602.000 kHz today Jan 6. 73 wolfie (Wolfgang Büschel, Jan 6, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. First noted on September 18th, 2016, the unidentified radio with Muslim sermon in Arabic (or similar language) at 1846 UT on 7700 kHz AM and heard often, for example on September 25th rumbling with IBC Radio (or Marconi RI) on 7700.1 USB. Was again confirmed on Jan 5th, 2017 on 7700.2 at 0355 with talk in presumed Arabic and sermon at 0415 and tiny signal at 0448. The programme is similar like that on Puntland Radio, which was not observed at the same time on 13800 kHz (Rumen Pankov, Sofia, Bulgaria, Jan 12, 2017, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ UNSOLICITED TESTIMONIALS ++++++++++++++++++++++++ ACKNOWLEDGED WORLD OF RADIO 1860: Keep up the good work! (Henning Vahlbruch, Germany, with a contribution via PayPal, not necessarily in US funds, to woradio at yahoo.com) TO BE ACKNOWLEDGED FUTURELY, one a week: 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 PUBLICATIONS ++++++++++++ SEOUL AM RADIO LISTENING GUIDE Chris Kadlec, Michigan while in USA, mainly an FM DXer, has asked me to make sure MW DXers know about this. He has done amazing work researching the radio situation in Koreas! I am sure he would appreciate further publicity (Glenn Hauser) After a long 14 months of work, I'm happy to present the completed Seoul AM Radio Listening Guide, a three-hour documentary broadcast exploring the Seoul AM band one frequency at a time, plus a look at the radio war on the Korean peninsula accompanied by a 115-page guide. http://www.beaglebass.com/dx/seoul/ In addition to radio broadcasts from across East Asia, the broadcast includes Korean noise jammers and AM, FM, shortwave, and television propaganda broadcasts from both the north and the south, additionally outlined in a 25-page broadcast transcript and 115-page informational guide. It also includes: * A comprehensive list of 260 East Asian AM stations, including station names, tower locations, distance and direction from Seoul, parallel FM frequencies, broadcast hours, and station website links. * A full bandscan of 235 regular nightly skywave signals as heard after the sun sets over Seoul. * Daytime groundwave bandscans taken from eleven different locations in the Seoul metro area, along the North Korean border, beside the sea, and in Korea's mountainous interior with background information about each location. * A guide showing stations organized by their network affiliations in addition to privately-owned stations and networks. Alternatively, stations are also shown organized by country, region, and city. * A chart showing signal strength for each bandscan - day and night - in bar graph format. * A full colour-coded regional station map covering both skywave and groundwave signals. * A view of some of Korea's signal jammers as seen on an SDR (software-defined radio). * Plus, a complete transcript of the three-hour audio broadcast with additional information on the featured audio clips as well as the songs featured in those clips (Chris Kadlec, WORLD OF RADIO 1860, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Chris has helped me when I'm trying to ID stations or we discuss the geekery of Asian AMs. Smart guy! (Paul Walker, AK, NRC-AM via DXLD) Thanks for passing this information onto us, Glenn. A very interesting and comprehensive piece of work by Chris. 73, (Martin A Hall, MWCircle yg via DXLD) That is simply an incredible work! Thank you (Karel Honzíl, Czechia, mwdx yg via DXLD IRCA Slogans List (January 2017) This completely revised Slogans List includes radio slogans from the US and Canada (over 4500). [compiled by Kraig KG4LAC Krist; 42 page pdf in frequency order]. Posted on the IRCA website for all to download. The link is: http://www.ircaonline.org/slogans.htm http://www.ircaonline.org/2017%20IRCA%20Slogans.pdf A hard copy can be ordered from the IRCA. Prices: IRCA/NRC members – $7.25 (US), $8.50 (Canada) $10.00 (México), $10.75 (rest of the world). Non-IRCA members – add $1.00. To order from the IRCA, send the correct amount (in US funds payable to Phil Bytheway) to: IRCA, 9705 MARY NW, SEATTLE WA 98117-2334. Or, order through PayPal [add $1.00] to email: phil_tekno@yahoo.com Please state club affiliation when ordering (IRCA DX Monitor Jan 14 via DXLD) WORLD OF HOROLOGY See also FRANCE +++++++++++++++++ MASSACHUSETTS WEIGHS DOING AWAY WITH WINTER TIME SHIFT By BOB SALSBERG Associated Press Jan 11, 4:13 PM EST BOSTON (AP) -- Lacking authority to change the laws of physics to allow more sunlight on the darkest days of winter, a special commission is instead considering whether Massachusetts should change the laws of man and observe daylight saving time year-round. If adopted, Massachusetts residents wouldn`t have to set their clocks back in November and forward in March, as most of the U.S. does. . . http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_EASTERN_DAYLIGHT_TIME?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2017-01-11-16-13-27 (via Mike Cooper, DXLD) INGLESIDE WOMAN PUSHES TO END DAYLIGHT SAVING [sic] TIME [Corpus Christi] Beth Wilson, Special to the Caller-Times 6:02 p.m. CT Jan. 8, 2017 Organizer hopeful for action during the 2017 Legislative session http://www.caller.com/story/news/local/south-texas-snapshot/2017/01/08/ingleside-woman-pushes-end-daylight-saving-time/95517870/ Martha Habluetzel who is campaigning for Texas to end daylight saving [sic] time holds one of her signs outside her Ingleside home. (Photo: Courtney Sacco/Caller-Times) [caption] Rhonda Dent sees the troubles of daylight-saving [sic] time each fall. She's been a school bus driver for 17 years in Ingleside, and knows the other drivers are less likely to be watching closely when she's stopped to pick up students in the morning darkness. "And the kids are really groggy too," she said. "They're sleeping on the bus. It's really hard on everybody." Her friend Martha Habluetzel noticed it, too. "We spring forward," she said, recalling the spring 2014 time shift. "I was dead on my feet, even four days after. I made a post on Facebook and many people said we need to stop time changes like Arizona. From there, it just grew to a campaign." And now Habluetzel, a 63-year-old grandmother from Ingleside, is the leader of a movement to opt out of daylight saving time. Her Facebook page, Campaign to Opt Texas Out of Daylight Saving Time, has 23,400 likes. The movement is gaining legislative traction, too. Bills are pre-filed in both the Texas House and Senate by State Rep. Dan Flynn, R-Canton, and State Sen. Jose Menendez, D-San Antonio, that call to the end the practice in November. Martha Habluetzel who is campaigning for Texas to end Martha Habluetzel who is campaigning for Texas to end daylight saving time holds one of her signs outside her Ingleside home. (Photo: Courtney Sacco/Caller-Times)[caption] Daylight saving time springs forward or falls back the hours on the clock to adjust to hours of daylight. It begins on the second Sunday in March and ends on the first Sunday in November. Habluetzel and others who support ending daylight saving time attribute an increase in accidents, heart attacks, suicide attempts and on-the-job injuries to the time change. It also leaves school children in the dark walking to school or waiting on school buses. "We should have ended it years ago," she said. "Some people think it was initiated for farmers, but it was initiated for energy. But we don't save energy anymore." Habluetzel knows several people who have suffered because of the time change. Some like herself experience jet lag-like symptoms of adjusting. She also has a list of accidents connected to darkness and bus stops. She has a friend whose wife suffered a seizure and a heart attack shortly after the change. Another who had a bad car accident. Any positives previously connected to daylight saving time, she said, are far outweighed by negatives like this. "We have so many accidents and people being hurt, being killed, it's almost like a serial killer," she said. Martha Habluetzel who is campaigning for Texas to end daylight saving time sites in a chair in her Ingleside home where she manages her Facebook page with over 14,000 followers. (Photo: Courtney Sacco/Caller-Times)[caption] The Centers for Disease Control notes that several studies have connected the time transition to sleep deprivation, which in turn has been linked to increased risk of vehicle accidents. It also points out a 2013 study that indicates a somewhat higher risk to workers' health and safety after time changes. Another 2015 study reports men and persons with heart disease may be at higher risk for heart attacks during the week after time changes. A study from Finland also finds daylight saving time problematic: The study found an 8 percent increase in ischemic strokes the two days after a daylight saving time transition. The study, presented in April at the American Academy of Neurology's annual meeting, studied a decade of stroke data from Finland to compare the rates of stroke after such a transition. According to a news release from the neurology academy, Dr Jori Ruuskanen of the University of Turku in Turku, Finland, said further study is needed to determine the relationship between the transitions and the increased stroke risk to see what can be done to reduce the risks. The Corpus Christi Police Department accident reports might indicate whether lighting or lack of lighting contributes to a crash, but whether a crash occurs shortly after a daylight saving time transition is not something that is tracked specifically, said Officer Kirk Stowers. "CCPD tracks the drivers' behaviors," he said. "Other agencies investigate environmental and design problems." Rhonda Dent, a school bus driver who lives in Ingleside, agrees that daylight saving time is dangerous. She said she worries during and after the transition that motorists will hit children in the dimmer light. (Photo: Contributed photo)[caption] And that is what drives her to spend about two hours a day on her laptop from her home in Ingleside, pushing the movement forward using Facebook and email. "I get real pushy telling (people) to go and write, go and call, go and email," she said. "We want to be squeaky noisy." Habluetzel and others anxiously awaited the start of the Texas Legislature, which would have to pass a bill for Texas to opt out of Daylight Saving Time. She expects a hearing in the Government Transparency and Oversight Committee. Last session, in 2015, the issue had some legislative support, also from Flynn. Habluetzel sees this year's chances as much better. State Rep. Dan Flynn, R-Canton (back row second from right), posed for a photo with Campaign to Opt Texas Out of Daylight Saving Time members Ralph Hackemack (top row from left), Alton O. Moore, Martha S. Habluetzel, David C. Habluetzel (bottom row from left), Madison Deyo and Katlyn Deyo after the group attended a committee hearing in March 2015 at the Capitol. (Photo: Contributed photo)[caption] She's reached out to Coastal Bend legislators state Rep. J.M. Lozano, D-Kingsville, and state Rep. Todd Hunter, R-Corpus Christi. When Habluetzel is not working the digital platform, she is baking, fishing or spending time with her 11 grandchildren. She also is very involved with Ingleside United Methodist Church. She and her husband David are veterans who have been married for 22 years. "I would like to see an end to daylight saving time in my lifetime," she said. "That's where I'm at with it. Because it saves nothing." Read or Share this story: http://callertim.es/2jixeJc (via Mike Cooper, DXLD) MUSEA +++++ GOOGLE EARTH HISTORICAL IMAGES Members, In a strange twist the topic which I started discussion on in swsites has now moved to the stage where it is at a critical stage. Thank you to Ian and swsites for digging out the link to the Google Blog. Basically the Google people messed up on New Years day by introducing a new form of Historical image production. It was not properly planned and to my annoyance Europe and Asia were ruined by the fault. Please see the slightly grovelling apology from Google http://www.gearthblog.com/blog/archives/2017/01/low-resolution-imagery-google-earth-historical-imagery.html What Google plan to do about it has still to be declared. I will do my best to keep you informed. 73 and 88 (Dan Goldfarb, mwmasts yg via DXLD) DIGITAL BROADCASTING --- DTV See MEXICO ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ DIGITAL BROADCASTING --- DRM See ERITREA; GUAM ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ DIGITAL BROADCASTING --- DAB See FRANCE; NORWAY! ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ DIGITAL BROADCASTING --- IBOC See also CANADA +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 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) After reading Kevin’s email, I’ve been meaning to check out the IBOC status on AM here in Tampa. Of course, the nighttime IBOC here has been off for a long time. But I’m very happy to report that none of the area AM stations are broadcasting this afternoon in IBOC. There is no IBOC hash on either side of any of any stations! From my point of view, this is great news. A lot of money spent for nothing (Dick, Tampa, Jan 6, ABDX via DXLD) Here in San Diego, KOGO-600 and XEKAM-950 continue to beat the dead horse 24/7, as do KFI-640 and KNX-1070 up in LA (KNX's coverage has suffered noticeably from it). At the Border Inn beverage site I noticed several others still using it, including KLTT-670, KRLD-1080 and KSL-1160 off the top of my head. KXNT-840 seems to use it only when on day rig. Funny thing about IBOC slop: On the ICF-2010, IBOC ruins the "near" sidebands of the adjacent channels (e.g., KSL-1160 ruins 1150-USB and 1170-LSB). On the Perseus, IBOC ruins the "far" sidebands (1150-LSB and 1170-USB). 73 (Tim, Sent from my BlackBerry 10 smartphone, Hall, Jan 6, ibid.) RADIO EQUIPMENT FORUM +++++++++++++++++++++ MI-6 HEADQUARTERS, LONDON The MI-6 Headquarters building in London has at least 6 (six) large fixtures on 3 (three) different levels of the roof. Search Wikipedia "SIS Building" to see photographs. To me they look somewhat like slingshots but I wonder if these fixtures might be loop antennas (or cubical quad antennas)? Or are they simply decorative? Any ideas? (Jlenamon, Waco, TX, Jan 6, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) BIG REEL OF COAX ON THE LOOSE https://www.facebook.com/CBSPittsburgh/videos/10154434079918822/ CRAZY VIDEO: Watch as vehicles dodge a giant spool of wire that fell off a truck on Route 40 near Uniontown, Pennsylvania. Details: http://cbsloc.al/2iEBDc9 (via Jerry Kiefer, FL, DXLD) Viz.: WATCH: SPOOL OF WIRE FALLS OFF TRUCK, ROLLS DOWN ROUTE 40 January 5, 2017 12:40 AM By Ross Guidotti UNIONTOWN (KDKA) — It’s an incredible if not frightening sight. A giant spool of wire rolling down a highway in Fayette County, headed right for traffic. The huge wooden spool fell off a truck on Route 40 around 9 a.m. Wednesday and started rolling, heading east into Uniontown. KDKA viewer Dave Cole, originally from Alabama, captured the whole incident on cell phone video. “Not in all my traveling, I’ve never seen nothing like that. Seen quite a few accidents, but nothing quite like that,” Cole said. It passes four cars, hits the guard rail, goes across two lanes, hits the median, and then looks like it’s going to stop, but it keeps on going and hits the guard rail again. “[The spool] was probably eight to 10 feet across, and I’d say, just guessing, a couple thousand pounds. Pretty good size roll of wire,” Cole said. Cole’s video shows motorist slowing down and moving out of the way. “They were starting, some of them starting to get off the side of the road as the roll of wire started getting sideways,” said Cole. Cole said he was traveling from Nemaocolin to Uniontown when the large spool and a spare tire came loose from a trailer in front of him. “That’s the trailer I believe the spool actually came off of,” Cole said. “I didn’t actually see it come off of the trailer, but it had straps laying loose and you could tell that it had come off of it.” The truck with a trailer kept pace as the big wheel continued turning faster and faster down the road. “I was probably going 20 miles per hour, and it was leaving me way behind,” Cole said. Once it hit the guard rail a second time, it finally came to a stop. Amazingly, the spool only hit the guard rail and median. “We do a lot of traveling and hauling. That’s key, make sure your load is secured. Obviously, they didn’t have the right equipment there,” Cole said. “Luckily, everybody was okay, but it was pretty crazy.” (via Kiefer, DXLD) Never follow a flatbed, and avoid 18-wheelers. Where do you suppose all those exploded tire remnants along the hiway come from? (gh, DXLD) MARE Paul Dobosz passes along an interesting article from the Huntington [sic] Post about WHAT IS KILLING (HAS KILLED?) AM RADIO: http://tinyurl.com/AM-noise MY comments? In other news, the Sun is anticipated to rise in the east tomorrow morning, and nighttime darkness is then expected to be replaced with a widespread lightening in the sky. And smart-asses will continue to make jokes about serious problems. If the FCC were REALLY serious about AM revitalization, they would ban type-acceptance of all switching power supplies, and makes computer makers ACTUALLY shield the machines to prevent RF leakage. They'd also insist that local stations provide LOCAL PICaN but we can't ask for too much can we? -- (Kenneth Vito Zichi, MI, ed., MARE Tipsheet Jan 6 via DXLD) = Public Interest, Convenience, and Necessity AMATEUR RADIO HEADED TO PICKAWAY-ROSS Chris Balusik, Reporter 12:17 p.m. ET Jan. 6, 2017 CHILLICOTHE -- Pickaway-Ross Career and Technology Center science instructor David Pentecost has a philosophy that he always tries to live by. "If you don't take a chance, you don't have a chance," he says. With that in mind, a recent chance he took in partnership with engineering program instructor Mark Johnston appears poised to pay off for the school and some of its students as they prepare to enter the world of amateur radio -- what many people prefer to call ham radio, although Pentecost is not fond of that phrase. Read or Share this story: http://ohne.ws/2i0U8qr (via Mike Cooper, DXLD) COMBATTING [sic] AM (AND SW) INTERFERENCE Lots of useful advice here in this article for relative beginners. https://radiojayallen.com/combatting-am-and-sw-interference/ Posted by: (Richard Gedye, BDXC-UK yg via DXLD) TUNGSRAM RADIOS FROM HUNGARY Tungsram were a Hungarian company based in Újpest and established in 1896 to make telephones, wires and switchboards. They went on to manufacturing radios. Since 1990 Tungsram has been a subsidiary of General Electrics. There is a fascinating 282 page, lavishly illustrated book of the company's history, written in English, available as a PDF at https://goo.gl/FUjq9d (Chrissy Brand, Collector`s Corner, Jan BDXC-UK Communication via DXLD) PROPAGATION +++++++++++ NEW AURORAL OBSERVATORY IN ICELAND: See CHINA [non] :Product: Weekly Highlights and Forecasts :Issued: 2017 Jan 09 0609 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 02 - 08 January 2017 Solar activity was at very low levels with only a few low level B-class flares observed. The solar disk was mostly spotless throughout the period. No Earth-directed coronal mass ejections were observed. No proton events were observed at geosynchronous orbit. The greater than 2 MeV electron flux at geosynchronous orbit was normal to moderate levels with high levels observed on 05-08 January. The largest flux value of the period was 25,537 pfu observed at 08/1935 UTC. Geomagnetic field activity was at quiet to unsettled levels on 02 January under a nominal solar wind environment. By 03 January, a solar sector boundary crossing was observed at approximately 03/0956 UTC transitioning into a negative sector followed by increase in solar wind speed and total field indicating the onset of a negative polarity coronal hole high speed stream (CH HSS). Total field increased to a maximum of 15 nT on 04/0444 UTC. Solar wind increased from approximately 372 km/s to 695 km/s by 05/1423 UTC. Solar wind speeds continued near 670 km/s through the rest of the period. The geomagnetic field responded with quiet to active levels from 03-08 January. FORECAST OF SOLAR AND GEOMAGNETIC ACTIVITY 09 JANUARY-04 FEBRUARY 2017 Solar activity is expected to be at very low levels with low levels possible from 12-26 January due to the return of old Region 2621 (N10, L=237). No proton events are expected at geosynchronous orbit. The greater than 2 MeV electron flux at geosynchronous orbit is expected to be at normal to moderate levels with high levels likely on 9-10, 12-16, 18-27 January and on 01-04 February due to CH HSS influence. Geomagnetic field activity is expected to be at unsettled to active levels on 09, 11-14, 17-23, and 27 January through 04 February with G1 (Minor) storm levels likely on 17-19, 21-22 January, and again on 03 February due to recurrent CH HSS effects. :Product: 27-day Space Weather Outlook Table 27DO.txt :Issued: 2017 Jan 09 0610 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 2017-01-09 # # UTC Radio Flux Planetary Largest # Date 10.7 cm A Index Kp Index 2017 Jan 09 72 12 4 2017 Jan 10 72 5 2 2017 Jan 11 72 12 4 2017 Jan 12 72 15 4 2017 Jan 13 72 10 3 2017 Jan 14 72 8 3 2017 Jan 15 73 5 2 2017 Jan 16 73 5 2 2017 Jan 17 73 25 5 2017 Jan 18 73 20 5 2017 Jan 19 74 25 5 2017 Jan 20 75 18 4 2017 Jan 21 75 20 5 2017 Jan 22 75 20 5 2017 Jan 23 75 10 3 2017 Jan 24 75 5 2 2017 Jan 25 75 5 2 2017 Jan 26 74 5 2 2017 Jan 27 74 12 4 2017 Jan 28 74 15 4 2017 Jan 29 73 7 3 2017 Jan 30 73 10 3 2017 Jan 31 73 12 4 2017 Feb 01 73 16 4 2017 Feb 02 72 18 4 2017 Feb 03 72 20 5 2017 Feb 04 72 16 4 (SWPC via WORLD OF RADIO 1860, DXLD) GLENN`S PROPAGATION OUTLOOK FOR MEDIA NETWORK PLUS AS OF JAN 12, 2017 Keith, From IPS in Australia, the Global HF Propagation Forecast, thru January 14: poor to normal at all latitude bands, with continuing moderate MUF depressions likely. From Spaceweather Souoth Africa, thru January 14: magnetic conditions unsettled to quiet, shortwave fadeouts unlikely, MUF unstable. From Met Office UK: geomagnetic activity mainly quiet, January 14 and 15. From F K Janda in Prague, the Geomagnetic field will be: quiet to active on January 13 - 14, 17 - 18, 28, 31 mostly quiet on January 15, 26, 30, quiet on January 16, 24 - 25, active to disturbed on January 19 - 20, (21 - 22,) February 1 quiet to unsettled on January 23, 27, 29 From Spaceweather Canada, the long term magnetic activity forecast shows highest DRX nanoteslas in the auroral zone of 170, on January 19, lowest of 20 on January 26. From SWPC in Boulder, Geomagnetic field is expected to be at unsettled to active levels on January 14, 17-23, and January 27 through February 4 with G1 (Minor) storm levels likely on January 17-19, with A and K indices of 25 and 5; also January 21-22 and February 3, at 20 and 5. Solar flux peaking at 75 from January 20 to 25. William Hepburn`s VHF-UHF DX forecast maps call for extreme tropospheric ducting off the west coast of México but not Baja California, until January 14. And off the west coast of Australia January 15 (via DXLD) ###