DX LISTENING DIGEST 19-01, January 1, 2019 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 2018 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 1963 contents: Alaska, Argentina, Bolivia, Brasil, Canada, China, Cuba, Denmark, France, Greece, India, Iran and non, Ireland, Italy and non, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, Nigeria non, North America, Perú, Poland non, Romania, Sa`udi Arabia, Spain, Sudan, Turkey, USA; and the propagation outlook SHORTWAVE AIRINGS of WORLD OF RADIO 1963, January 1-7, 2019 Tue 0030 WRMI 7730 [1962 replayed] Tue 2030 WRMI 7780 [1962 replayed] Wed 0930 Unique 5045-LSB NSW Australia low-power [resumes Jan 9] Wed 1030 WRMI 5950 [confirmed] Wed 2200 WRMI 9955 [confirmed] Wed 2200 WBCQ 7490v [confirmed] Fri 0930 Unique 5045-LSB NSW Australia low-power [resumes Jan 11] Sat 0730 HLR 6190-CUSB Hamburger Lokalradio [confirmed Bulgaria] Sat 0930 Unique 5045 NSW Australia low-power [resumes Jan 19] Sat 1200 WINB 9265 via Unique Radio [also 5045-LSB from Jan 12] Sat 1230 WRMI 9955 [confirmed] Sat 1531 HLR 9485-CUSB Hamburger Lokalradio Sat 2030v WA0RCR 1860-AM Sat 2200 WRMI 9955 [confirmed] Sun 0400v WA0RCR 1860-AM [nominal 0415; confirmed from 0418] Sun 0830 WRMI 5850 5950 7730 [all confirmed] Sun 1130 HLR 7265-CUSB Hamburger Lokalradio [confirmed Bulgaria] Sun 2130 WRMI 7780 [confirmed] Mon 0230 WRMI 5950 9395 [confirmed] Mon 0400v WBCQ 5130v-AM Area 51 [confirmed] Mon 0430 WRMI 9955 [confirmed] Mon 0930 Unique 5045 NSW Australia low-power [confirmed in NSW] Mon 2330 WRMI 9955 [NEW; confirmed]; also 5950? NO Tue 0030 WRMI 7730 [confirmed] 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 MORE PODCAST ALTERNATIVES, tnx to Keith Weston: https://blog.keithweston.com/2018/11/22/world-of-radio-podcast/ feedburner: http://feeds.feedburner.com/GlennHausersWorldOfRadio NEW via tunein.com: http://bit.ly/tuneinwor 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 IMPORTANT NOTICE!!!! WOR IO GROUP: Effective Feb 4, 2018, DXLD yg archive and members have been migrated to this group: https://groups.io/g/WOR [there was already an unrelated group at io named dxld!, so new name] From now on, the io group is primary, where all posts should go. One may apply for membership, subscribe via the above site. DXLD yahoogroup: remains in existence, and members are free to COPY same info to it, as backup, but no posts should go to it only. They may want to change delivery settings to no e-mail, and/or no digest. The change was necessary due to increasing outages, long delays in posts appearing, and search failures at the yg. Why wait for DXLD issues? A lot more info, not all of it appearing in DXLD later, is posted at our io group without delay. DX LISTENING DIGEST IN PDF, HTML VERSIONS Jacques Champagne in Ville-Marie, Québec, has developed programs to convert DXLD .txt into PDF and HTML versions for his own use, and now has made them available to the rest of us. Starting with 18-24, they have been posted as attachments to the WOR iog. And now also posted on our website. INTRODUXION to DXLD in HTML and PDF: http://www.worldofradio.com/DXLDformats.htm HTML and PDF versions converted by Jacques Champagne are now also posted shortly for open access: http://www.w4uvh.net/dxld1901.html http://www.w4uvh.net/dxld1901.pdf Thanks also to Jacques for assisting with formatting of .txt original ** ALASKA. My Christmas present: Possible log of KICY-850?! Reviewing my Perseus recordings from Dec 17th, I found something very interesting. Shortly after 0700 UT, while KOA (which is barely audible on my SSE/NNW mini-BoG) was running ABC News, and XEMIA faded out, a station in English faded up. After some religious-sounding music, a man who sounded like a pastor spoke for about 20 seconds about the history of the song "Away in a Manger," then played the song. Looking at KICY's schedule, they would have been running "Songs in the Night" with Dr. Edwin Lutzer, which seems a good match for what I heard. I can't find an archive of this program, but I listened to some other recent broadcasts by Dr. Lutzer, and the voice seems pretty similar. I've sent an email to Moody Radio to see if they can confirm the program content. My antenna is aimed 161/341 degrees up and down the Pacific coast, so Nome is right on the beam. There's not much else this could be. I can't imagine the Tacoma station would air anything like this. I had a very similar tentative catch of KICY from Cambria, CA one year ago last week, with a similarly-oriented antenna. I'll have to make a few more Perseus recordings while conditions are quiet. I'm pretty sure. It's only 9 degrees off the beam of the antenna (332 degrees to Nome vs. antenna bearing of 341) and half of that is water path. Something like this: [image: image.png] KHHO is conservative talk and sports. They don't post a current schedule (the one on KJR's web site reflects their previous lineup). I should be able to eliminate them. I may send them a note via their web page. Hopefully Moody Radio will answer my inquiry. 73 and Merry Christmas (Tim Hall, Chula Vista CA (between San Diego and Tijuana), Sent from my BlackBerry 10 smartphone, Dec 25, ABDX via WORLD OF RADIO 1963, DXLD) I'm still in suspense waiting to hear from Moody Radio. I'll have to try again when conditions are better. They were horrible yesterday. 850 is a pretty wide open frequency when you have an antenna that almost totally nulls KOA. Apart from XEZF (which is still more or less a daytimer), the surviving stations out west are XEMIA (weak and likely moving to FM in the next 4-6 months), KHHO (never logged from anywhere except on good SRS/SSS days when they're still on day pattern) and good old non-directional KICY. If I can't resolve this current logging, I bet I'll eventually catch their Russian programming overnight. Unfortunately, a whole crew of ironworkers are walking all over my antenna every day as they repair and repaint the cheap iron bars on the wall behind the houses on our street. So far I don't think the antenna is broken, but I think the workmen will be trampling that wire for a few more weeks. 73 (Tim Hall, Chula Vista, Sent from my BlackBerry 10 smartphone, Dec 27, ABDX yg via WORLD OF RADIO 1963, DXLD) Later: he got it for sure, more reports next issue (gh) ** ANGOLA. 4949.752, Dec 26 at 0234, RNA is S4-S5, noisy but some mod audible. Checking this to compare with Madagascar, since there are NO Mozambiquans on SW (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) At 0200, Radio Nacional Angola is making a better showing on 4949.74 than it has in many months. Not great, but right at the threshold of readable and seemingly getting better as the hour goes on (Art Delibert, N. Bethesda, MD, 12/27/18, Ten Tec RX-340, SAL-12 antenna, Hard-Core-DX mailing list via DXLD) 4949.741, Mulenvos weak and tiny these days, 0236 UT S=6-7 two ute signals co-channel too 4949.990 and 4950.006 kHz [selected SDR options, span 12.5 kHz RBW 15.3 Hertz] (Wolfgang Bueschel, df5sx, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Dec 29, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ANGUILLA. 11775, Caribbean Beacon on today at 1930. It must be the weekend, with Dr. Gene Scott preaching, still heard on his never ending journey on the edge of time (check note the station abruptly closed at 2000 UT) - Very Good Dec 22 [Sat] (Rick Barton, Sun City AZ, Grundig Satellit 205(T.5000) & 750; HQ-200; RS SW-2000629, with various outdoor wires, WOR iog via DXLD) 6090, University Network BLASTING in with the late Rev. Dr. Gene Scott 2311z PREACH (Steven Wiseblood, Harlingen TX, Dec 31, WOR iog via DXLD) Rarely on 6090 any more (gh) ** ARGENTINA. 1710, Radio Selva (Argentina) into Michigan right now 1/1/2019 at 0630 UT: First new log of 2019 and it's a good one! I'm currently hearing music on 1709.81 that matches up to what I'm hearing on two remote Kiwi SDRs in Paraguay and Brazil. Given the frequency offset and parallel Kiwi SDR match, I'm fairly confident that this is Radio Selva from Argentina. A check of Radio Selva's online audio stream, though significantly behind the live audio, also confirms what I'm hearing on the two remote SDRs. This is on my South DKAZ where I have to listen using synchronous AM, but shaping the bandwidth such that 95% passband favors the upper sideband of 1709.81 (to dodge 1700 splatter) while notching out the multiple low powered domestic hets from 1710. A bit tricky to set up, but it's allowing me to catch and parallel a little bit of Argentinian music. Happy New Year, (Tim Tromp, West Michigan, 0641 UT Jan 1, ABDX yg via WORLD OF RADIO 1963, DXLD) Congratulations on another amazing catch, Tim! I can see the carrier here in Iowa, but I'm not getting any audio. Happy New Year to you and yours my friend (-Tim Rahto, 0701 UT Jan 1, IRCA via DXLD) Thanks, Tim. I've noted the carrier here before but this is the first time that any audio has ever come through. The carrier was stronger than usual so I decided to stick with it for a while, just in case. Patience paid off! Happy New Year, (-Tim Tromp, MI, ibid.) ** ARGENTINA. Ana Gerschenson renunció a la dirección de Radio Nacional --- Infobae Miércoles 2 de Enero de 2019 Últimas Noticias, Thelma Fardin Cultura La conocida periodista — y hasta hace unas horas funcionaria — tomó la decisión de abandonar el mando de la emisora estatal por desencuentros con la política económica del gobierno en los medios públicos. "No puedo acompañar la decisión de no otorgar una paritaria en un año difícil como el que termina", escribió en su carta de renuncia 20 de diciembre de 2018 Luego de casi tres años al mando, Ana Gerschenson renunció a la dirección de Radio Nacional. Tomó esta decisión de dar un paso al costado luego de varios desencuentros con las autoridades en relación a lo que se conoce como paritaria cero en los medios públicos, una política definida por Hernán Lombardi, director del Sistema de Medios Públicos. Luego de horas de rumores, se confirmó finalmente la salida de la periodista de la dirección de la radio. En su carta de renuncia, dirigida al secretario de Medios Hernán Lombardi, Gerschenson destacó "el ámbito de total libertad" en el que pudo trabajar desde su llegada en 2016 y la posibilidad de haber logrado "una programación plural y una radio austera y transparente". Pero la conocida periodista no está dispuesta a acompañar las decisiones del gobierno en materia de ajuste económico. "No puedo acompañar la decisión de no otorgar una paritaria en un año difícil como el que termina", escribió en su carta. "No me da la cara ni el corazón", se le escuchó decir. A continuación, la carta completa de renuncia. . . https://www.infobae.com/cultura/2018/12/20/ana-gerschenson-renuncio-a-la-direccion-de-radio-nacional/ (via GRA blog via DXLD) ** ARGENTINA [non]. 5950 // 9395, Fri Dec 28 at 2240, WRMI in Italian mentioning Buenos Aires --- and also // 7780. So the RAE relay gets three transmitters this hour today (four if you count Spanish on 5010 only). Transmission skedgrid shows RAE Italian supposed to be on 7780 only, while 5950 & 9395 are supposed to be on WRN in the 22-23 hour (which had been DW in English). The program grids find RAE Italian only on System G (primarily Oldies) at 22-23 Mon-Fri on 7780 and 9395, but not 5950 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ASCENSION [and non]. Few Ascension Island broadcast center relays noted: 5960even, R Ndarason Internat, S=9+20dB, but co-ch Radio Kuwait hundreds Hz odd heterodyne. 6005even, strongest ASC into Europe, S=9+30dB, BBCWS sports review 2018, Tiger Woods, Wimbledon Tennis etc. 5975even, BBC Hausa px, S=9, 7305even, BBC Hausa px, S=9+15dB. 7345even, BBC WS En classical music px, and Star Wars song mentioned, S=9+25dB, but suffered by ROU RRI European services in En and German CO-CHANNEL!! Very bad fq selection request by Babcock and RadioCom Romania FMO's at the HFCC conference. Lot's of nearby empty fq channels seen in 41 meterband at same time [selected SDR options, span 12.5 kHz RBW 15.3 Hertz] (Wolfgang Bueschel, df5sx, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Dec 31, DX LISTENING DIGEST) That would be 0630-0700 UT (gh) ** ASIA [non]. Radio Free Asia`s Year of the Pig QSL has a really cute paper-cut design, but I have been unable to find it on their website. It did appear in a DX bulletin (Glenn Hauser, WORLD OF RADIO 1963, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** AUSTRALIA. HF recording from the Sydney Hobart Yacht Race "Here is the HF Radio recording of Edward Tooher's Beneteau 47.7, Chancellor, reporting wind gusts in excess of 40 knots and they are rigging for storm with trisail and storm job being deployed." https://www.sail-world.com/news/213412/Sydney-Hobart--after-the-lull-comes-the-blow (via Kim Elliott, Dec 30, WOR iog via DXLD) ** AUSTRALIA. Good Afternoon all, I hope you all had a good Christmas :-) I'm noting Radio 4KZ with a good late afternoon signal with audio peaking up to fair - good levels at 1624 UT. I've logged multiple times now Radio 4KZ being on the air longer than its cut off time on schedules. I wonder if this is a permanent thing or for the Christmas holidays? Noted using my Perseus SDR (Personal SDR) - Beverage - Remote QTH Finland (Maakeski). GH on WOR kindly gave me a mention about Radio 4KZ - Thanks, Glenn. Best Regards, (Jordan Heyburn, UKOGBANI, 1630 UT Dec 26, bdxc-news iog via DXLD) ** BANGLADESH. Extended programming from Bangladesh Betar is currently on 4750 kHz, probably due to the general elections there. Heard with a weak signal on the Twente SDR, 30 Dec 2018, 1920 UT, with talk and music // webstream. Strong signal with QRN on the New Delhi Kiwi SDR, ID after each song. The songs are apparently patriotic, since they sing the word "Bangladesh" quite frequently. 73, (Eike Bierwirth, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Im Vergleich zu dem KIWI -SDR in New Dehli ist der Webstream ca. 40 s[econds?] hinterher. http://192.235.87.105:14322/ Vom Netzwerk empfangen: 3302784 Byte Server: SHOUTcast Distributed Network Audio Server/Linux v1.9.8 Inhaltstyp: audio/mpeg Empfangene Metadaten: 180 Byte Metadaten-Intervall: 32768 Byte Stream-Name: Bangladesh Betar AM Aktueller Titel: 139.Tumi vorer shishir Tumi vorer shishi = ???? ????? ????= Du bist in der Früh am Morgen (lt. Google Translator Bengalisch) (roger, WOR iog via DXLD) ** BELGIUM. RTBF --- jetzt um 2140 UT habe ich die Spanier und Hintergund Musik 1125 kHz mit http://www.rtbfradioplayer.be/radio/liveradio/vivacite verglichen, aber komme zu keiner Aussage. Dank an Alexander, ist Vivacite 1125 kHz wohl um 20.03 CET 'verschieden'. > 1125 kHz (Vivacité): Abschaltung des Senders um 20.03 Uhr MEZ - so hörte A sich die letzte Sendeminute über ein belgisches KiwiSDR an: http://www.mwlist.org/sounds/2018-12-31T19_02_00Z_1125.00_am_hainaut-picardie.ddns.net.mp3 Der Perseus im Grenzgebiet HOL/BEL zeigt 6 peaks um 2140 UT 1124.945 1124.961 1124.984 1124.997 staerkst 1125.001 1125.002 1/2 RTBF Houdeng - La Louviere (Hainault) MW 1125 kHz G.C. 50 29 04 N 04 08 28 E 1124.991 kHz little odd fq of RTBF Vivacite program at 1250 UT on Dec 23, French language sce. S=9+20dB in peak at remote Netherlands SDR unit. 73 wb df5sx (Wolfgang Bueschel, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Re: Jetzt ist es offiziell. Die RTBF MW Sender auf 621 und 1125 kHz machen am 31.Dez.2018 schluss (Remy Friess, Nov 22, A-DX via Martin Elbe, A-DX via Wolfgang Bueschel, DXLD) 1125 sendet eben noch. 621 kHz ist weg. In der letzten Zeit ließ man ja den Träger in der Nacht stehen, aber da der Sender morgen ja nicht mehr gebraucht wird, hat man jetzt den Stecker gezogen. Es kommt RNE auf der Frequenz (Martin Elbe, Dec 31, ibid.) Je ne trouve plus rien sur le 1125. On va voir demain, pendant le jour. Ça peut améliorer 630 Three Counties radio, ici, a la côte Belge. Pour le 1125, je ne sais pas (Marc Coevoet, Dec 31, ibid.) In Belgium things could get really interesting, considering that during the last days the 621 kHz carrier again stayed on air all night long. And once more: In no way this signal is still run with 300 kW. A two-digit figure appears to be realistic (Kai Ludwig, Germany, WOR iog via DXLD) Monitoring using the U. Twente SDR receiver, it seemed the combined signal strength on 621 kHz dropped by about 10 dB during the hour after Wavre signed off. But hard to tell if the transmitter was actually turned off. Of course, we have Spain and other stations on the frequency. Kia? (— Richard Langley, NB, WOR iog via DXLD) Yes, it seems that both RTBF mediumwave transmitters, 621 and 1125 kHz, have been turned off between 1930 and 2000 UT, maybe a bit later. That final Wavre sign-off was a bad joke, because it was the same stuff as always, with the announcement that transmissions will resume at 6 AM. Not really a surprise, however; I was told that they made in 2010 quite a mess of the closure of analogue TV. Or just look at the mess the "RTBF International" brand became when they turned off shortwave and Hotbird. Over to 1008 kHz (Kai Ludwig, 0016 UT Jan 1, WOR iog via DXLD) See NETHERLANDS Thanks, Kai. Sorry my fingers messed up your name. Or was it the iPhone correcting my spelling? Or the fact that I drive a Kia? ;-) (— Richard Langley, ibid.) From the audio recording I made using the U. Twente SDR receiver, it appears that the 621 kHz transmitter was switched off at about 1938 UT. There is a noticeable change in the audio level of the other stations on that frequency at that time. And, although RTBF International continues to exist in principle, they didn't bother to update their online program grid for the past couple of years. I'll archive the last hour of 621 kHz, which was a program in a series about Charles Aznavour, a recipient of the Order of Canada amongst other awards and who died last fall, soon. There was actually an international flavour to this last program as it was co-produced by Radio Francophone Publique, La RTBF, Radio Suisse Romande, Radio France, and Radio-Canada. Last hour or so of 621 kHz programming has been archived here: https://shortwavearchive.com/archive/rtbf-international-621-khz-final-sign-off-december-31-2018 and here: https://archive.org/details/RTBFInternational0.621MHZ31Decmber20181800UTC (ignore typo in URL) (-- Richard Langley, Jan 1, WOR iog via DXLD) ** BOLIVIA. After Brazil at 0200, next chance for some NYE SW celebrations is Bolivia in the UT-4 zone at 0400. I would prefer to listen to Radio Santa Cruz, but not heard lately nor tonight on 6134.8. That leaves: 5952.48, Radio Pio Doce, still on at 0207. Aoki/NDXC shows 0100*; WRTH is noncommittal; and EiBi says 0230* Tue-Sun, other nights 0100* -- and January 1 until 0500 (I do not see that until next day). So I keep checking. Altho Argentina poses no direct QRM to its neighbor Bolivia, ironically it does now with the RAE English relay via WRMI much stronger on 5950 and splashing. But that`s the Pope`s fault for not sticking to nominal 5955, why? RPXII still on at 0232, and at 0352 but by now as 2019 acercates itself, has faded to JBA, so no point in listening further (Glenn Hauser, OK, Jan 1, WORLD OF RADIO 1963, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BRAZIL [and non]. 5939.697, Voz Miss., S=7 at 0614 UT, heavy splash from adjacent WWCR 5935 S=9+30dB, latter best audio quality US station these days on shortwave [selected SDR options, span 12.5 kHz RBW 15.3 Hertz] (Wolfgang Bueschel, df5sx, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Dec 31, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BRAZIL. 5980 kHz, Radio Marumby, Curitiba PR, 31/12 1211. Px 'Clamor Missionario'. 35553. Radio Marumby has spurious signals on 6020 and 6210 kHz.(Rudolf Grimm, São Bernardo SP, BRAZIL http://dxways-br.blogspot.com YouTube Channel: GrimmSBC, HCDX via DXLD) ** BRAZIL. 6080.025, Dec 27 at 0638, JBA talk with a bit of pulse jamming; a VOA English frequency from São Tomé at 03-07 (with beam changes at 05 & 06), but would not expect it to be this far offset, while I do not have anything on 6080.00 this late. Presumed R. Marumby, Curitiba, which is active but seldom logged here, recently reported elsewhen by Manuel Méndez, Spain; and by Rudolf Grimm in Brasil: ``Radio Marumby, Curitiba (on 6080.02 kHz)`` as QRM to Gruss an Bord (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Later: Sao Tome also confirmed off-frequency circa (gh) ** BRAZIL. 6180, Radio Nacional da Amazonia, Brasilia DF, PP, 31/12 1200. News bulletin 'Nacional Informa'.' ZYE365 Radio Nacional da Amazonia...'. 35553. Tx with 0º Az to North of Brazil. On the ID, no information about used frequencies: just 'ZYE365 Radio Nacional da Amazonia.... cobrindo o Brasil' (Rudolf Grimm, São Bernardo SP, BRAZIL http://dxways-br.blogspot.com YouTube Channel: GrimmSBC, HCDX via DXLD) After Spain at 2300 UT, next chance for some NYE SW celebrations is Brazil at 0200 = midnight BDST. 6180.03, at 0157 UT Jan 1, usual clash of RNA with CRI via Cuba making fast SAH, but better signal than 4885 or any other ZY. 0159 announcers chatting right thru hourtop with no timesignal, but at least ``Feliz ano novo`` and fireworx exploding. 0201 lengthy full ID for all R. Nacional stations starting with RN Brasília on 980, also mentioning 11780 [inactive] & 6180 somewhere in the middle. A bit of song, but off at 0203* after one word, ``Nacional``, uncovering CRICuba (Glenn Hauser, OK, WORLD OF RADIO 1963, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BRAZIL. 15190.1, Radio Inconfidêencia, Belo Horizonte, 1827-1845, 24-12, Portuguese, comments, ID “Radio Inconfidencia”, song “Feliz Navidad”. 25322. Also 0930-0950, 25-12, ID “... onda media, 880 kHz, ondas curtas de 49 metros, 6010 kHz, ondas curtas de 19 metros, 15190 khz, ... emisoras da Rede Inconfidencia de Radio, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brasil”, program “Em Boa Companhia”. 24322 (Manuel Méndez, Spain, WOR iog via DXLD) ** BULGARIA. 9400, SW Radiogram #79 via 'Secretbrod' starting out with an open carrier, LONG before the audio started at the ToH. Poor, and fading, but with splatter from Brother Stairmaster pretty much eliminated by USB Sync. MFSK64 text was in 70-75% ish and again, a couple of the photo 'headers' were garbled so even the fuzzy photos didn't decode at all. The last (ad) photo for Tecsun Australia wasn't decoded because of a decode error in the header too. I will record the replay at 0800 tomorrow as last week. MFSK 32 fared better, with 85-90% decoding. Just as a sample, here's one photo: Municipal Christmas decoration: [illustrated in WOR iog] The broadcast ended with music, that was JUST barely audible above my local QRM and the static. As last week, the audio was barely there, but the digital tones were in well. Very poor, 34432 at first, fading to 243+31+ by end, with the voice portion of the 'cast just barely discernible, even at the beginning, but the digital text tones making it through fine as noted. *1353-1430:+11* 22/Dec, SDRplay +SDRuno +ANC-4 +FLDigi +randomwire (Kenneth Vito Zichi, from my 'home' in Williamston, Michigan, heard with an actual radio and actual antenna in my actual yard/house with my actual analog ears, and mostly in 'real time' (well, occasionally recorded, for reasons of sanity and sleep, but I do then actually listen to the recording! :) DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BULGARIA. Uncle Bill's Melting Pot is doing two New Year's Eve Special Broadcasts at different times and frequencies. One of these, on 9400 kHz, should be listenable in at least parts of Western Russia: Uncle Bill's Rockless New Year's Eve Special: Unusual new year's customs and music from around the world. A. For Europe: Monday, December 31, 1800-1900 UT on Spaceline, 9400 kHz from Bulgaria (different azimuth from the From the Isle of Music broadcasts, but should still be listenable in parts of Western Russia) B. For the Americas and portions of Europe: Midnight, December 31 (0000-0100 UT Tuesday, or 7-8 pm Eastern Time US) on WBCQ 5130 kHz (Bill Tilford, Dec 30, RusDX mailing list via DXLD) 9400, via UTWente SDR, Dec 31 at 1758, Brother Scare, cut off at 1759 for a minute of dead air rather than any Spaceline ID, 1800 start `Uncle Bill`s Rockless NYE Special`. Interesting music and I listen to first half, but the UTWente feed keeps breaking up for me. Figured it would still be better than direct, or on WBCQ later, and at 1858 check here, 9400 is JBA, while 5130+ will be a JBA carrier and presumably not webcast (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BULGARIA [and non]. About other beepery programs: http://www.rhci-online.net/radiogram/SW_Radiogram_2018-12-29.htm Mit den #tags: IBC http://www.rhci-online.net/radiogram/SW_Radiogram_2018-12-29.htm#IBC (IBC kam auch heute über 7780 kHz, aber es dürfte sich dann alles um Wiederholungen handeln, für die nächsten Tage und Wochen) zur Geschichte der IBC: http://www.rhci-online.net/radiogram/VoA_Radiogram_2016-06-25.htm#IBC KBC http://www.rhci-online.net/radiogram/SW_Radiogram_2018-12-29.htm#KBC Dem kann ich mich nur anschließen. SWRG http://www.rhci-online.net/radiogram/SW_Radiogram_2018-12-29.htm#SWRG Sonogram der 7780 kHz WRMI über einen KIWI-SDR im 44° Nordost-Beam von WRMI Text + eingebettete Bilder darunter dann von der 9400 kHz Kostinbrod, eigener IC-R75 & 12 MHz Dipol SSR_20 http://www.rhci-online.net/radiogram/SW_Radiogram_2018-12-29.htm#SSR_20 Slow Scan Radio - edition 20, sonogram der 6070 kHz/ch292 Kootwijk was ich da noch nicht kannte: "Radio Kootwijk" http://www.rhci-online.net/radiogram/SW_Radiogram_2018-12-29.htm#Kootwijk Gegenstation in Java/Indonesien: https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lichtbogensender#Funkstation_Malabar [ich will lieber nicht wissen, was es dadurch für breitbandiges QRM in NL gab, damals.......] DRM http://www.rhci-online.net/radiogram/SW_Radiogram_2018-12-29.htm#DRM Auswertung des SSTV-Teils in DRM-QAM QAM http://www.rhci-online.net/radiogram/SW_Radiogram_2018-12-29.htm#QAM Hier die Stelle des HTML5-Audio-Players mit dem QAM-Audio zum Nach-Dekodieren (falls sich jemand daran versuchen möchte, 4 MB wav mit 8 kHz sampling) (roger, WOR iog Jan 1 via DXLD) ** CANADA. 284 kHz, Dec 25 at 0622, beacon QD and dash, 500 watts from The Pas, Manitoba; YYW, 223, Armstrong, Ontario also relogged (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CANADA. Tip for those who DX Canadian AM signals --- Current, up to date data for Canadian AM's can be a bit hard to find. FCCdata.org lists power levels but doesn't have much other data. What may be useful is power/pattern change times and thanks to an RF/Telecom friend in Canada, I've found a database which may be very very useful to those who DX Canadian AM signals. https://sms-sgs.ic.gc.ca/licenseSearch/searchVirtualLicense?execution=e3s1 Type in call letters, hit download PDF; scroll down. licensed parameters and power up/down and pattern change times are listed. (Paul Walker, WY, nrc-am gg via DXLD) Michi has all that same data from the Industry Canada database available on FCCdata.org - you just need to make sure you've clicked the "Canada" search tab. Here's CJCL, for instance, with data on all 9 towers: https://fccdata.org/?lang=en&canam=CJCL (Scott Fybush, NY, ibid.) I didn’t see power/pattern change time on her site, unless I missed it (Paul Walker, ibid.) Good point. CJCL is a DA-1, so there is no power/pattern change time, but you're right, it's not on her site. I'll suggest that to her for her next revision (Fybush, ibid.) I’m not saying it’s be hugely useful, but might be handy to know why/why not you’re hearing something and know what licensed parameters you are hearing. It doesn’t appear patterns are there. They used to be on fccdata.org but aren’t anymore. Fccinfo.com has patterns, they might not be as accurate as possible, but are a good starting point. I guess (Paul Walker, ibid.) ** CANADA. 6070, CFRX, Toronto, 0505-0730, 25-12, Non stop pop songs in English, at 0600 “Coast to Coast AM news”, news, more nonstop songs, at 0700 mentioned “Toronto”, “Breaking news, AM Radio”, five minutes of news, more songs, song “Feliz Navidad” by José Feliciano. At about 0730 eclipsed by Channel 292. 25322 (Manuel Méndez, Spain, WOR iog via DXLD) ** CANADA. Paul-Emile MORNEAULT --- MORNEAULT, Paul-Emile 1927 - 2018 http://ottawacitizen.remembering.ca/obituary/paul-emile-morneault-1071967215?ckprm=1 Paul Emile Morneault died peacefully on December 9, 2018 at the age of 91. He was predeceased by his wife Martha with whom he shared 55 years. He is survived by his 4 children, Paul and (Celeste), Mike and (Debbie), Cindy and (Raimo) and Pam and (Pete) as well as his grandchildren Philip and (Pam), Danielle and (John), Steven, Ashley, Brandon and (Klaudia), Mikayla and Elizabeth and (Quintin) and 3 great-grandchildren, Kiera, Jack and Isla. He retired from the Canadian Armed Forces as a Colonel after 35 years of dedicated service with the Communications and Electronics Branch. His career was highlighted by command of the 1st Canadian Signal Regiment, the School of Communications and Electronics, and the Supplementary Radio System. He retired as the Deputy Commander of the Canadian Forces Communications Command. After retirement he was appointed to the honorary position of Colonel Commandant of the Communications and Electronics Branch. He also pursued a second career with Radio Canada International as director of the technical department during the era of shortwave radio broadcasts. He will be remembered as a gallant man, a gentleman and a loving father. He was fiercely independent, brutally honest and somewhat of a perfectionist. Special thanks to the staff of Golden Home Care, Reseau Selection and Manoir Beaconsfield, and to all those who helped take care of him in his final years. A memorial service will take place on Friday, January 4 at 11 a.m. with visitation prior at 10 a.m. Services will be held at Rideau Funeral Home, 4275 boulevard des Sources, Dollard des Ormeaux, QC H9B 2A6. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Military Museum in Kingston, ON or the Alzheimer Society of Canada. Published on December 28, 2018 (via Mike Cooper, WORLD OF RADIO 1963, DXLD) obit ** CHAD [non]. 12050, ASCENSION. Radio Ndarason International, 1828, 12/25/18, in Kanuri. Two indigenous songs (very distinctive), 1845 male announcer speaks, musical bridge, announcer joined by another man into a short speech by a 3rd man whom the announcer then interviews, drum musical bridges between a series of short sections by a man and woman announcer, 1855 fill music into Afropop, 1900 ID and announcements by the same man and woman, brief Afropop into a woman speaking for some time. Poor – fair. Apparently WEWN was off today (Mark Taylor, Madison, Wisconsin. Perseus, Elad FDM-S2, Airspy HF+, ICOM R75, Tecsun PL 880, and various other portables; 42 meters dipole, 100’ long wire, W6LVP loop, NASWA Flashsheet via DXLD) Yes, should be filed under CHAD non, not NIGERIA non. It`s the first entry in the Clandestine & OTB sexion of WRTH 2019, page 511, which explains it thus: ``On SW since 24 Feb 2018. Produced by the Chad branch of Okapi Consulting [David Smith, Project Dir.] in partnership with the intergovernmental ``Lake Chad Commission``. The station targets the Kanuri and Kanembu speaking populations in areas under influence of Boko Haram in the Chad Basin region (especially Northern Nigeria and Chad). The Kanuri word ``ndarason`` translates as ``Everywhere You Go`` (``This radio station is with you, wherever you go``). Former sister station and successor project of the Nigeria-based Dandal Kura Radio International`` (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CHINA [and non]. 9860, Firedragon (crash and Bang music jamming station) 1850. Intended target is most likely RFA Chinese language service scheduled for this hour here. Crash boom bang - Good Dec 25 6105, Firedragon station at 1040. Crash boom bang. (Chinese language service from Radio Taiwan Intl. is the likely target of the jamming here) - Very Good Dec 27 (Rick Barton, Arizona SW Logs, Grundig Satellit 205(T.5000) & 750; HQ-200; RS SW-2000629, with various outdoor wires. ~ 73 and Good Listening.......!, WOR iog via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 6105, CNR3 (Voice of the Music) probably the one here instead of CNR1 News at 1150 // 6180 in Mandarin jamming RTI in Mandarin with piano instrumentals and an interview between two women at 1154 and abruptly off at 1157 – Poor to Fair with fading Dec 30 6180, CNR3 (Voice of the Music) probably the one here instead of CNR1 News at 1135 in Mandarin jamming RTI in Mandarin with an interview between two women and piano instrumentals from 1137 to 1143 and back to the interview and more piano instrumentals at 1151 and back to the interview at 1154 and abruptly off at 1157 – Good with fading Dec 30 (Mark Coady, Selwyn, Ontario, Kenwood TS440S or Ten-Tec Argonaut II and 40 and 80 meter off centre-fed dipoles, ODXA iog via DXLD) Is Mark rejecting our evidence that CNR3 is not on SW, or has he not seen it? However, SAPPRFT could plug in sporadically or at whim any programming source as jammerfodder, even CNR3 which has no formal SW service. We still need definite IDs (or web //s) to these CNR3`s Mark reports (Glenn Hauser, DXLD) 7445, Dec 31 at 2256, two stations mixing in Chinese with SAH: VOA via THAILAND and CNR1 jamming (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CHINA. 7270, PBS Nei Menggu – Hoh Hot (Presumed), 1316 (9:16 PM local time,) 12/24/18 in Mongolian. Very unusual program of Christmas music sung by what sounded like a church choir. The music was distinctly Western, however sung in a distinctive Chinese style with very high sopranos. “Silent night” was sung twice and 5 other songs segued. 1335 a man and woman picked up alternating talking (Mark Taylor, Madison, Wisconsin. Perseus, Elad FDM-S2, Airspy HF+, ICOM R75, Tecsun PL 880, and various other portables; 42 meters dipole, 100’ long wire, W6LVP loop, NASWA Flashsheet via WORLD OF RADIO 1963, DXLD) ** CHINA. 9655-DRM mode, CNR Urumqi [E TURKISTAN] at 2155 UT, S=9+10dB 6030-DRM mode, CNR Beijing at 2217 UT, S=9+30dB from Seoul Rep of [South] Korea log 2145 til 2220 UT, on Dec 29 [selected SDR options, span 12.5 kHz RBW 15.3 Hertz] (Wolfgang Bueschel, df5sx, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Dec 29, dxldyg via DXLD) ** CHINA [non]. 13650, Dec 27 at 2258, huge S9+45 open carrier, 2300 CRI IDs in Chinese and Portuguese, the language this hour via CUBA. Sufficient modulation level. Not a trace of CCI from NHK in Thai (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) see JAPAN! ** CONGO. 6115, Radio Congo, Brazzaville, 1701-1715, 24-12, French, comments ID “Radio Congo”. 22322. Also *0530-0615, 25-12, open with comments in vernacular, at 0600 Afropop songs, comments in French, ID “Radio Congo”. 25432 (Manuel Méndez, Spain, WOR iog via DXLD) ** CUBA. 530, CMBQ Radio Enciclopedia, Villa María, Cd. Habana. DEC 17 0659 - Easy listening music, usual pre-recorded female announcer. Relog. 530, CM-- Radio Rebelde, multiple locations. DEC 17 0700 - Familiar 9-note interval signal //670, 710, 1180. This antenna is aimed almost perpendicular to Cuba. Relog. 670, CM-- Radio Rebelde, multiple locations. DEC 17 0605 - Song //530, 1180 with very obvious echo (a full second late) between 2 or more signals. The second one is new, Cuba #33, station #1448. 710, CM-- Radio Rebelde, multiple locations. DEC 17 0700 - 9-note Rebelde attention signal clearly audible from at least two different transmitters about a second and a half apart. //530, 1180. The second one is new, Cuba #32, Station #1447. 1180, CM--, Radio Rebelde, multiple locations. DEC 17 0700 - 9-note Rebelde attention signal heard from at least 2, and possibly 3 transmitters, the third one coming a second or so after the first 2. If I were a bit more sure about the third signal, it would be new. Relog (Tim Hall, Chula Vista CA (between San Diego and Tijuana), Perseus SDR-IQ, 600 ft. unterminated beverage aimed SSE/NNW. Dates/Times UT, ABDX yg via DXLD) see also his huge MEXICO log ** CUBA. 15140 & 13700, Dec 25 at 1411, no spurfield detected from either today; something`s not wrong at RHC (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Dec 26 morning log on remote SDR's in Cape Canaveral Florida N9JY, Rochester NY, Detroit MI state, and Edmonton Alberta Canada VE6JY equipment. ABERRATION! MUCH SPECIAL broadcast center operation at RHC Quivican San Felipe TITAN center site this morning Dec 26: All Bauta transmissions cut-off / left at 0700 UT sharp this Dec 26 morning. But RHC outlet 6000 kHz QUI remained on air with full power another hour with empty carrier till UNBELIEVABLY LATE cut-off at 0801:20 UT sharp! <<<<< 6000, RHC English service at 0646 UT Dec 26, S=9+45dB -31dBm level in FL state. UNBELIEVABLY signal level S=9+55dB or -15dBm in Alberta Canada, S=9+25dB in Detroit MI state, S=9+15dB in Rochester NY state. AUDIO strings show 7 strings either sideband = 14 strings in total. 5040, RHC Bauta English at 0638 UT Dec 26. S=9+30dB in FL state. 5025, R Rebelde from Bauta site, guitar mx played at 0641 UT S=9+30dB, 20 kHz wideband - more modulation than 5040 kHz. 6060.002, RHC Bauta in English, S=9+15dB at 0649 UT Dec 26. 6100, RHC Bauta in English at 0651 UT, S=9+30dB, report on Cuban film industry and cinema operation. 6165, RHC Bauta in English, powerful S=9+40dB at 0652 UT but lower modulation though [selected SDR options, span 12.5 kHz RBW 15.3 Hertz] (Wolfgang Bueschel, df5sx, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Dec 26, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 15283 & 15311 approx., Dec 26 at 1430, spurs of RHC 15140 are JBA. Something`s always wrong at RHC. 13564-13574, Dec 26 at 1432, FM spur out of RHC 13700-AM is very strong wideband centered about 13569, with F# tone, somewhat more readable than the closer one at 13635 or so, and also found circa: 13767, 13834, 13901, 13967, 14033, 14102. Didn`t get to check the minus side with breakfast pending, and by 1455 the constellation is much attenuated. Are ops fiddling with the dials, consciously trying to suppress these, or is it random whether they will appear at all and how much for how long? Something`s always wrong at RHC. 6165, Dec 27 at 0638, RHC English is S9+20 but very suptorted, unreadable: wiggle that patchcord! Or pick another //: 6100, S9+10/S8 with OK mod 6060, S9+10/20 with good mod 6000, S9+30/20 with sufficient mod 5940, S9+20, overmodulated, distorted Something`s always wrong at RHC. 13780, Dec 27 at 1503, this RHC is off, nominal close at 1500. 13700 is on but spurless. BTW, Wolfgang Bueschel on Dec 18 measured 13780 considerably off-frequency, one thing which is unusual for RHC. ``Much surprise odd fq on lower sideband 13779.967 kHz signal from Bauta site, S=9+40dB at 1300 UT``. I need to measure it too before 1500. 6060, Dec 28 at 0510, RHC is in Spanish here // weaker 6100 and also 5040; while 6000 & 6165 are in English. After 0500 we would expect all to be in English (and 6100 never in Spanish). 12000 is JBA at 0512, presumed 2 x 6000. 11700 & 11840 fundamentals are still on in Spanish. So on this date, the Spanish/English handover at 0600? It`s still a tossup what will be where in the 05-06 hour. By next check 0652, 6100 & 6060 have changed to English along with 6000 & 6165. Something`s always wrong at RHC. 9570, Dec 28 at 1436, S9+10 of dead air, obviously the CRI relay frequency not turned off at 1400. Meanwhile, another transmitter is running CRI English as usual on 15700. Something`s always wrong at RadioCuba (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 13780.005, Dec 28 at 1439, RHC is close enough to on-frequency, unlike 13779.967 where Wolfgang Bueschel found them on Dec 18. 13700, Dec 28 at 1439, no FM spurs today. Something`s not wrong at RHC. 14997 & 15283, Dec 28 at 1829, JBA carriers; by 1853 I barely have enough audio on 14997 to make a match to 15140 RHC Spanish. So this must be the *same* transmitter putting out the same +/- ~143 kHz spurs before 1600 when Arnie`s B18 schedule had 15140 changing from Quivicán to Bauta. I had been suspecting this, since the modulation on 15140 itself is just as distorted and rough in the afternoons as in the mornings. Just one more bit of dis/misinformation from RHC, disproven by careful monitoring. Something`s always wrong at RHC (Glenn Hauser, OK, WORLD OF RADIO 1963, DX LISTENING DIGEST) And now logs from Cape Canaveral Florida state [c. 0245 UT]. 5025even CUB R Rebelde, distorted overmodulated audio. S=9+20 in IRL. 5040even CUB RHC Bauta, S=9+15db, talk in Spanish on Venezuela ll RHC okay on 6000, 6060, and 6165 kHz mostly S=9+30dB powerful. From morning log 0215 til 0400 UT [selected SDR options, span 12.5 kHz RBW 15.3 Hertz] (Wolfgang Bueschel, df5sx, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Dec 29, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 12000, Dec 29 at 0552, RHC English is S9, so is this an harmonic of 6000, or intentional; or harmonic but deliberately not filtered out? I check 2 X all the other 6 MHz frequencies and no trace of harmonix from them: 12330, 12200, 12120. At this hour English on 6000 & 6165 only; Spanish on weak 6100, strong 6060 & 5040. 0602 recheck, the last three have also switched to English, so 0600 is the nominal changeover time, at least tonight. I`m managing to doze before 0700 lately so unchecked which if any stay on another hour. Something`s always wrong at RHC (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CUBA. Checked the RHC Bejucal outlet of 13780 kHz today again. 1200-1500 13780 BEJ 050 135 SoAm Spanish 1400-1600 13700 BAU 100 315 WNAm Spanish and various spurs too Nothing of RHC noted in 22 meterband in 12-14 UT slot, Dec 29. But when checked 13780 kHz again around 1408 UT, and 13700 kHz around 1434 UT, both were on air in this 14-15 UT time segment. 13780.003 kHz from RHC Bejucal, former USSR R Moscow relay site, noted S=8-9 in Rochester NY SDR K2ZN remote access installation, S=9+10dB in Detroit MI state USA. BUT was MUCH SURPRISED, when checked again around 1446 UT on Dec 29 the Bejucal unit frequency had been moved downwards to unbelievable odd frequency of measured 13779.240 kHz, S=9+20dB in MI state and Edmonton Alberta Canada. \\ 14-15 UT RHC check also of Bauta site outlet on 13700even kHz, S=9+40dB or -35dBm in Edmonton Alberta Canada SDR when used to select 'ATT 30dB antenna option' switch. 1434 UT. And CRI Quivican San Felipe TITAN relay noted 15700even kHz frequency, CRI Beijing English service, at 1433 UT at S=9+25dB or -48dBm signal level [selected SDR options, span 12.5 kHz RBW 15.3 Hertz] (Wolfgang Bueschel, df5sx, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Dec 29, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Reception of Radio Habana Cuba in 19 mb via Titan-Quivican on Dec.29: from 1400 15140 QVC 250 kW / 130 deg SoAm Spanish, fair to good signal NO SIGNAL 15140 THU 100 kW / 315 deg WeEu English R.Sultanate of Oman! https://swldxbulgaria.blogspot.com/2018/12/reception-of-radio-habana-cuba-in-19-mb_30.html (Ivo Ivanov, SWLDXBulgaria News, Dec 29-30, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 6000, Dec 30 at 0144, song in Spanish from presumed English service of RHC is just barely modulated; slightly louder on // 6165. Something`s always wrong at RHC (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 6140, Dec 30 at 0616, RHC English is JBA up to S6, i.e. leapfrog mixing product of 6060 over 6100 another 40 kHz higher. More of them also weaker but audible now: // 6230 which is 6100 over 6165 another 65 kHz higher; and 6270 which is 6060 over 6165 another 105 kHz higher. But none involving 6000 which is from a different transmitter site. Something`s always wrong at RHC (Glenn Hauser, OK, WORLD OF RADIO 1963, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CUBA. At 2258 UT, R Rebelde 5025 kHz from Bauta is OFF AIR totally, Dec 30. 73 wb (Wolfgang Bueschel, dxldyg via DXLD) Currently (0001 hours), Radio Rebelde 5025 is on the air, but with distorted audio. Kinda like the audio for a 1940s newsreel, but worse. (Art Delibert, Maryland USA, UT Dec 31, HCDX via DXLD) Yes, Radio Rebelde 5025 kHz is back on air, when checked at 06 UT. Same carrier strength like Bauta 5040 kHz 22 kHz wide!, but less modulated, ? due to TX break yesterday night occurrence - dropped down the mod now ? 'Condor Pasa' theme heard at 0552 UT. 20 kHz wideband audio signal [selected SDR options, span 12.5 kHz RBW 15.3 Hertz] (Wolfgang Bueschel, df5sx, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Dec 31, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CUBA. 5999.999 kHz QUIVICAN San Felipe TITAN 250 kW outlet, Arnie Coro's DXers Unlimited noted 0616 to 0623 UT, S=9+30dB in NJ New Jersey, S=9+55dB in Edmonton Alberta CAN. \\ 6165 S=9+15dB - but underneath co-ch NHK Radio Japan Tokyo Arabic sce from TDF Issoudun relay equal level in NJ-US. S=9+65 powerhouse in Alb-CAN. 6100 kHz best audio in NY/NJ S=9+30dB, S=9+55dB in Alberta CAN, 6060.003 kHz S=9+5dB fluttery. S=9+60dB in Alb-CAN. 5040 kHz distorted audio quality, overmodulated, S=9+25dB in NJ, S=9+55dB in Alb-CAN. Prof. Arnaldo Coro presenter of radio hobby program `DXers Unlimited' till 0622:55 UT, then followed by Mailbag Show, 'write to Radio Habana Cuba, P.O.Box 6240, Havanna, Cuba.'. More than 6000 e- and snail mail letters received at Habana in 2018 year. Lots of New Year greetings received from all over the world, and also especially from US blockade country, from all US states. Dan Henderson' mail from SC was mentioned as example; Economic blockade states USA and Israel mentioned [selected SDR options, span 12.5 kHz RBW 15.3 Hertz] (Wolfgang Bueschel, df5sx, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Dec 31, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CUBA [and non]. Oman: On 31 December 2018, RSO was absent from 15140 kHz. The only station heard after 1400 was Radio Habana Cuba in Spanish. The 1400-h-programme was a news programme from a Cuban perspective (e. g. violencia in NCG, Estados Unidos en guerra comercial). After 1500 h a lot of Latin rhythms were broadcast. (tuned away at 1526). (Dr Hansjoerg Biener 1 January 2019, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CUBA. In honor of the sixtieth anniversary of the Triumph Of The Revolution, I check how the SW transmitters are doing, Jan 1 at 0212: 4765 Progreso distorted 5025 Rebelde undermodulated 5040 RHC Spanish suptorted 6000 RHC English undermodulated 6060 RHC Spanish very good 6165 RHC English undermodulated Something`s always wrong at RadioCuba, Radio Habana Cuba (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CUBA. Radio Habana Cuba presentó el calendario de bolsillo de 2019 19/12/2018 [illustrated] [Lema: ``Un poeta debe ser un profesor de esperanza``] https://gruporadioescuchaargentino.wordpress.com/2018/12/19/radio-habana-cuba-presento-el-calendario-de-bolsillo-de-2019/ La información nos lleva a Cuba para referirnos a la emisora internacional Radio Habana Cuba (RHC) la cual presentó este jueves en la Casa Museo Oswaldo Guayasamín de La Habana Vieja el calendario de bolsillo de 2019, el cual fue ilustrado con una escultura del artista Oscar Luis González. Resultado de imagen para Radio Habana Cuba presentó el calendario de bolsillo de 2019 [illustrated] El subdirector de estación, Pedro Martínez Pirez, destacó durante el encuentro la importancia de que el calendario de RHC para el próximo año sea una foto de la escultura inspirada en el ecuatoriano Oswaldo Guayasamín, precisamente cuando el próximo 6 de julio se cumplen cien años del nacimiento del pintor de Iberoamérica. La tarjeta calendario se editó en Madrid gracias a la Asociación Cultura y Cooperación Internacional, que preside el español Gabriel Navarrete Martínez. Y una edición en tamaño grande se entregará el año próximo al ganador del Premio “Orlando Castellanos” de Radio Habana Cuba. A todos los asistentes al acto se les entregó el calendario, que como bien ha dicho el Historiador de la Ciudad, Eusebio Leal Spengler, es una pequeña obra de arte que se lleva en el bolsillo izquierdo, que es el del corazón. La escritora y periodista cubana Katiuska Blanco, quien asistió a la instalación de la escultura en el Museo, el 6 de julio de 2014, dijo que “la cabeza de Guayasamín no es de piedra, sino de carne y hueso”, gracias a la maestría del joven escultor cubano Oscar Luis González. El acto, organizado por Radio Habana Cuba, la Asociación Cultura y Cooperación Internacional de España y la Casa Museo Oswaldo Guayasamín, constituye un homenaje al Pintor de Iberoamérica en su Centenario y a la Ciudad de La Habana en el aniversario 500 de su fundación (via GRA blog via DXLD) ** DENMARK. 5825, OZ-Viola, Hillerød, 2020, 28-12, instrumental music. Very weak, barely audible, best on LSB. 15311. (Méndez) 5825, OZ-Viola, 2034, 28-12, improving signal now, instrumental music, Weak. 15321 (Manuel Méndez, Lugo, Spain, Log in Lugo, Tecsun S-8800, cable antenna, 8 meters, WOR iog via DXLD) Noted at 2135 UT on Dec 28 on remote units in Northwestern Ireland on Atlantic coast line close to Sligo, and in England remote SDR's 5824.996 kHz S=9+5dB or -68dBm. mx program heard but on lower sideband the UTE digital bcast band starts, like in 5817.7 to 5824.4 kHz range totally utility Stanag etc. data sound transmission. 73 wb [selected SDR options, span 12.5 kHz RBW 15.3 Hertz] (Wolfgang Bueschel, df5sx, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Dec 28, dxldyg via DXLD) Very weak signal of Radio OZ-Viola on Dec.28 from 2210 on 5825 HIL 1.5 kW / non-dir to WeEu Danish https://swldxbulgaria.blogspot.com/2018/12/very-weak-signal-of-radio-oz-viola-on_29.html (Ivo Ivanov, SWLDXBulgaria News, Dec 28-29, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** DENMARK. 5840, World Music Radio, Randers, 1612-1630, 24-12, Latin American and pop songs in English. 25322 (Manuel Méndez, Spain, WOR iog via DXLD) World Music Radio (WMR) commenced broadcasting on 15805 kHz on December 24th 2018 with a power of 200 W. Transmissions were irregular for the first couple of days, but should hopefully now be regular. The old transmitter and the simple aerial willing. Until January 6th 2019 the approx. hours of daily operation will be 0700-2000 UTC. As from January 7th 15805 kHz will probably be on the air Saturday-Sunday only. Power is only 200 W, which of course is a very low on the 19 meter band, propagation is quite poor on this band now - and the aerial (a simple dipole) is not very efficient so reception is quite difficult and irregular. So far - poor to fair reception in Southern Europe has been observed in daytime till around 1300 UT and fair to good reception in Ireland, Scotland, western England and Iceland has been experienced during evenings around 17-20 UT. Transmissions on 5840 kHz continue 24/7 with a power of 100 W. The transmitter site for 5840 as well as 15805 kHz is Randers, Denmark. QSL-CARDS Please note that the current QSL-design will be used for reception reports covering reception in 2018 only. A new design will be used in 2019. An eQSL is available for reports sent to wmr@wmr.dk - a reply can be expected within a month or so. A printed QSL is available for reports sent to World Music Radio, PO Box 112, DK-8960 Randers SØ, Denmark. Return postage is kindly required. For a fast reply enclose 5 euro or 5 USD (QSL will be mailed from Denmark, where postage rates are the highest in the world - 29DKK for a post card). If less return postage is enclosed, you will still get a QSL-card, but will have to wait some time till the QSLs can be mailed out from outside of Denmark. Please note that no QSLs are available for reports made by listening via remote receivers. MEDIUM WAVE No news as for 927 kHz Copenhagen. Still struggling to find a transmitter site there. Best 73s and happy new year, (Stig Hartvig Nielsen, World Music Radio - WMR http://www.wmr.radio Dec 28, Hard-Core-DX mailing list via WORLD OF RADIO 1963, DXLD) 27 December: WMR has now added another short wave frequency: Besides 5840 kHz WMR is now broadcasting on 15805 kHz. Power is 200 W, the aerial is a very simple dipole and propagation on this frequency is somewhat irregular. Around midday good reception in parts of Southern Europe, and evenings reception is possible in Ireland, parts of England, France, Scotland and Iceland. Enjoy 28 December: I had to make a change to the aerial this morning - so a bit late s/on. But 15805 kHz is on now - and transmitter and aerial willing - I will have 15805 kHz on the air daily around 0700-2000 UTC. Power is very low, propagation is poor and the aerial is not very efficient so I think it will be a very difficult catch outside Europe. But with a very good receiving aerial and a lot of patience it might be possible :-) (World Music Radio Facebook page) (via Mike Barraclough, Letchworth Garden City, UK, WOR iog via DXLD) World Music Radio commenced broadcasting in 19mb from Dec 24 https://swldxbulgaria.blogspot.com/2018/12/world-music-radio-commenced.html (Ivo Ivanov, SWLDXBulgaria News, Dec 28, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Fair signal of World Music Radio Denmark, Dec 28 from 0635 on 5840 001 kW Randers/Denmark to Eu English https://swldxbulgaria.blogspot.com/2018/12/fair-signal-of-world-music-radio_29.html (Ivo Ivanov, SWLDXBulgaria News, Dec 28-29, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** DENMARK [non?]. 15806, Dec 28 at 1827 and 1852 on different receivers, JBA carrier, but probably something local rather than World Music Radio, which Stig Hartvig Nielsen says has been on 15805 since December 24 with 200 watts at 07-20 daily until January 7, then weekends only; admittedly unlikely to be heard with low power on poorly propagating band. He will not QSL reports via remote receivers. If someone definitely get it on 15806, I shall reconsider (Glenn Hauser, OK, WORLD OF RADIO 1963, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 5840, World Music Radio, Randers, 2112, 28-12, pop songs, ID in Spanish: "Esta es WMR, World Music Radio". 35433 (Manuel Méndez, Lugo, Spain, Log in Lugo, Tecsun S-8800, cable antenna, 8 meters, WOR iog via DXLD) Dann gibt es heute am Wochenende auch noch 5839.993 kHz aus Randers Dänemark, S=6 meist, das Musikprogramm, was auch sonst um 1917 UT (Wolfgang Büschel, 2001 UT Dec 29, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 5839.992, WMR Latin AM music S=9+5 at 0215 UT, Ireland SDR unit used [selected SDR options, span 12.5 kHz RBW 15.3 Hertz] (Wolfgang Bueschel, df5sx, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Dec 29, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 15805, World Music Radio, Randers, 1146-1158, 30-12, Caribbean songs in Spanish, pop songs in English, ID "WMR, World Music Radio". Nothing on 5840. Strong fading. 25411 (Manuel Méndez, Lugo, Spain, Log in Lugo, WOR iog via DXLD) Now 1212 with S3 fair here with lambada type of music, 15805 (Zacharias Liangas, Thessaloniki, Greece, Dec 30, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Strong signal but scratchy modulation now at 1255 UT on 5840 AM; nothing heard on 15805 AM. vy73 (Harald Kuhl, BDXC-news iog via DXLD) Update: Stig solved this problem and modulation on 5840 AM is fine again (Harald Kuhl, 1400 UT Dec 30, ibid.) 15805, World Music Radio, Randers, received eQSL for a reception report about transmission in its new frequency, 15805 kHz, 1146-1405 UTC, December 30 with 200 watts power. The station reply with the eQSL in about 16 minutes, telling me: "yours is the FIRST reception report regarding 15805 kHz .. so I am pleased to send you an e-QSL" Report send to: hartvig@wmr.dk The station will be on air again today, December 31, on 15805 kHz, 0700-2000 UT. 15805, WMR, Randers, 1230-1245, 31-12, pop songs in English ID "World Music Radio", strong for moments with fading. 45323, and 35312 (Manuel Méndez, Lugo, Spain, Log in Lugo, WOR iog via WORLD OF RADIO 1963, DXLD) Link to video of World Music Radio, Randers, Denmark 15805, at 1250 UT, 31-12, here in Lugo with my Sony ICF SW-7600G https://my.pcloud.com/publink/show?code=XZ8HaC7ZyPMYC0BDj1ppQEt9BIKHOhO08sJy (Manuel Méndez, Lugo, Spain, WOR iog via DXLD) WMR is also audible in the USA on 15805 kHz via this remote receiver: http://rx2.wa2zkd.net:8073/ from tune in at 1400 UT. :-) Best 73's (Stig Hartvig Nielsen, WMR, DEC 31, Hard-Core-DX mailing list via WORLD OF RADIO 1963, DXLD) But not when I check circa 1645. SDR is in Rockport, Maine (gh, DXLD) WMR 15805 --- Heard at 1350 via Portland ME remote receiver: http://rx2.wa2zkd.net:8073/?f=15805.00amz14 Happy New Year! (Mauno Ritola, Finland, Jan 1, WOR iog via DXLD) But not at 1604 when I check (gh, DXLD) ** ECUADOR [and non]. 6050, HCJB, Pichincha, 2325-2347, 24-12, Quechua, comments. Strong QRM from China on the same frequency. 31431. Also *0923-0937, 25-12, open with Andean music, anthem, Quechua, ID “HCJB Quito, onda corta, 6050”, flute music, Quechua, comments. 25322. (Manuel Méndez, Spain, WOR iog via DXLD) ** ECUADOR [non]. GERMANY, Reception of HCJB Voice of The Andes via MBR Nauen on Dec.29: 1529-1601 9500 NAU 100 kW / 100 deg CeAs Russian Sat, very good signal 1601-1628 9500 NAU 100 kW / 100 deg CeAs Chechen Sat, fair/good signal https://swldxbulgaria.blogspot.com/2018/12/reception-of-hcjb-voice-of-andes-via_30.html (Ivo Ivanov, SWLDXBulgaria News, Dec 29-30, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** EGYPT. Re: What to do with Radio Cairo --- Hi, Mark: Do you have more details about what happened with that company? The quality is just as bad on some of their Internet streams, and a friend who is a regular listener sent me this message he got from them on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Radio-Cairo-954-FM-351934915280125/?rc=p ``Radio Cairo 95.4 FM --- Sadly, because the administration doesn't have the upper hand in this. so fixing takes time.`` 73 (Ray VE3ZXC, Dec 30, ODXA iog via DXLD) The problem is with the signal after it leaves the studio. Somewhere along the line it get corrupted and never gets fixed. They do have some Arabic services that have acceptable audio so it is possible. Radio Cairo just doesn't get it. The story about the contracted company was told to me some years ago and was third hand (Mark Coady, ibid.) That disgraced FB is inhabited mostly by the French service (gh) ** EQUATORIAL QUINEA. 5005, Radio Nacional, Bata, 0520-0536, 20-12, African and Spanish songs, ID "Radio Bata, 102 en FM". 15321. Also 1845-2020 20-12, extended program today, usual closing time 1655, male, Vernacular comments, mentioned "Guinea Ecuatorial, Malabo", African songs, ID in Spanish "Radio Bata, en su casa, en el trabajo, en la oficina, porque sólo aquí los entretenemos", 1900-200 musical program "Guinea.. , programa de talentos de música”, canciones africanas, 2000: “Nos aproximamos a las 21 horas, muy buenas noches”. 15321. Also 0701-0710, 22-12, "Radio Nacional de Guinea Ecuatorial, el primer boletín informativo matinal". 15321 Also 0600-0615, 24-12, Spanish, news, "Boletín Informativo", news from Malabo and Bata. 15321. (Méndez) Also 1710-1812, 24-12, Songs in Spanish, song “Cielito lindo”, African songs, ID at 1742 “Radio Bata”, Christmas Spanish songs “Villancicos”, “Noche de Paz”, Spanish, comments. 15321. Also *0640-0658, 25-12, open today, Christmas day, later than other days, Spanish, comments. Very weak, due to daylight in transmitter site. 15321 (Manuel Méndez, Spain, WOR iog via DXLD) 5005even, fair S=6 signal into NJ US, R Nacional Bata heard female Spanish presenter at 0550 UT [selected SDR options, span 12.5 kHz RBW 15.3 Hertz] (Wolfgang Bueschel, df5sx, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Dec 31, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ERITREA [and non]. 7140.020, Asmara S=6-7 poor signal into Qatar remote, SDR, 0347 UT; not 7180v on air this morning. Only Omdurman SDN on 7205 kHz [selected SDR options, span 12.5 kHz RBW 15.3 Hertz] (Wolfgang Bueschel, df5sx, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Dec 29, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ERITREA [non]. 17545, Sat Dec 29 at 1529, talk and HOA music, best yet but still VP from the new clandestine at 15-16 Sat only via FRANCE. We still don`t have definite info about its name, source or mission, but Dave Kenny, UK, reported last week Dec 22: ``Not audible locally here in UK but heard again with a good signal on the TWR South Africa SDR. Opened at 1500 with Horn of Africa music, s/on ID and talks in vernacular (Tigrinya?). ID sounded like "Hababa Radio Samood", Language switched to Arabic at 1520 UT; Arabic ID (as last week) was "Idaat Sawt Alsmood" - or something like that. 73s Dave`` (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) FRANCE, Idaat Sawt Alsmood / Radio Voice of Stability via TDF Issoudun on Dec.29 Sat, weak signal: 1500-1600 17545 ISS 150 kW / 122 deg EaAf Tigrinya/Arabic/Amharic https://swldxbulgaria.blogspot.com/2018/12/idaat-sawt-alsmood-radio-voice-of.html (Ivo Ivanov, SWLDXBulgaria News, Dec 29-30, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ETHIOPIA [non]. SECRETLAND, Radio Warra Wangeelaa-ti via SPL Secretbrod [BULGARIA, Kostinbrod], Dec 29 1500-1530 on 15515 SCB 100 kW / 195 deg to EaAf Oromo Sat, very weak: https://swldxbulgaria.blogspot.com/2018/12/reception-of-radio-warra-wangeelaa-ti.html (Ivo Ivanov, SWLDXBulgaria News, Dec 29-30, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GERMANY. 7205, 01Jan, 1945, AWR in Tachelhit. OM preach, religious anthem. I see no signal on the bottom of the Sudan radio at the same frequency. Interesting is that despite distinct locations of the transmissions, the two have 210° azimuth. The signal is good with some fading. 73 (Jorge Freitas, My Blog: https://dxlogfreitas.blogspot.com/ Local time -3 UT, Feira de Santana Bahia 12°14´S 38°58´W - Brasil Tecsun PL-310ET, Antenna Delta Loop 8,5 meters- and Mini-Whip, Listen in 1 kHz filter mode, WOR iog via DXLD) ** GERMANY. STUDIO 52, 5970 kHz 1200-1500z --- Unsere nächsten Live-Sendungen auf Kurzwelle für West-Europa laufen wie folgt: Dienstag, den 01.01.2019 / 13 - 16 Uhr MEZ Samstag, den 19.01.2019 / 13 - 16 Uhr MEZ immer auf 5970 kHz mit 125kW via Nauen. Wir wünschen allen Hörern dazu guten Empfang :-) ! https://studio52radiogroup.jimdo.com/ Der Stream läuft bereits. (roger, WOR iog via DXLD) 52 Radio booming in on 5970 with English and Dutch announcements, pops, and Dutch music. Interesting how (presumably) unofficial broadcasters are increasingly using the 49 metre band (David Morris, Lytchett Matravers UK, 1328 UT Jan 1, bdxc-news iog via DXLD) Studio 52 on 5970 was actually a relay via Nauen. Live programme greeting listeners. Their next broadcast is on Jan 19. https://studio52radiogroup.jimdo.com/ (Paul Watson, ibid.) Studio52 Radio Group - next broadcast 19 January Was on air today. This from the group website: We are a network of small hobby radio stations in the Netherlands and in Germany. We broadcast our program from the Netherlands via our stream and sometimes via a shortwave transmitter. Our next live transmissions on shortwave for West Europe runs on: Saturday, 19 Jan. 2019 / 1200-1500 UT always on 5970 kHz with 125 kW via Nauen / Germany. More details at: https://studio52radiogroup.jimdo.com/ Studio52-Radiogroup We play music for europe !! Link zu unserem Stream / Link to our Stream (via Mike Terry, Jan 1, WOR iog via DXLD) ** GERMANY. Unscheduled broadcast of Hamburger Lokalradio, Dec 25 0800-0900 on 7265 GOH 001 kW / 230 deg to CeEu German CUSB 1000-1100 on 7265 GOH 001 kW / 230 deg to CeEu German CUSB https://swldxbulgaria.blogspot.com/2018/12/unscheduled-broadcast-of-hamburger.html Unscheduled broadcast of Deutsche Welle via HLR, Dec.25 0900-1000 on 7265 GOH 001 kW / 230 deg to CeEu English CUSB https://swldxbulgaria.blogspot.com/2018/12/unscheduled-broadcast-of-deutsche-welle.html (Ivo Ivanov, SWLDXBulgaria News, Dec 24-25, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Hi Glenn, Still not a trace of World of Radio on 9485 again today, in fact not a trace of anything on there at all. The HLR site has been updated, it was just a pity that I didn't notice that before Christmas as it has all their special holiday programmes listed, though how many of them would have been audible here I'm not sure: http://hamburger-lokalradio.net/?page_id=2229 They are showing some more for New Year's Eve and New Year's Day, so I will post them to the WoR List shortly. 73 for now, Alan Gale, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Viz.: HLR-Kurzwelle Programmschema Sendeplan HLR – Kurzwelle – Sonderprogramm Weihnachten 2018 Datum UT Frequenz Inhalt Sprache 24.12. 08.00 6190 kHz Kultur pur Deutsch 24.12. 09.00 6190 kHz Weihnachten in Berlin BSVH 1 Deutsch 24.12. 10.00 6190 kHz Weihnachten in Berlin BSVH 2 Deutsch 24.12. 11.00 9485 kHz Kultur pur Deutsch 24.12. 12.00 9485 kHz Radio Tropical – Mundofonias Spanisch 24.12. 13.00 9485 kHz Rare Christmas Music Englisch 24.12. 14.00 SENDESCHLUSS 25.12. 08.00 7265 kHz Ganz Weihnachten Deutsch 25.12. 09.00 7265 kHz Spectrum DW Englisch 25.12. 09.30 7265 kHz World In Progress Englisch 25.12. 10.00 7265 kHz Mundofonias Spanisch 25.12. 11.00 SENDESCHLUSS 26.12. 08.00 6190 kHz PopKartong – Weihnachten 1 Deutsch 26.12. 09.00 6190 kHz PopKartong – Weihnachten 2 Deutsch 26.12. 10.00 6190 kHz Kultur pur Deutsch 26.12. 11.00 SENDESCHLUSS 26.12. 11.30 7265 kHz Radio Nostalgie – Radioklänge Deutsch 26.12. 12.00 7265 kHz Piratenradios Story Englisch 26.12. 13.00 7265 kHz With Good Reason Englisch 26.12. 14.00 SENDESCHLUSS Sendeplan HLR – Kurzwelle – Sonderprogramm Silvester 2018 Datum UT Frequenz Inhalt Sprache 31.12. 08.00 6190 kHz Deutschlandreise Deutsch 31.12. 09.00 6190 kHz 5o Jahre RDF in Deutschland Deutsch 31.12. 10.00 6190 kHz 5o Jahre RDF in Deutschland Deutsch 31.12. 11.00 9485 kHz Kabarett Deutsch 31.12. 12.00 9485 kHz Radio Tropical – Mundofonias Spanisch 31.12. 13.00 9485 kHz DW – Inside Englisch 31.12. 14.00 SENDESCHLUSS 01.01. 08.00 7265 kHz Kulturradio Deutsch 01.01. 09.00 7265 kHz DW – Worldlink Englisch 01.01. 10.00 7265 kHz Mundofonias Spanisch 01.01. 11.00 SENDESCHLUSS HLR-Kurzwelle Programmschema Hamburger Lokalradio sendet zu folgenden Zeiten auf Kurzwelle: Samstag 07.00 – 12.00 UTC – 6190 kHz (49mB) 12.00 – 16.00 UTC – 9485 kHz (31mB) Sonntag 10.00 – 13.00 UTC – 7265 kHz (41mB) Aktueller Sendeplan ab 28. Oktober 2018 Samstag 07.00 UTC 6190 kHz Englisch – Media Network Plus 07.30 UTC 6190 kHz Englisch – World of Radio – Glenn Hauser 08.00 UTC 6190 kHz Deutsch 09.00 UTC 6190 kHz Deutsch 10.00 UTC 6190 kHz Deutsch 11.00 UTC 6190 kHz Deutsch 12.00 UTC 9485 kHz Englisch – New Letters – Making Contact 13.00 UTC 9485 kHz Englisch – UN-Radio – Radio City – With Good Reason 14.00 UTC 9485 kHz Spanisch – Radio Tropical – Mundofonias 15.00 UTC 9485 kHz Englisch – Media Network plus 15.30 UTC 9485 kHz Englisch – World of Radio – Glenn Hauser Sonntag 10.00 UTC 7265 kHz Deutsch 11.00 UTC 7265 kHz Englisch – Media Network Plus 11.30 UTC 7265 kHz Englisch – World of Radio – Glenn Hauser 12.00 UTC 7265 kHz Spanisch – Radio Tropical – Mundofonias Das Hamburger Lokalradio ist ein nichtkommerzieller Rundfunkveranstalter. Zugelassen als Sparten-Kulturradio durch die MA HSH. In und um Hamburg ist das wortgeprägte Programm über UKW 96,0 MHz zu empfangen. Versuchssendungen wurden auf der Mittelwelle 1242 kHz ausgestrahlt. Das HLR verfügt über 2 eigene Kurzwellenfrequenzen: 6190 kHz und 7265 kHz. Zugeteilt durch die Bundesnetzagentur. Ausgestrahlt werden unsere Sendungen über die Sendestelle MV-Baltic in Göhren bei Schwerin. Das HLR nutzt ebenfalls die KW-Frequenz 9485 kHz. Die Sendestelle verfügt über drei Kurzwellensender: 2 x rft KSG 1300 (1000 Watt Sendeleistung) 1 x tx am – (150 Watt Sendeleistung) Ausgestrahlt über einen automatischen Antennentuner und einer Dreiband-Dipolantenne. Das Hamburger Lokalradio bestätigt Empfangsberichte mit einer QSL-Karte. (Rückporto erforderlich) Ausland 1US-Dollar. Anschrift: Hamburger Lokalradio Kulturzentrum LOLA 21031 Hamburg Deutschland Eine kleine Auswahl von Bestätigungskarten (qsl) für unsere Kurzwellenprogramme. Auch in 2019 ist unsere UKW-Ausstrahlung gesichert. Aber: Es kostet sehr viel Geld! Durch die Privatisierung der UKW- Versorgung in Deutschland sind wir als nicht kommerzielles Lokalradio ebenfalls betroffen. Durch einen Antennenwechsel und dem Einbau einer teuren Antennenweiche sind anteilige Kosten von etwa 12.000 Euro entstanden. Um diesen Betrag in der Zukunft zu finanzieren, benötigen wir Ihre Hilfe. Die UKW-Ausstrahlung ist ein Angebot an alle HörerInnen die diesen wichtigen Verbreitungsweg überwiegend benötigen und nutzen. Bitte Unterstützen Sie uns beim Erhalt der UKW-Versorgung. Unser Spendenkonto: KULTURRADIO e.V. Hamburger Sparkasse (HASPA) IBAN: DE 19 2005 0550 1050 1302 26 [translation of above:] Also in 2019, our FM broadcast will be secure. But: It costs a lot of money! By privatizing the VHF supply in Germany we are also affected as a non-commercial local radio. An antenna change and the installation of antennas caused 12,000 euros. To reach this amount in the future, we need your help. The VHF broadcasting is an offer to all listeners who are important. Mainly need and use the distribution path. Please support us in obtaining the FM coverage. Our donation account: CULTURRADIO e.V. Hamburger Sparkasse (HASPA) IBAN: DE 19 2005 0550 1050 1302 26 (via gh, DXLD) ** GERMANY [non]. Hi All, The following just appeared on the Shortwave Service Facebook page. I guess we'll just have to wait and see who is providing the surprises, I have my suspicions but I'm saying nowt! :-) ``Next Saturday, 29th December we will have 2 special programs with 100 kw. 1300-1400 UT on 7460 kHz towards Asia and 1900-2000 UT on 5830 towards Europe. Contents? Surprise!`` 73 for now, (Alan Gale, 26.12, WOR iog via DXLD) The program is Bye, Bye Sitkunai in English, fair signal on 7460 at 1300&1330, videos later today (Ivo Ivanov, Dec 29, WOR iog via DXLD) Thanks Roger [sic], nothing heard here, just a horrible digital type noise on the frequency (Alan Gale, ibid.) Subject: [A-DX] Sonderprogramme am 29. Dezember Am kommenden Samstag, 29. Dezember gibt es 2 Sonderprogramme mit 100 kW. 1300-1400 UT auf 7460 kHz Richtung Asien und von 1900-2000 UT auf 5830 kHz Richtung Europa. Inhalt? Überraschung! Next Saturday, 29th December we will have 2 special programs with 100kw. 1300-1400 UTC on 7460 khz towards Asia and 1900-2000 UTC on 5830 khz towards Europe. Contents? Surprise! GERMANY, 5830, Short Wave Service, via Gavar/Yerevan?, *2000-2005, 29-12, German, comments, male, female. Very good signal here in Lugo. 45544 (Manuel Méndez, Lugo, Spain, Log in Lugo, WOR iog via DXLD) Menschen & Geschichten in German 19-20 on 5830, very good signal Probably via Yerevan or Tashkent -- 73! (Ivo Ivanov, ibid.) Some garbled audio here. A few German words coming thru but heavy QRM at this time (Stephen C Wood, E. Dennis, MA, 1922 UT, ibid.) Bye, Bye Sitkunai via Shortwave Service in 41mb on Dec.29 1300-1400 7460 TAC 100 kW / 122 deg to EaAs English Sat, fair signal https://swldxbulgaria.blogspot.com/2018/12/reception-of-bye-bye-sitkunai-via.html (Ivo Ivanov, SWLDXBulgaria News, Dec 29-30, DX LISTENING DIGEST) R. Menschen & Geschichten via Shortwave Service in 49mb, Dec.29: 1900-2000 5830 TAC 100 kW / 301 deg WeEu German Sat, very good signal https://swldxbulgaria.blogspot.com/2018/12/radio-menschen-via-shortwave-service-in.html (Ivo Ivanov, SWLDXBulgaria News, Dec 29-30, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 5830, 29Dez 1949, GERMANY (Non) (TENTATIVE) Radio Menschen & Geschichten in German (as heard on Twente's SDR). The signal was very weak with rare peaks of some audio in my QTH. Better with headphones. In the SDR of Pardinho (Brazil), the signal was weak, but with clear audio. Listening videos on: https://drive.google.com/open?id=120YAmRk8WQQr6-DEl7g-DBIMKP44fpAT Tecsun PL-310-ET, Antenna Mini-Whip, Feira de Santana, BA, Brasil (Jorge Freitas, My Blog: https://dxlogfreitas.blogspot.com/ WOR iog via DXLD) Hat sich Christian irgendwo darüber geäußert, von wo diese Aussendungen realisiert wurden? 13 UT habe ich nicht gehört, 7460 kHz könnte aber aus RRTM RED Telecom Tashkent Uzbekistan broadcast center ostwärts Richtung Südasien gewesen sein? 5830even, Jetzt um 1910 UT ein recht sauberes audio Signal. Meine Kaffeesatz-Lesung sagt gefühlt: auf keinen Fall der Schrottsender in Gavar Armenien im Einsatz (siehe NDR Weihnachtssendung mit übler Signalqualität aus Gavar Armenien am 24.12.). Eher via SPC-NURTS Spaceline Ltd. Sofia Kostinbrod Bulgaria relay site, obwohl von dort auch noch 5900 RTI S=9+15dB und 6000 Brother Stair Overcomer Ministry S=9+15dB laufen ... ? Die Bulgaren haben aber bestimmt 3 x 49 mb Antennen zur Verfügung und einige 50 kW UdSSR Schätzchen auch noch. 73 wb (Wolfgang Büschel, 2001 UT Dec 29, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GUAM. KTWR Trans World Radio Asia in English in 31mb & 41mb Dec.29 1230-1300 on 9910 TWR 100 kW / 290 deg to SoAs English Sat, fair/good 1317-1346 on 7510 TWR 100 kW / 320 deg to EaAs English Sat, very good https://swldxbulgaria.blogspot.com/2018/12/ktwr-trans-world-radio-asia-in-english.html (Ivo Ivanov, SWLDXBulgaria News, Dec 28-29, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GUATEMALA. 4055, Jan 1 at 0651, TGAV is still on late for NYE, with hymn in Spanish. Too busy with our own WWV monitoring and CST celebrations at 0600 to have listened then for anything special from Verdad (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** HAWAII [and non]. 5000, Dec 25 at 1418, both WWV and WWVH audible despite government shutdown, and the propagation info from WWV: K=0 at 12, no storms past or future. 9 MHz and other bands have quite fluttery signals so I expect some disturbance is rampant. By 1500 the K is up to 1. Someone had reported WWVH lacking the prop info at its scheduled time :45 past the hour. Steven Michael Kellat, ``alpacaherder``, a federal employee in Ohio, warned the WOR iog: ``When I looked at NIST's shutdown plan, there aren't too many people designated excepted [not subject to furlough] at the Boulder office. The equipment is on auto-pilot and there won't be anybody immediately nearby if something breaks. If anybody notices something wrong like the transmitter going off the air please notify Megacenter at 1-877-4FPS-411 and they'll hopefully relay something to the right people`` (Glenn Hauser, OK, WORLD OF RADIO 1962, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INDIA. 4869.906, much o d d fq of AIR Kingsway? outlet as AIR Urdu service, at 0232 UT, I guess the HolyQuran presenting prayer read/sung by female voice? [selected SDR options, span 12.5 kHz RBW 15.3 Hertz] (Wolfgang Bueschel, df5sx, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Dec 29, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INDIA. All India Relay?? 6966 kHz 1255 UT 24 Dec 2018 There is what appears to be a relay of All India Radio on the 43 meter band. It started around 6961 kHz and as of 1255 UT has drifted up to 6966 kHz, a fairly good signal here in Maryland. No idea if this is a legitimate relay of theirs, a pirate or what is going on... Logged here on the HFU: https://www.hfunderground.com/board/index.php/topic,49297.0.html (Chris Smolinski, Black Cat Systems, Westminster, MD USA http://www.blackcatsystems.com WORLD OF RADIO 1963, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Indian music at 1405 UT on 6967.7, fair signal here (Ivo Ivanov, Bulgaria, WORLD OF RADIO 1963, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 6970, 25 Dec 0211-0325, UNID. OM and YL talk. Indian,(?) style music. Language UNID. Weak signal in the SDR of Pardinho, Brazil. The frequency is changing. 73 (Jorge Freitas, Feira de Santana, Bahia 12°14´S 38°58´W -, Brasil, Tecsun PL-310ET, Antenna Delta Loop 8.5 meters - with 2 wav recordings totalling 19MB attached, WOR iog via WORLD OF RADIO 1963, DXLD) AIR Urdu service noted now 0320 UT on 6970 kHz! Must be Mumbai as 7340 is missing. Yours sincerely, (Jose Jacob, VU2JOS, National Institute of Amateur Radio, Hyderabad, India, Dec 25, dx-india yg via WOR iog via DXLD) Grato, Glenn, pela informação. A frequência está variando muito, subindo e descendo, mas já não tem sinal com áudio aqui desde o SDR de Pardinho. Um abraço (Jorge Freitas, ibid.) AIR Mumbai noted on 6970 (drifting down) today morning with Urdu Service instead of 7340. Now 0830 UT; they started on 6922 kHz, slowly drifting down. Sked of 7340 is 0025-0430 Urdu, 0830-1130 Urdu, 1130-1140 HS, 1230-1500 Sindhi, 1500-1600 Baluchi Yours sincerely, (Jose Jacob, VU2JOS, Hyderabad, India 0845 UT, DX LISTENING DIGEST) AIR Mumbai is noted today also wandering on 26 Dec 2018 as follows: 0215 UT: 6949.50 Urdu 0400 UT: 6942.20 Urdu Original frequency of 7340 (100 kW) is not heard. Yours sincerely, (Jose Jacob, VU2JOS, 0413 UT Dec 26, WORLD OF RADIO 1963, DXLD) Vagabunding AIR transmitter Mumbai/Bombay nominal 7340 kHz this Dec 26 morning, checked on Perseus and KIWI-Net SDR's at 0940 and 1007 UT. Started on 6872 to 6879 kHz range, and now at 1007 UT on 6832.5 to 6837 kHz, not fq stable, wandered downwards direction. 73 (wolfie df5sx wwdxc germany, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1963, DX LISTENING DIGEST) When checked AIR Mumbai at 0230-0240 UT on Dec 27. Was on unstable fq 6829 to 6837 kHz around 0230 UT Dec 27, S=9+30dB signal in Delhi remote SDR. I could only listen and understand in 20 kHz broadband FM option selection. 7340 kHz channel used at same time instead by RRI Tiganesti ROU in Romanian at S=8-9 signal level at 0237 UT. 73 (wolfie df5sx wwdxc germany, ibid.) When checked AIR Mumbai at 0940-0950 UT on Dec 27. Was on unstable fq wandered downwards in high speed, 400 Hertz in 5 minutes, from 6948.185, via 6947.885, 6947.675 kHz and speedy down, down side. S=9+20dB signal in Delhi remote SDR. A N D I could again listen and understand URDU program in PURE A_M MODE modulation now. Transmitter and audio transmission is okay now, only fq wanders down again and again; at 1005 UT on 6946.840 kHz snap. 7340 kHz channel used at same time instead by PBS Xinjiang Urumqi in Kazakh at S=7-8 signal level at 1003 UT. 73 (wolfie df5sx wwdxc germany, ibid.) When checked AIR Mumbai at 1315-1325 UT on Dec 27. Was on unstable fq wandered U P wards in high speed, 400 Hertz in 4 minutes, from 6930.190, via 6930.295, 6930.410, 6930.525 kHz and speedy U P , U P side. S=9+15dB signal in Delhi remote SDR. A N D I could again listen and understand Sindhi program in PURE A_M MODE modulation now. Transmitter and audio transmission is okay now, only fq wanders U_P again and U P_wards again. 73 (wolfie df5sx wwdxc germany, ibid.) Re AIR Mumbai vagabunding transmission in Urdu at 0025-0430 UT. Noted today a rather weak signal probably Urdu transmission on 6911.993 kHz at S=7 signal at 0401 UT on Delhi SDR remote unit [selected SDR options, span 12.5 kHz RBW 15.3 Hertz] (Wolfgang Bueschel, df5sx, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Dec 29, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1963, DX LISTENING DIGEST) No later reports of this: was it then back to 7340? (gh, ibid.) ** INDIA. At Delhi and Qatar remote SDR again: 7430.009, AIR Mumbai, S=9+25dB signal at 0337 UT. 7420.004, AIR Hyderabad px, flute mx at 0338 UT, S=9+20dB. 7289.994, AIR Chennai, Hindi, S=6-7 only, maybe under skip zone ? 7270.003, AIR ?, pop mx S=9+20dB power, 0342 UT [selected SDR options, span 12.5 kHz RBW 15.3 Hertz] (Wolfgang Bueschel, df5sx, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Dec 29, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INDIA. Weak signal of All India Radio in 31mb on Dec.28 1135-1140 on 9620 ALG 250 kW / 282 deg to SoAs English: https://swldxbulgaria.blogspot.com/2018/12/weak-signal-of-all-india-radio-in-31mb.html (Ivo Ivanov, SWLDXBulgaria News, Dec 28, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INDIA. As expected the following frequencies of AIR were noted with extended broadcast last night to usher in the new year. 4800 Hyderabad 4810 Bhopal 4920 Chennai 5040 Jeypore Other channels might have been in skip / off air. Yours sincerely, (Jose Jacob, VU2JOS, National Institute of Amateur Radio, Hyderabad, India, Mobile: +91 94416 96043, Jan 1, dx_india yg via DXLD) ** INDIA [non]. 7550, ARMENIA, TWR India at 1533 with song in sub-continental language, 1535 brief IS and into English, “Thanks for listening to T-W-R.” This is only a 5-minute English broadcast Monday-Friday and I found it was mostly IDs, schedule announcements and promos for “Reaching Your World”, which might be the weekend, hour-long program. Went off the air before 1540. - Fair, Dec 26 (Harold Sellers, Vernon, British Columbia, listening in my car, parked beside Kalamalka Lake. CommRadio CR-1a and Sony AN-1 antenna on car roof, WOR iog via DXLD) ** INTERNATIONAL VACUUM. Orbital Surveillance These Satellites Will Hunt Pirates, and Maybe Terrorists SpaceX is set to launch three toaster oven-size vehicles this weekend that will scan the globe for telltale radio signals of dark ships. By Kyle Stock November 30, 2018, 9:00 AM GMT https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-11-30/spacex-to-loft-satellites-to-hunt-pirates-and-maybe-terrorists Spectators watch as a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket successfully launches from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, on Nov. 15. Photographer: Paul Hennessy/NurPhoto via Getty Images [caption] LISTEN TO ARTICLE 4:01 If all goes as planned with the scheduled SpaceX launch Sunday, a startup called HawkEye 360 will have a trio of satellites resembling toaster ovens circling the globe, scanning for pirate radio. The Washington-area company is one of 35 paying customers strapped to the top of the Falcon 9 rocket, a crowd of cosmic enterprises boldly pushing the private sector into parts of the universe that were once solely the province of sovereign space agencies. The passenger list includes a Honeywell satellite to relay messages from tankers at sea, a company called Audacy that is building a system to speed communication among satellites, and the Nevada Museum of Art, which is launching an orbiting sculpture meant to be visible from Earth. The HawkEye mission, meanwhile, is a bit more subtle—and lucrative. While space is full of satellites snapping pictures of the planet, the company said it will be the first commercial operation to capture radio frequency feeds down below. “I spend as much time pitching the paradigm—the idea—as I do pushing Hawkeye itself,” said founder Chris DeMay. “It’s not necessarily intuitive to those who don’t come from the government, because [radio frequency] is not inherently visual.” HawkEye engineers prepare the company’s first three satellites for launch. Source: HawkEye 360 [caption] DeMay used to help the U.S. government do this kind of thing during his tenure at the National Reconnaissance Office. A few years ago, he realized that the growing crop of small satellites—or cubesats, as they are called—could accomplish missions similar to what’s being done by larger, more expensive government hardware. The company he formed in 2015 had a simple pitch to government agencies: “We convert a capital expense to an operation expense.” Raytheon Co., the giant defense contractor, was an early investor and customer. It has engineers working with Hawkeye’s 31-person team and, in turn, will sell some of the company’s findings to its own government customers. Sunday’s launch (it’s been rescheduled twice) will be the 18th mission by Elon Musk’s rocket fleet this year, and the first time such a large vehicle was entirely dedicated to ride-sharing. SpaceX split the $62 million cost among dozens of small clients, rather than NASA or some other major satellite operator. (The launch had originally been scheduled for earlier this month but was delayed.) Once aloft, Hawkeye’s three satellites will be able to triangulate and pinpoint any given radio signal. Eventually, the company hopes to have 10 separate, three-satellite flocks zooming around the globe. With that much hardware, it will be able to scan any part of the world in less than 30 minutes. “It’s going to move pretty darn quickly once we have live data from space,” DeMay said. So why is this important? “If you kind of look at the art of the possible … you can understand how that could be very beneficial for customers like Homeland Security or Coast Guard,” said Jane Chappell, Raytheon’s vice president of global intelligence solutions. In any type of conflict, or for law enforcement, the ability to zero in on people you might not otherwise see becomes a valuable — if perhaps Orwellian — product. Chief Executive Officer John Serafini said about half of HawkEye’s demand will come from defense and intelligence clients, with the rest coming from a mixed bag — ranging from rescue groups searching for emergency beacons at sea to telecommunications companies eager to map bandwidth use. A scan of vessels that turned off their GPS transponders over a one-month period. Source: HawkEye 360 [caption] The first order of business, however, will be catching pirates. Smugglers and other wrongdoers of the high seas regularly turn off their GPS transponders to avoid tracking. Instead, they use satellite phones and CB radios to coordinate with other ships or confederates on land, all of which will whisper to the Hawkeye toasters soaring overhead. “They told me what they wanted to do, and I thought ‘Is that possible?’” recalled Robert Tremlett, a maritime analyst and former merchant marine. Tremlett spent much of his career escorting minesweepers and military ships near Iraq and Iran. Often, on those missions, a very expensive and sophisticated plane flew overhead to keep an eye out for dark vessels laying mines. HawkEye will be able to perform a similar service at a fraction of the cost. “I see this as part of a solution to a massive problem,” Tremlett said (via Joel Ashby, MARE Tipsheet via DXLD) ** INTERNATIONAL WATERS & ATMOSPHERE. 6586 USB, phone tones and voice, "United 1473 here" with other operator acknowledging "swap 4117 United 4173" (sic). flightaware.com shows United flight 1473 is en route from the Dominican Republic to Newark and is several hundred miles east of central Florida at this time (Larry Will, Mount Airy, Maryland, radio@zappahead.net Icom IC-R75, G5RV, PL-880, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** IRAN. 9835, Dec 25 at 1404, YL in Russian, mentioning Iran, S9 with flutter. VIRI at 1320-1420, 500 kW, 336 degrees from Sirjan so also USward. No sign of KBS in English as also listed. So much for any possibility of Malaysia, 9835 one of two SW frequencies remaining. WRTH 2019 page 276 still lists the Sarawak-FM service via Kajang, W Malaysia, 100 kW at 22-16; while Aoki/NDXC and EiBi claim it`s 24 hours. The last definite log of this I`ve found was on Sept 2 by Ron Howard as in DXLD 18-36 (Glenn Hauser, OK, WORLD OF RADIO 1963, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** IRAN [non]. Iranians curse USAGM's RFE/RL Radio Farda for repeating regime propaganda --- See USA ** IRELAND. Energy AM live from Ireland currently audible here on 7505 [sic, error] kHz, though quite weak with a lot of fading down here near Reading. Also on 1395 and FM 101.2 locally (and Alexa!) re their Facebook page @Energyam. 73, (Alan Pennington, AOR 7030plus, ALA 1530, Caversham, UK, 1215 UT Jan 1, bdxc-news iog via DXLD) 7505 inaudible here, but 5809.80 is a very strong signal. Also announced as via 93.2 via their friends at Easy Radio (David Morris, Lytchett Matravers, UK, 1235 UT, ibid.) I thought I had heard correctly. They are announcing 7705. Both 7705 and 7505 (if the latter is correct) are both inaudible (David Morris, 1237 UT, ibid.) Sorry - mis-typed the frequency (twice) - thanks to David for spotting the error. Frequency was 7705 kHz (not 7505), but no longer audible here now (at 1300 UT). But 5809.75 strong at 1310 UT. 73, (Alan Pennington, WORLD OF RADIO 1963, ibid.) Please add a comment on their facebook page and they might play a record for you as well. The frequency of 5810 kHz is Sinpo 44444 at this location [Staines] right now [1315 UT 01/01/2019] (Nick Sharpe, ibid.) ** IRELAND. Pirate archive streaming: see MUSEA ** ITALY [non]. IBC - ITALIAN BROADCASTING CORPORATION http://www.ibcradio.webs.com With great regret we announce the closure of our shortwave transmissions starting today, 31 December 2018. The reasons are economic, organizational and not least also the bad coverage of our signal in Italy lately. However, we plan to return with you as soon as possible. To all HNY! (Facebook via Mike Terry, WOR iog via WORLD OF RADIO 1963, DXLD) Besides 6070 Channel 292, had several airtimes via WRMI; canceled immediately? Or keep replaying old shows? Or other programs inserted. WRTH 2019 does not show any physical address, nor L.P., for IBC as if a real SW station in ITALY (Glenn Hauser, WORLD OF RADIO 1963, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** JAPAN. 13650, NHK World/R Japan at 2255. Familiar Radio Japan IS to W with multiple IDs, sign-on announcements in (listed) Thai, time pips, and into program at ToH. After a minute or so, began hearing M in (sounded) Portuguese, and probably CCI from China via Cuba relay. Recheck later had the two evenly over/under - Very Good Dec 27 NOTE: as I was preparing to send this out, I saw this : ``CHINA [non]. 13650, Dec 27 at 2258, huge S9+45 open carrier, 2300, CRI IDs in Chinese and Portuguese, the language this hour via CUBA. Sufficient modulation level. Not a trace of CCI from NHK in Thai (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)`` - Amazing the difference in reception between here and Oklahoma. Make no mistake, I totally believe Glenn, who is nothing if not honest and accurate. But I am just amazed at the difference in what we heard (Rick Barton, Arizona SW Logs, Grundig Satellit 205(T.5000) & 750; HQ-200; RS SW-2000629, with various outdoor wires. ~ 73 and Good Listening.......!, WOR iog via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Hi Glenn, Yesterday in the mail I received a beautiful full color New Years Greeting Card from NHK World - Japan 2019. This was a pleasant surprise for me at a time when such greeting cards and QSL's in general become fewer and fewer. 73's, (Ed Insinger, Dec 30, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** JAPAN. 6055, Dec 31 at 1459, R. Nikkei still audible, only to sign -off, dead air and off at 1501* --- rather than celebrating Japan`s New Year, not even a timesignal. I used to enjoy the ceremony on NHK Japanese with gongbongs, but they stopped broadcasting that so I did not even try Radio Japan this year (Glenn Hauser, OK, WORLD OF RADIO 1963, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** KOREA NORTH. 2850, KCBS, at 1400 very dramatic sounding instrumental music (trumpets, tympani, etc.), then the expected female soprano choir. Much better than usual reception, not surprising at W Solstice - Very Good Dec 22 (Rick Barton, Sun City AZ, Grundig Satellit 205(T.5000) & 750; HQ-200; RS SW-2000629, with various outdoor wires, WOR iog via DXLD) ** KOREA NORTH. 6099.999, KCBS Pyongyang, March music what else, S=9+25dB at 0218 UT. To mention: audio only on UPPER sideband visible, carrier + USBmode. From Seoul Rep of [South] Korea log 0130 til 0230 UT, on Dec 30 [selected SDR options, span 12.5 kHz RBW 15.3 Hertz] (Wolfgang Bueschel, df5sx, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Dec 30, dxldyg via DXLD) ** KUWAIT. 11629.760, Dec 28 at 1432, JBA carrier from R. Kuwait. Also like this yesterday. Very strange, as until then, was a good strong signal with Qur`an, and others from the region on 25m are still good today, Turkey and Romania. Why has the Kuwait signal dropped out so much? Still JBA carrier at 1519, when I also note Saudi 11745 is JBA, but it`s never been very strong (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 11630- remains a JBA carrier following days (gh) ** KYRGYZSTAN. 4010.23, 0325-0329 25.12, Birinchi R, Krasnaya Rechka, Kyrgyz talk by man and woman with orchestra music in the background, 35323 (Anker Petersen, Christmas loggings from Skovlunde Denmark, heard on the AOR AR7030PLUS with 28 metres of longwire, wbradio yg via DXLD) 4010.220, Kyrgyz RADIO 1, Birinchi Radio, Bishkek Krasnaya Rechka, S=9+30dB in Seoul KOR, 0130 UT Dec 30. From Seoul Rep of [South] Korea log 0130 til 0230 UT, on Dec 30 [selected SDR options, span 12.5 kHz RBW 15.3 Hertz] (Wolfgang Bueschel, df5sx, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Dec 30, dxldyg via DXLD) ** LAOS. Vietnam helps Laos develop broadcasting infrastructure Sunday, 12/13/2015, 18:57 Construction started on a Vietnamese-funded radio and television broadcasting station in Laos’ central Savannakhet province on December 12. The groundbreaking ceremony saw the participation of officials from the Lao Government and Ministries of Planning and Investment and Information, Culture and Tourism, and those from Vietnam’s Ministry of Planning and Investment and Radio The Voice of Vietnam. Covering an area of more than 10,000 sq.m, the project is built at a total cost of nearly VND117 billion (US$5,199 million) sourced from the Vietnamese government’s non-refundable aid. It will comprise of a 135-metre-high antenna pole, working offices, and an internal road system, completed with modern equipment. Speaking at the ceremony, VOV General Director Nguyen Dang Tien affirmed that the project is one of the key cooperation activities between his VOV and the Lao Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism. For his part, Lao Deputy Minister of Information, Culture and Tourism Savankhone Razmontry thanked the Vietnamese Party, Government and people for their support for Laos, stating that this shows the special relations between the two countries. He said this is the fourth broadcasting facility Vietnam has built for Laos, which when completed will bring radio and TV broadcast coverage to 95 percent and 85 percent of Lao’s territorial area, respectively, as well as ensure uninterrupted signals reception from the Lao National Television. On the occasion, Lao Deputy Prime Minister Somsavad Lengsavath presented the Labour Order, third class of the Lao State to VOV General Director Nguyen Dang Tien in recognition of his recent contributions to Laos’ broadcasting sector. VNA https://english.vov.vn/society/vietnam-helps-laos-develop-broadcasting-infrastructure-307707.vov Vietnamese-funded broadcasting facility in Laos inaugurated (frequency unknown) VNA TUESDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2018 - 18:40:00 Hanoi (VNA) – The Vietnamese-funded radio and television broadcasting station was put into operation in Laos’ central province of Savannakhet on December 25 after three years of construction. The 10,000-square-metre facility was built at a total cost of nearly 115 billion VND (4.9 million USD) sourced from the Vietnamese government’s non-refundable aid. It comprises a 135m-high antenna pole, working offices, and TV and radio broadcasting systems. The project is one of the key cooperation activities between Radio the Voice of Vietnam (VOV) and the Lao Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism. Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, Lao Deputy Minister of Information, Culture and Tourism Savankhone Lazamunti said that the station helps increase radio and TV broadcast coverage in central Laos so that local residents are able to get a deep insight into the Party’s guidelines and the State’s regulations. Also, it will make contributions to developing the special relations between the two nations, he said, expressing his gratitude for the Vietnamese Party, State and people for supporting Laos in the past years. This is the fourth broadcasting station in Laos sponsored by the Vietnamese Government, following three in Champassak province in the south, and Luang Prabang and Udomxay provinces in the north.-VNA https://en.vietnamplus.vn/vietnamesefunded-broadcasting-facility-in-laos-inaugurated/144145.vnp (via Hansjoerg Biener, Dec 28, DXLD) ** LATVIA [and non]. Latvia / USA / Russia --------------------------- Received Radio Center QSL Card. Russian Christian Radio Center. 13.11.18 / 0300-0400 UT / 1485 kHz Address: Radio Center, 634 Ave “Y’, Brooklyn, NY 11235, USA Email: rcrc @ radiocenter.net Confirmed report Andrey Nekrasov. You can view the card here - https://rusdx.blogspot.com/2018/12/blog-post_67.html Quote from the letter: “About hearing, thanks for the message. We test the antenna with a minimum transmitter power to study the signal propagation pattern and its azimuth of directivity in practice. The results clearly show in which direction the radiation goes, and in which direction the electro-magnetic waves are concentrated. It is quite obvious that in the future there will be another frequency and transmitter power. In addition, there is a possibility of installing the antenna in another place, near the border of the Russian Federation. We are continuously working on the organization of regular broadcasting in the direction of the European part, where the Russian-speaking population is concentrated. Unfortunately, we are forced to leave Moscow soon due to toughening of laws in the sphere of dissemination of religious information. There is also the option of working on a commercial project in Russia” Andrey Nekrasov (via Anatoly Klepov, QSL World, via Rus-DX Dec 30 via DXLD) ** MADAGASCAR. 5009.933, Dec 26 at 0230, R. Madagasikara stronger than usual with some modulation JBA (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 5009.935, Malagasy R poor S=6 in Sligo Ireland, at 0240 UT [selected SDR options, span 12.5 kHz RBW 15.3 Hertz] (Wolfgang Bueschel, df5sx, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Dec 29, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MALAYSIA. See IRAN 9835 [WORLD OF RADIO 1963] ** MEXICO. 540, Dec 20 at 1333, XETX, La Ranchera de Paquimé, Nuevo Casas Grandes, Chihuahua, plugging now being also on FM (90.5). New IRCA Mexican Log says per IFT it will be staying on AM; as usual manages to dominate 540 here around SRS (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Re my latest log of 540 XETX, Chihuahua, Raymie Humbert replies Dec 30 on the WTFDA AM Forum: ``The IFT still hasn't done its continuity study, and in the case of XETX the AM covers a net 55,000 more people than the 71,000 in XHTX-FM's contour. I doubt that there is other radio service to cover all of them`` (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MEXICO. Conditions were quite auroral last week, but it sure didn't seem to be reflected in the space weather forecasts! Many northern pests (including central California and Utah) were knocked way down. XEDKR-700 was practically alone on the channel at times. I still have a few partial recordings left to review, but this is what got sent to the clubs last night [see also CUBA]: 560, XEMZA Sol 89.7 FM, Cihuatlán JAL. DEC 23 0614 - Tropical-influenced pop music //web stream, "Sol 89.7 FM" slogans.. New, JAL #26, Mexico #312, station #1451 from home. (NOTE: although this station serves the Manzanillo, Colima market, I think it may actually still be licensed to the suburb of Cihuatlán, which is in Jalisco. They do not seem to run a national anthem at 6am or Midnight local time). 560, UNID, DEC 17 0707 - Station under KBLU and KLVI playing instrumental music suddenly went into an orchestral version of the Mexican anthem about 15 seconds before my recording ended. Timing would strongly suggest XEYO, but this sounds like the version of the anthem I have heard on XESRD in the mornings. 580, XEMU La Rancherita del Aire, Piedras Negras COAH. DEC 17 0700 - Mixing with KMJ and the mystery Spanish language signal with intermittent signal (see XEAV log - I'm guessing this was KSAZ) with full ID and mention of web site http://www.rancherita.com.mx. Relog. 580, XEAV Canal 58, Guadalajara JAL. DEC 17 0601 - Under a louder Spanish language station whose signal was having serious problems (audio cutting in and out a couple times per second) with slightly slow tempo children's choral version of Mexican anthem. Relog. 590, XEPH La Sabrosita, México DF. DEC 17 0604 - Faded up suddenly over KTIE and XEGTO with Mexican anthem (fast adult choral version) and back to regular tropical format. When I found this on my recording, I went back outside the next hour and caught them //web stream (substantially out of synch, maybe as much as a minute) with tropical music. DEC 23 0559 - Female announcer with at least two "sabrosita 5-90" slogans, into the same version of the anthem as previously noted. New, DF #23, Mexico #309, station #1446 from home. 590, XEGTO Hits 95.9 FM, León GJTO. DEC 17 0559 - End of Suprema Corte program, then straight into Mexican anthem (children's choral, short version) and back to regular AC format. When I found this on my recording, I went back outside the next hour and caught them //web stream with AC music. New, GJTO #7, Mexico #308, station #1445 from home. I have been chasing both of these stations since before XEBH left AM several months ago. There seemed to be a third Mexican station in there that I couldn't account for. It wasn't XEE (not //web stream), and that seemingly leaves only XEFD which is far off the beam of this antenna, but perhaps not impossible given that several Cubans and Monterrey stations like XEFB-630 were coming in on this antenna tonight. 620, XENK Radio 6-20 AM, México DF. DEC 23 0558 - Faded up under semi-local XESS with high choral version of Mexican anthem already in progress. New, DF #24, Mexico #313, station #1452 from home. 630, XEPBGJ Jalisco Radio C7, Guadalajara JAL. DEC 17 0600 - Suddenly overtook XEFB with slightly slower tempo children's choral version of Mexican anthem, followed by 6-note doorbell theme (C-E-G, G-C-E), then back to overnight classical music program. Relog. 630, XEFB La FB, Monterrey NL. DEC 17 0557 - Instrumental version of Mexican anthem over KSLR. As they ran their pre-recorded ID (I could hear the mentions of Monterrey, Nuevo Leon and broadcasting 10kW 24 hours a day - two days later I recorded this exact same ID on their web stream), they were drowned out by XEPBGJ. New, NL #13, Mexico #310, station #1449 from home. 640, XEJUA La Caliente 6-40 AM, Ciudad Juárez CHIH. DEC 17 0700 - Under KFI with ID and children's choral version of Mexican anthem. Relog. 660, XEEY La Kaliente 102.9, Aguascalientes AGUA. DEC 23 0600 - Under KTNN (surprisingly no sign of KGSV tonight) with children's choral version of Mexican anthem. Full AM/FM ID about 3½ minutes later. The odd spelling of "Kaliente" appears to be to distinguish it from the "La Caliente" grupera format from Grupo Multimedios. Relog. 660, XESJC KVOZ, San José del Cabo BCS. DEC 17 0700 - Under KTNN (still no KGSV) with call letter ID. Interestingly there didn't seem to be a Mexican anthem immediately before or after this ID. Relog. 700, XEDKR Radio Red, Guadalajara JAL. DEC 17 0659 - Fair signals, surprisingly on top of channel with ad for Nutcracker Suite performances at the national auditorium in Mexico City, male announcer "La Red le informa" into network newscast followed by long "Radio Red" jingle and promos. Mentions FM 92.1 in Mexico City. Another Spanish language station and regular pest KALL were way underneath. Relog, but only heard once or twice before. 700, XEETCH LV de los Tres Rios, Etchojoa SON. DEC 17 1359 - Virtually alone on channel with interesting indigenous music, mentions of Sistema Radiodifusoras Culturales Indigenistas by male and female announcers. Rarely in this well. Relog. 790, XENT Radio Fórmula La Paz, La Paz BCS. DEC 17 0657 - Radio Fórmula programming as usual, but instead of running the children's choral version of the Mexican anthem from the main Radio Fórmula feed just before Midnight CST, they ran it at exactly Midnight local time (MST). I've noticed this on one or two other Radio Fórmula stations lately. Also, the program they were running after local Midnight said it was originating from (XERFR-FM) 103.3 FM, as opposed to XERFR-970. Relog. 820, XEBA La Consentida, Guadalajara JAL. DEC 23 0601 - Under XEABCA with uptempo adult choral version of Mexican anthem, "consentida" slogans. Relog. 880, XEAAA Radio Mujer 92.7 FM, Guadalajara JAL. DEC 17 0600 - High choral version of Mexican anthem, under KKMC and KCMX. This is the last Mexican station left on 880 AM (at least until the CP for XECHEP-880 Chihuahua comes on). Formats have been swapped between the 880 and 1040 stations, presumably because XEAAA has an FM but XEBBB does not (i.e., they moved the leased Catholic programming to the station which didn't get an FM allocation). Relog. 900, UNID. DEC 23 0602 - While XEW was playing the national anthem, another station faded up with a male announcer in Spanish. He seemed to mention "su estación" and partial call sign "XH…" before an ill-timed fade. This would almost have to be needed XEOK, but I heard nothing that sounded like Radio Disney programming or their main slogan "la radio que te escucha." They also did not run a Mexican anthem. 940, UNID. DEC 17 0707 - Children's choral version of Mexican anthem under KFIG in massive XEKAM-950 IBOC slop (XEKAM runs IBOC 24/7 except during the National Hour and occasionally other times on evening weekends). Normally on this wire I get XERLA, but I have yet to hear them running the anthem around local Midnight (they do occasionally run the long children's choral version around 6am, so it could well be them, but I suppose it could also have been XEMMM coming out of the National Hour in Pacific time). 970, XERFR Radio Fórmula, México DF. DEC 23 0559 - Children's choral version of Mexican anthem (as used on all Radio Fórmula outlets) // XEMON-1370. Relog, but fairly rare here. 1000, XEOY Mil AM, México DF. DEC 23 0601 - Faded up under KOMO/KCEO with slightly uptempo adult choral version of Mexican anthem. My local XEC-1310 appears to have stopped relaying XEOY recently. 1010, XEHL W Deportes, Guadalajara JAL. DEC 17 0601 - Faded up under KCHJ and KIHU (which was running day rig again) with adult choral version of Mexican anthem //XEX-730. Relog. 1050, XEBCS La Radio de Surcalifornia, La Paz BCS. DEC 17 0657 - Blasting in with US rock oldies, adult choral version of Mexican anthem (this is a change; they previously ran the children's choral version), followed by long version of BC Sur state anthem, which I have also never heard them run before. Usual full ID mentioning FM 99.1, then into Sinaloa-style regional Mexican music. Relog. 1070, XESP Rock and Soul 91.9, Guadalajara JAL. DEC 17 0600 - Under KNX with children's choral version of Mexican anthem. Relog. 1100, XETGO Radio Cañon, Tlatenango ZAC. DEC 17 0600 - Faded up under KFAX/KWWN with slightly slow tempo children's choral version of Mexican anthem as logged at the Border Inn. New, ZAC #11, Mexico #311, station #1450 from home. 1150, XEAD Metrópoli, Guadalajara JAL. DEC 23 0559 - This station's unusual slow time pips (2 seconds apart) were easily heard through XEUAS and KEIB. Faded up a minute later with Notisistema news in progress. They eventually got around to running their slightly uptempo adult choral version of the Mexican anthem at 0606. Relog. 1150, XEUAS Radio UAS, Culiacán SIN. DEC 17 0657 - Steady signal under KEIB with overnight classical music program and full (4:40) children's choral version of Mexican anthem. Relog. 1190, XEWK W Radio, Guadalajara JAL. DEC 17 0600 - Mexican government PSA, "W Radio" slogan, into slightly uptempo adult choral version of Mexican anthem. Relog. 1300, XEXW La Bestia Grupera, Nogales SON. DEC 23 0600 - Mixing with XEP, with pre-recorded IDs by female announcer ("la bestia grupera" followed by male announcer "1300 AM." They really seem to be getting out better this year. Not sure if it was this station or XEJL that played the adult choral version of the Mexican anthem an hour later. Relog. 1310, XETIA Radio Vital, Tonalá JAL. DEC 17 0600 - Nice signal through local XEC's open carrier with ID by female announcer: "Usted escucha X-E-Tia AM, Radio Vital, desde Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico" (this was preceded and followed by a brief oboe theme). XEC returned in mid-sentence a few seconds later with brokered religious programming. 1310, UNID. DEC 23 0600 - Children's choral version of Mexican anthem audible through local XEC's open carrier, under XETIA after XETIA's anthem ended. XEC came back on the air before it finished. This is almost certainly XEHIT, logged at the Border Inn but still needed from home. XETIA was still audible even after local XEC came back on. 1370, XEPJ Radio Ranchito, San Pedro Tlaquepaque JAL. DEC 17 0602 - Distinctive slow orchestral version of the Mexican anthem (other stations in this ownership group, such as XEDKT-1340, use this version, which slows down even more at the end). At the top of the following hour, I caught most of an ID, including very clear mentions of their slogan and location, so they are 24h now. Relog. 1380, XECO Romántica 13-80, México DF. DEC 17 0557 - Children's choral version of Mexican anthem in progress, "Romántica 13-80" slogan, Mexican government PSAs. Caught a nice full ID the following hour with call letters, slogan, studio location, phone numbers, and mention of 50 kW. Announcer wished listeners "Feliz Navidad," and ended the announcement with Santa Claus "Ho ho ho!" Relog. 1410, XEKB Canal 14-10, Guadalajara JAL. DEC 17 0600 - Faded in during ID, mentioned studio address Avenida Francia 1783, Guadalajara, into fast choral version of Mexican anthem (possibly the same version used on XEBS). Relog. 1440, XEEST Quiéreme 14-40, México DF. DEC 17 0557 - Spanish religious programming, possible mention of Grupo Siete. Children's choral anthem at 0601 exactly as heard on XEEST's web stream recently. I would normally expect to hear XEABCJ on this antenna, but they run a grupera program at this hour, and have not been running an anthem at Midnight recently. (When they do run one, it's usually about 5 minutes after the hour. XEABCJ's web stream sounds terrible this week; I wonder if it's actually going out over the air like that?). XEEST's format is an odd mix of talk, religious, and motivational programming. They temporarily moved this format to XEINFO-1560 (which had been silent for 9 years) from May to October 2017 before returning to 1440. According to one of the churches whose programs run on XEEST, this move was temporary to allow XEEST to upgrade their facilities. Speaking of XEINFO-1560, they apparently re-emerged in November as XHINFO-105.3, the only FM migration allocation granted in Mexico City, despite seemingly being one of the least deserving stations. They appear to have launched the FM ("Aire Libre" - see http://airelibre.fm/ ), seemingly without ever restarting the AM and going through a simulcasting period. XEEST is new, DF #25, México #314, station #1453 from home. 1480, XEZJ Simplemente Supérate, Tonalá JAL. DEC 17 0601 - Distinctive slow orchestral version of the Mexican anthem (other stations in this ownership group, such as XEDKT-1340, use this version, which slows down even more at the end). Relog. 1480, UNID. DEC 23 0600 - High choral version of Mexican anthem barely audible through massive XERCN-1470 slop. It sounded like high adult voices in the chorus, but it was hard to tell through all the slop. If it was a children' s chorus, then this was likely needed XETKR. The only other possibility is XEVIC, also needed, but even less likely on this antenna. 1500, XEDF Radio Fórmula, México DF. DEC 23 0557 - Alone on the channel tonight with full ID, promos, and children' s choral version of Mexican anthem from Radio Fórmula network feed. Conditions sure seemed auroral this week! Where was KSJX? 1510, XEQI Opus 15-10 AM / Radio Nuevo León, Escobedo NL. DEC 17 0601 - Instrumental version of Mexican anthem, ID by male announcer. Relog. 1520, XEEH La Primera, San Luís Rio Colorado SON. DEC 17 0557 - Regional Mexican music, slogan-ID "La Primera, San Luís Rio Colorado." Lately I've been hearing KMPG (cheating daytimer staying on all night) on this channel instead of XEEH. Relog. 1530, XEUR Éxtasis Digital, México DF. DEC 23 0558 - Way under KFBK with children' s choral version of Mexican anthem, ID by female announcer. Relog. 1560, UNID. DEC 17 0601 - Suddenly appeared over KNZR and XEPE-1700 image (the Perseus picks up a mixing product of XEUT-1630 and XEPE-1700, two of my closest locals) with start of children' s choral version of Mexican anthem. This could be unneeded XEJPV, unneeded XELAC, or needed XECHZ, all of which might air this version at this hour. I did not hear XECHZ's piccolo/marimba theme, or anything else, after the anthem, which would tend to point to XELAC (they go off the air right after the anthem). A few seconds before this station faded out, a third Spanish station briefly faded up before KNZR eventually took over. I think the third station might have been XEJPV. 1590, XEVOZ Arroba FM, México DF. DEC 23 0557 - Alone on channel with children' s choral version of Mexican anthem in progress, "Arroba FM" slogan, followed by what sounded like a Mexican government PSA (audio became distorted for some reason), ID by female announcer, and pop music. Relog. 1600, XEGEM Radio Mexiquense, Metepec MEX. DEC 17 0600 - Faded up under KGST with adult choral version of Mexican anthem (multiple verses) in progress. A few minutes later, they ran the Himno Estatal del Estado de México (state anthem). Couldn't find any of the parallels on 1080, 1250, or 1520 (1520 may have moved to FM). Relog. 1650, XEARZ Zer Radio 16-50, México DF. DEC 23 0558 - Barely audible under KBJD/KSVE with children' s choral version of Mexican anthem. Relog. 1700, XEPE La Tremenda (temporarily?), Tecate (nominal - really Tijuana) BCN. DEC 17 0557 - Since December 12, this station (one of my closest locals and biggest pests) has been relaying co-owned XESDD-1030 (Spanish language political speeches, brokered religion, and who knows what else), reportedly due to Broadcasting Corporation of the Americas failing to make the rather exorbitant lease payments for XEPRS-1090, XEPE-1700 and XHPRS-105.7. (Oddly, XEPRS and XHPRS have different owners; the owner of XEPRS has allowed BCA to keep broadcasting sports talk "mighty 10-90" on XEPRS, but reportedly wants to either find a new lease client, or sell the station if anyone will give their asking price $11M). (Tim Hall, Chula Vista CA (between San Diego and Tijuana), Perseus SDR-IQ, 600 ft. unterminated beverage aimed SSE/NNW. Dates/Times UT, ABDX yg via DXLD) ** MEXICO. 1700, XEPE, BN, Tecate, 12/20, 1030. Running Spanish language programming, long monologue with male announcer. Sounded like local political speech with frequent mentions of "Ensenada". Recheck near sunset here had sports talk for sure, with Spanish words for "sports", "baseball" and "leagues". At this writing, not known whether this is some sort of brokered filler or a big flip in format. There are reasons why it could be either one (Rick Barton, Sun City, Arizona, MW Equipment this week RF-2200, Satellit 205/T.5000, WOR iog via DXLD) ** MEXICO. 6185.011, upper side of the channel now, R Educacion Mexico D.F. fluttery S=8-9 signal at 0311 UT on Dec 29, logs from Cape Canaveral Florida state [selected SDR options, span 12.5 kHz RBW 15.3 Hertz] (Wolfgang Bueschel, df5sx, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Dec 29, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MEXICO. Reanudarán operación de radiodifusora indigenista 16/12/2018 https://gruporadioescuchaargentino.wordpress.com/2018/12/16/reanudaran-operacion-de-radiodifusora-indigenista/ Luego de que la temporada de lluvias afectó la operación de las instalaciones de la estación radiodifusora indigenista XETPH, “Las tres voces de Durango, ubicada en la localidad Santa María de Ocotán, en el municipio de Mezquital, se espera reanudar las actividades a la brevedad posible, según lo dio a conocer el delegado de la Comisión Nacional para el Desarrollo de los Pueblos Indígenas (CDI), Francisco Gurrola Rochín. Resultado de imagen para XETPH, "Las tres voces de Durango [caption] El informante explicó que la paralización en el funcionamiento de dicha estación de radio se debió a que constantemente se suspendía el servicio de suministro de energía eléctrica, un problema que, dijo, siempre se ha generado desde que se iniciaron transmisiones, en noviembre de 2012. “Actualmente estamos instalando dos generadores de energía eléctrica, porque sin este factor no pueden funcionar todos los equipos con que se cuenta en la radio. El problema era que en estas instalaciones no se tenía una planta de energía eléctrica con la que pudieran continuar operando todos los aparatos”, detalló el servidor público. De igual manera, el entrevistado subrayó que, después de dos años de gestiones constantes ante oficinas centrales de CDI que se ubican en la ciudad de México, se autorizaron los dos generadores que hacían falta para que los equipos de la estación de radio puedan seguir operando en caso de que se pierda la señal por la suspensión en el suministro de energía eléctrica. El objetivo es que en los próximos días se terminen de instalar dichos generadores de energía eléctrica, para que los equipos y el personal de que se dispone puedan reanudar sus actividades de manera normal, aunque para ello habrá que esperar a que los técnicos especialistas realicen sus labores y se efectúen las pruebas correspondientes para que los aparatos funcionen de día y de noche sin interrupciones. Uno de esos generadores, ilustró, se tiene que instalar en el espacio físico que ocupa la estación radiodifusora, mientras que el otro se deberá colocar en la antena transmisora, que se localiza un cerro para la mejor difusión y cobertura de la señal, acciones en las que, recalcó, ya se está trabajando con la expectativa de reanudar operaciones en los próximos días. Los problemas de pérdida de señal, terminó indicando, eran muy comunes en temporada de lluvias; sin embargo, confió en que con la instalación de los dos generadores de energía eléctrica ese tipo de inconvenientes no afectará ya en la operación de la radiodifusora de la zona indígena de Mezquital (El Siglo de Durango via GRA blog via DXLD) ** MEXICO. Radiodifusoras religiosas se disputan creyentes en Chiapas 16/12/2018 https://gruporadioescuchaargentino.wordpress.com/2018/12/16/radiodifusoras-religiosas-se-disputan-creyentes-en-chiapas/ Al circular por la carretera Panamericana, que atraviesa Chiapas, basta con encender la radio para escuchar mensajes bíblicos en español y en lenguas indígenas, principalmente tzotzil y tzeltal. Son “púlpitos electrónicos” que exhortan, predican, amonestan y bendicen a sus fieles. Resultado de imagen para Radio Tepeyac [caption] Hay 67 estaciones radiofónicas religiosas, localizadas en 31 municipios, pero su área de difusión cubre la mitad de la geografía estatal. Además, en la zona fronteriza se capta la señal de dos radiodifusoras guatemaltecas: Radio Santa Teresita del Niño Jesús (católica) y Estéreo Shadai (cristiana). La proliferación de radios religiosas “pirata”, o “radios al margen de permisos”, como prefiere llamarlas el doctor Sarelly Martínez Mendoza, catedrático de la Universidad Autónoma de Chiapas (Unach), muestran la “increíble disputa por fieles que hay en el estado”. Aunque tardía, la incursión de la iglesia católica en la radio sucedió en junio de 2012, al crearse Radio Tepeyac, en el 93.3 de FM. Estación de la Diócesis de San Cristóbal de las Casas -una de las dos únicas radiodifusoras con permiso de la Comisión Federal de Telecomunicaciones (Cofetel)-, que “transmite todos los días del año una programación cristiana dirigida a la familia, con mensajes, estudios, cultura y todo tipo de servicios”, informan en su página web. Destaca también Radio Vida, una estación cristocéntrica que transmite en la ciudad de Ocosingo por el 92.7 de FM, la más importante de Chiapas por su número de oyentes y el área que cubre, que abarca a todas las comunidades que están en la selva Lacandona. Su potencia se debe a un transmisor de tres mil watts que fue adquirido gracias a la aportación voluntaria (300 mil pesos reunidos en sólo dos meses) de sus radioescuchas. “Las emisoras religiosas no son simples medios de difusión sino púlpitos electrónicos”, explica el doctor Sarelly Martínez, quien recientemente coordinó una investigación sobre este fenómeno, titulada: “Radios al margen. Frecuencias no concesionadas en Chiapas”, en la que participaron Hugo Alejandro Villar Pinto, Francisco Cordero y Juliana Matus. Chiapas, con su variedad de creyentes, es el estado con el mayor número de estaciones radiofónicas que emiten mensajes cristianos desde diferentes denominaciones: católicas, pentecostales, adventistas, presbiterianas y cristocéntricas, explica el doctor Martínez. Son muestra del dinamismo que se vive en Chiapas respecto a la religión. San Cristóbal de las Casas es el municipio con el mayor número de radiodifusoras religiosas. Aunque los católicos suman 65.5% de su población, sólo hay una radiodifusora católica (Radio Tepeyac) y, en contraste, operan una decena de radios evangélicas. El doctor Martínez ejemplifica como emblemático al cerro de Huitepec, en la zona alta de Chiapas no sólo por su elevación de dos mil 700 metros sobre el nivel del mar y mil 600 metros sobre la ciudad de San Cristóbal de Las Casas, y que forma parte de la historia de la radiocomunicación nacional y chiapaneca. Desde abajo se contabilizan 16 antenas de diverso calibre que transmiten para Televisa, Televisión Azteca, Sistema Chiapaneco de Radio, Televisión y Cinematografía, además de las radiodifusoras “pirata”. Este cerro, desde septiembre de 2006, es territorio zapatista y se mantiene bajo el cuidado de la Junta de Gobierno de Oventic. “Curiosamente - explica el doctor Martínez - fueron los comuneros, y no el gobierno, los que organizaron las antenas de la radiodifusión y les dijeron como deberían estar funcionando; ellos deciden si bajan o no una antena; y es a ellos, los ejidatarios, a quienes hay que pedir permiso para establecer una nueva antena”. Hace diez años, en 2008, las radiodifusoras religiosas vivieron la peor ofensiva presentada por el gobierno federal para cerrarlas. Agentes de la AFI decomisaron equipos de radiodifusoras ubicadas en Mapastepec, Villa Las Rosas, Comitán y Frontera Comalapa. Ante los operativos - recuerda el investigador de la Unach -, los cristianos decidieron mostrar su músculo. Hicieron una marcha que congregó entre tres mil y seis mil personas para exigir reformas a la Ley Federal de Radio y Televisión con el propósito de que las asociaciones religiosas pudieran administrar estaciones de radio sin fines de lucro. Como resultado de esas movilizaciones se instaló una mesa de diálogo el 19 de diciembre de 2008, en donde la Secretaría de Gobernación garantizó que no habría decomiso de estaciones religiosas en Chiapas hasta que lograran los permisos respectivos. En otras palabras, desde ese momento serían toleradas (El Sol de San Luis via GRA blog via DXLD) ** MEXICO [and non]. RAYMIE`S MEXICO BEAT this week including DTV/TDT 2018: The Year of the Religious Wolf religious wolf n. a religious radio station operating by way of a concession, awarded to a private individual or secular civil association, in a country that doesn't permit religious associations to own stations Around the start of this month, Delia Rodríguez Arreola's XHPEDX-FM 96.9 in Linares, Nuevo León, howled to life for the first time. This class AA social station, however, came on the air not with anyone named Delia, but instead with religious programming. Radio La Siembra is operated by the Iglesia Castillo del Rey and is Nuevo León's first legally operating religious radio station. It was revealed last month that while Rate Cultural y Educativa de México might have ties to Grupo Editorial Zacatecas, their frequencies at Puerto Vallarta (XHPECR 88.7) and Manzanillo (XHANZ 92.1) will instead be run by Miguel Rea, until now on the airstaff of XHED-FM Ameca, Jal., as FM Visión, a Christian station. For the first time in the IFT era, Radio María picked up new concessions, as Fundación Cultural para la Sociedad Mexicana, A.C., won FM stations for Ensenada, Guasave, Zamora Mich. and Ciudad Obregón, and an AM station at San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato. Two community stations that had been ex-pirates, XHIXMI-FM 107.7 Ixmiquilpan, Hidalgo, and XHSCCF-FM 93.3 Tlacolula de Matamoros, Oaxaca, are associated with churches or overtly religious. XHATV-FM 104.3 went on the air in Álamo Temapache, Veracruz, earlier this year, as the legalization of Unción FM 104.7, owned by pastor Ageo Hernández Hernández. Others are waiting in the wings. There's Publicando Valores XHPBJZ-FM 98.9 in Juchitán, Oaxaca, whose members suggest one of the region's two Catholic radio stations (Guadalupe Tu Radio 95.7, in Tehuantepec) yet on the frequency and in the city of the other (Radio Guadalupana 98.9). Erasmo Ángel Ruiz got XHPEBX-FM 95.7 in Cintalapa, Chiapas — he runs Radio Estrella, a Christian station still on its pirate frequency of 95.9. There are other new station owners, principally in Chiapas, who either don't have much of any online presence or whose social media profiles suggest a Christian radio station is highly likely. And they join stations like XHVDR, the other FCSM stations, and more recently XHAGP and XHMRT on the front wave of a new phenomenon in Mexican radio: legalized Christian radio stations (Raymie Humbert, Phœnix AZ, Dec 26, WTFDA Forum via DXLD) The IMER station employees paid by fees have received a three-month reprieve, https://www.jornada.com.mx/2018/12/26/cultura/a03n1cul but that's apparently all they'll get. The radio institute informed them that they will stay on through March 2019. The primary reason cited for the extension that no new IMER director has been named, after Carlos Lara Sumano resigned on November 30, the final day of the Peña Nieto administration (Raymie, Dec 27, ibid.) I had been bewildered as to why Encuentro Social would join forces with Morena and the PT, now it makes sense. The left gets six years at the wheel and the Christian broadcasters get legalized (Robert Grant, Dec 27, ibid.) That's the wrong take — this has been going on for a few years. XHPEDX was filed for on March 8, 2014, prior to the LFTR being written and coming into effect in August (its callsign is templated with the PE meaning PErmiso). The same would go for XHPEBX and XHPECR, and non-religious wolves. In 2018, the IFT has also given us XHPEAB, XHPEAC, XHPEAQ, XHPECD, XHPECP, XHPECW, and XHPEDZ. XHVDR and the first FCSM stations got their concessions around the same time, in 2012. In the case of FCSM, their station applications were filed in 2007. (Radio Maria Mexico began operating by leasing XELT on May 31, 2003 — the concession is still in Televisa Radio's name.) Mexican regulation of religious matters would never fly if someone proposed it from scratch today. It's a legacy of the very strong secularism of post-Revolution Mexico (the Cristiada, etc.) The RTC's regulation of religious content on radio and TV and the prohibition on religious associations (A.R.s, as opposed to the civil associations A.C.s that own many social stations) from holding broadcast concessions are things you'd never see now (Raymie, Dec 28, ibid.) Capital Media is ringing in 2019 with a trio of format flips. XHNAQ-FM Querétaro, XHGAI-FM Puerto Vallarta, and XHZL-FM Xalapa will all go Capital Máxima (grupera) on Monday, January 7. It's the first time Capital has flipped one of the original Pirata FM social stations, and the flips bring Capital Máxima from five stations to eight. Máxima will now be the largest format by station count in Capital's stable as Capital FM loses two stations. The Capital station building list is long: their IFT-4 commercial station for Apatzingán and FRCJ social wolves at Oaxaca, Huatulco, Cosoleacaque and Culiacán all are yet to come to air. That won't be the only format shuffle in Xalapa, since on January 1, Avanradio is moving the OK! FM (CHR) format from 104.1 XHGR to 98.5 XHWA, and electronic station One FM will be leaving Xalapa (but not Veracruz Puerto/XHFM). No new format has been announced for XHGR. Last edited by Raymie; 12-30-2018 at 05:12 PM. (Raymie, Dec 30, ibid.) It's time to take a look back at the year that was in Mexican broadcasting... New Station Awards The IFT began the year on a hot streak, particularly carrying over from its groundbreaking activities in December 2017 (which were not published when the 2017 look-back went out). This year through November 14, the IFT authorized 71 FM, 4 AM and 7 noncommercial TV stations. Of the 75 radio stations, nearly 40 percent were authorized in the first quarter of the year. The IFT continued what it had begun at the tail end of last year by clearing a variety of permit forests. Stations were awarded in Culiacán, Tepic, Morelia, Chilpancingo, Poza Rica, Cintalapa Chis. and Monclova in resolution of some of the forests that had piled up from applications between 2000 and 2014. However, more than 200 such applications remain to be resolved, the oldest of them dating to the Zedillo administration. It also awarded some stations in areas with just one pre-LFTR application, such as Uruapan, Linares, and Puerto Vallarta (the latter two helping make 2018 the year of the religious wolf). Additionally, a new three-headed social wolfpack has emerged in the Bajío and west coast, the PSR wolfpack operating as Frecuencias Sociales, Fundación Educacional de Medios, and Radio de Ayuda. Time will tell what its frequencies—11 so far—carry. The seven television stations included some notables. Social wolves on TV were awarded to the Fundación Garza Limón in Durango, the mysterious Patronato Pro-Difusión Social in Río Bravo, Simón Valanci Buzali in Tuxtla Gutiérrez, and Laura Amparo Otto Díaz for Medios Radiofónicos Michoacán in Lázaro Cárdenas. (LZC has never had a locally programmed broadcast station.) There were also new stations greenlit for the Colima state government in Manzanillo and a Canal 44 station for Puerto Vallarta. The remaining station will resolve an apparent permit discontinuity for XHUNES in Durango, but the penalty is that the new concession specifies VHF channel 11, not UHF channel 16. New On Air 2018 saw the sign-ons of IFT-4 stations pick up the pace, something that continued right up until days before Christmas. From Ensenada to Playa del Carmen, Acatlán de Osorio to Villa Tututepec, new IFT-4 stations extended commercial radio service to towns that previously did not have their own local stations and others with more crowded radio markets. Arguably the saddest sign-on of 2018 was XEGMSR Villahermosa, which came to air at the end of February and then lost its founder to murder in May. Second-wave migration also gained a head of steam this year, and more migrants are on air than aren’t. In Guadalajara, three separate stations (of the eight to come to air) turned on their transmitters over a six-day span, introducing HD Radio to Mexico’s second-largest metro area for the very first time; two more have since signed on. The migration is complete in Monterrey, Puebla, Toluca, San Luis Río Colorado, and in Mexico City. It was in the capital that migration was a home run. Radio Educación, after decades of trying, finally began broadcasting an FM signal to the Mexico City metro with a formal startup on November 11. They were preceded on the air by XHINFO-FM, which started the year as an enigma but ended it as arguably the station of the year in Mexico. Its name first revealed here on April 24 ahead of turning on the transmitter in August, Aire Libre caught lightning in a bottle, uniting the last ever new commercial station for one of the world’s largest metros, brilliant music minds, and unique programming to create the sort of station that every world-class city deserves. There was also a steady stampede of noncommercial sign-ons, including some awards from 2018 and many from 2017. I sent databases nearly 50 emails containing the words “New On Air” this year. Some were surprises — nobody thought the Radiovisa/Organiden station for Hermosillo was going to be run by Larsa, an unfortunate end run around the entire permit forest process, or that the hotel operators’ station in Akumal would turn out to be Acustik — while others were more predictable, like XHXI-FM Ixtapan de la Sal in the State of Mexico, the first first-wave migrant authorized in the IFT era with a frequency and facility that had been built two years prior. Some stations, like XHPMI Peñamiller Qro. (now on test) or XHBOC and XHURI in Bocoyna-San Juanito and Urique-Creel, Chihuahua, were the first radio services in their communities. Television also had a year of sign-ons, mostly from the IFT-6 station auction, beginning with XHJGMI-TDT “Multimedios Michoacán” (no relation to Monterrey) in January. The real Multimedios entered the capital city and built five of its six new transmitters (with Puebla delayed due to red tape). Quiero Media fulfilled its founder’s dream of broadcasting when XHQMGU-TDT signed on in May. The summer saw XHICCH-TDT go on air from Chihuahua Capital, cementing Intermedia’s weight as a force in state media (and their expansion to transmitters in Cuauhtémoc and Delicias will increase that). TV Mar went on the air at the start of December in Puerto Vallarta (XHCPPV-TDT), offering a roadmap for how an independent television station might look in today’s Mexican broadcasting, while the year concluded with Tele Saltillo XHTSCO-TDT bringing Grupo Zócalo to television. 2019 promises the remaining stations, including Francisco Aguirre’s UHF station for the capital, TV Mar in Baja California Sur, likely networked stations in Durango and in Nayarit, a pair of stations in the state of San Luis Potosí and the twelve Telsusa stations. Noncommercial activity was highlighted by the sign-on of Canal 44’s transmitters for Ciudad Guzmán in January and Lagos de Moreno in September, making the Universidad de Guadalajara the first to make a university state network a reality. However, Chihuahua’s multiplexed state network on two Imagen transmitters has been deferred due to budgeting problems in that state, with the larger 11-transmitter common-concession state network pending at the IFT. Television also had a lot of repacking. In March and April, almost every remaining station got their repack papers, and the rest got them over the first nine months of this year. Repacking has taken place in many areas and should be over fairly quickly in 2019. It’ll be a few years, though, before the 600 MHz band is auctioned off. There were also sign-offs, mainly on AM. At least a dozen of the 83 Combos of ’94, in cities such as Aguascalientes, Cancún, Campeche and Torreón, opted not to renew their AM frequencies and handed them in to the IFT. Acustik Few stories charted a wilder course during the year than the construction of Mexico’s newest media group. Grupo Acustik came out swinging on January 15: Víctor Trujillo in the morning, Javier Solórzano in the afternoon, and a new national TV channel. But the year they’ve had has been bumpy. Their stars fled within months, with the company in apparent arrears. (Trujillo is now at Aire Libre and Solórzano at Canal Once.) The company changed studio locations in Mexico City in May, was called out by their force of state correspondents for not paying salaries in July, and suffered through problems with their Cancún pirate operations that included losing one station altogether (though they now finally operate a legitimate station, the one in Akumal). Oh yeah, and not a single one of their IFT-4 radio stations is on the air. Format News One of the deans of classical radio in Mexico gave up the terrestrial ghost after 18 years. In early March, XHLNC-FM Tijuana went from classical to Larsa social wolf, the first time it had been operated from Mexico since being permitted in 2000. Additionally, one of the two other major US-through-Mexico broadcasters, Broadcast Company of the Americas, is in financial disarray, having had the plug pulled from two Mexican stations with the remaining station likely on the way. A formerly placid Radiorama cluster in León was cleaved in two, with some stations changing formats for the first time in their 28 years of broadcasting. Multimedios Radio and Audiorama split the formerly Pereda Gómez-aligned six-pack. MVS had an expansionary year, taking over XHLC-FM Guadalajara and XHJM-FM Monterrey to return FM Globo to prominence. They also had the format of the year, La Lupe, which was so successful that MM blew up XHPCTN-FM Compostela-Tepic, which had been Hits FM, for the new format within just three months of signing it on. Tribuna Comunicación was the big loser when MVS Radio bought into Puebla by acquiring XHJE-FM from Cinco Radio. Immediately, they lost Exa FM, and they dropped La Mejor too after their bid to move XEZT to FM fell through for nonpayment and the frequency went to Grupo ACIR’s XEHIT. While XHPBA-FM now has Los 40, XEZT is operating as an adrift-seeming romantic station known as “La 1250 AM”. Grupo Larsa Comunicaciones needed a new grupera format after their partnership with market-leading XHHQ Hermosillo fell through, and in August, they launched “La Más Chingona” on 101.1 XHVSS. The name wasn’t as, uh, badass as it might seem, attracting attention for its comparative vulgarity. Larsa didn’t care — they proceeded to expand the name to XHESO Ciudad Obregón to replace a half-done flip to an XHHQ-esque brand. Additionally, despite several promises, the attempt to sell Televisa Radio seems to have met with no bidders and won’t see a resolution this year. The Fourth Transformation: What Future? 2018 was, of course, a large political year in Mexico, one that saw a historic change in power as Andrés Manuel López Obrador became president. With him comes austerity, even for public broadcasting and for the IFT. With problems already arising such as changes in government procurement policies putting fee payments to IMER station contributors in limbo after March 31, the SPR not getting much-needed money to build 14 new TV transmitters, and the IFT warning it had received a budget below what it said was the minimum to meet its goals, 2019 could be a clarifying year or it could be a larger disaster. Furthermore, necessary cuts in excessive public relations spending could be passed through to broadcasters, hurting the industry. A Few Other Things -The launch of the IFT Coverage Viewer in late August, and the return of tech sheets (and resumption of new uploads) around that time, have vastly increased the amount of data available on Mexican broadcasting. The Coverage Viewer was instrumental in helping RECnet add Mexico to fccdata.org. -MVS finally got onto in-the-clear broadcasting in the capital by hitching a ride on XHTDMX 6.4. -The Mexico Beat was first to report a station award—to the grantee. In mid-March, a tweet rounding up new callsigns for social stations, including XHMPJ-FM 91.5 in Los Cabos, prompted Luis Roberto Márquez Pizano to slide in my DMs. His lawyers had yet to tell him! Márquez Pizano would also nab another social station in Baja California Sur, XHBCPZ-FM 95.1 in La Paz. Neither has hit the air. -The Universidad Autónoma de Durango (Fomento Educativo y Cultural Francisco de Ibarra) came out the big winner of the IFT’s permit forest mania, earning frequencies for Lobos FM stations at Hermosillo (103.5 XHHMO), Los Mochis (97.3 XHHIS), Culiacán (93.7 XHCUAD) and Zacatecas (95.5 XHUAD). The latter is the first university radio station in the state, leaving just Quintana Roo (and legally, Oaxaca) without a university radio station. (Hermosillo and Zacatecas are now on the air, though I can’t find much on the Sinaloa stations.) Lobos FM (and TV in Durango) is now the largest private university broadcaster in the country and the only multi-state university radio network in the country. Last edited by Raymie; 01-03-2019 at 10:22 AM. Reason: Corrected an error that linked XHLC and XHJM to Multimedios instead of MVS. (Raymie, Dec 31, ibid.) One more second-wave migrant is on the air as of yesterday. It's XHO-FM 93.5 in Matamoros, the second in a trio of NotiGAPE migrants. https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10157014471448669&set=pcb.10157014474688669&type=3&theater (XHEOQ-FM Río Bravo Tamps. went on the air earlier in 2018. The last one is XHWD-FM 95.9 Cd. Miguel Alemán.) XHO will also have the HD2 ESPN Deportes being carried by XHEOQ, though no authorization for such has been made available. [tagline:] Este programa es público, ajeno a cualquier partido político. Queda prohibido el uso para fines distintos a los establecidos en el programa (Raymie, Jan 1, ibid.) ** MOLDOVA. “... Recently I had a chance to visit the Chisinau radio center. The once guarded territory is now unattended. The gate to the antennas (sprengeli), by means of which the tesla had previously broadcast (now conserved, according to mastheads) on 1449 and 1593, is open. Mast grades - here they are, do what you want with them. Nobody cares. At 873, the broadcast is on its way. Although the antenna was surrounded on all sides by residential buildings. By the way, the 150-meter antenna at 873 was previously used for broadcasting at 998 kHz (prior to the commissioning of the Grigoriopol radio center Mayak), the same one that was erected in the late 40s of the last century. And a trophy transmitter worked on this antenna, received by indemnity from under ... Berlin itself! In the 90s, it was rebuilt again to 999, in order to jam Transnistrian radio, but that’s another story .... ” (Leo Barmaleo, Moldova / ”open_dx” via Rus-DX Dec 30 via DXLD) ** NETHERLANDS. In the case of 1008 kHz: December 31st only for UK/Ireland/Portugal, https://www.grootnieuwsradio.nl/k/n663/news/view/115687/41482/vanaf-22-30-oudejaarsuitzending-met-hans.html now says that they will wave goodbye to mediumwave at 01:00 (CET of course, = 0000 UT). (Kai Ludwig, Germany, WOR iog via DXLD) 1008 kHz: excitement raises after in pauses a 2 kHz het from a carrier on 1010 kHz is pretty obvious {WINS NYC?] the final song, for a final time the "ouch, level meter sticks" view from 2 dB of residual dynamics on this horribly overprocessed modulation, and: blew, just the program input switches to a "retune" loop. At least this time it is not such a brainwashing stuff as 15 years ago when NOS left this very frequency. So it remains to be seen when the transmitter will be really turned off (Kai Ludwig, 0016 UT Jan 1, WOR iog via DXLD) See also BELGIUM The two Belgium stations are off this morning, but 1008 seems to be carrying a continuous loop explaining alternative options. But my Dutch is not really up to it (Gareth Foster, 1134 UT Jan 1, bdxc-news iog via DXLD) ** NETHERLANDS [non]. Studio 52: See GERMANY ** NEW ZEALAND. MARE Gary Vance commented about his New Zealand log: This log caused me to remember two songs that Ringo Starr sang. "With a Little Help from My Friends" and "It Don't Come Easy" First: without the assistance of my friend Kenneth Zichi I would still be wracking my brain. (I told him that RNZ had begun relaying the Pidgin programme of Radio Australia... kvz.) Second: The Wantok Program is listed as being on 9700 kHz but not 6115 kHz where I heard it. One day later December 20, 2018 1250 UT I don't hear it or see a trace of it on either frequency. Could this have been a test? 6115, Radio New Zealand International (Presumed), Rangitaiki 1241+ 19-Dec, 2 OM, one was "Sam Seke", speaking Pidgin English. UNID OM was reciting a list of "Conditions". "Number 1", "Number 2" etc. Words I heard: must, government, 2018, Papua New Guinea, assembly Washington and finally at 1244 UT, YL Caroline Tiriman said something about a Beach then ID "This is ABC Radio Australia". Just before the abrupt signoff at 1258 Sam Seke mentioned time 8 o'clock "This is ABC Radio Australia Wantok program". The signal fair but steady very readable (Gary Vance, Grand Ledge MI, Quantum Loop, +Sony ICF-7600, MARE Tipsheet Dec 28 via WORLD OF RADIO 1963, DXLD) Hi Adrian, Can you explain this, from the Michigan Tipsheet? Happy New Year, (Glenn to Adrian Sainsbury, RNZI, Dec 31, via DXLD) Hi Glenn, There was one test on 6115 on 20 Dec 1100-1358 UT. Last month RNZ Pacific introduced the following Melanesian programmes-: From RNZ Pacific news in Pidgin followed by news from Buzz FM Vanuatu, plays at 1130 and 1430 UT. Will be back on air from 21 January. • News in Pidgin – presented by Koroi Hawkins • BuzzFM News – from Port Vila, Vanuatu The Wantok Program - 30 minutes of news and current affairs from ABC Australia from Monday to Friday in Papua New Guinea Tok Pisin, Solomon Islands Pidgin and Vanuatu Bislama pidgin languages. Plays at 1028, 1230, 2230 UT. Will be back on air from 14 January. Happy New Year, (Adrian Sainsbury, UT Dec 31, WORLD OF RADIO 1963, DX LISTENING DIGEST) So normal frequencies are currently 9765 at 1028, 9700 at 1130 & 1230, 7390 at 1430, 15720 at 2230 (gh, ibid.) But from Jan 5, 6115 ex-7390 from *1259! (gh) ** NEW ZEALAND. RNZ Pacific should have been the first international short wave station greeting the new year. However, the year ended badly for Radio New Zealand. Because of a computer problem, RNZ and RNZ Pacific had to play non-stop pop music from a limited number of CDs. (RNZ Concert had another music programme.) Occasionally, an announcer stepped in and apologised for the programme: „Like Mr. Scott would have said: We are running on impulse power.“ The 11 o clock-news and the weather forecast were spoken by the announcer. From 2314 there were several attempts to start the planned music selection. Finally, the transition to the music selection of "Studio 54" (disco titles of Kylie Minogue etc.) succeeded. Right at 1058 h, the transmission on 9765 kHz closed, but in time for the new year 9700 kHz became active. The ongoing disco title „Do not push me cause I'm close to the edge“ ended and was followed by time pips and - silence. But then news started. After 1105 h, a female announcer had some good wishes for the new year also referring to the „technical problems“ of yesterday to be left behind (Dr Hansjoerg Biener, 31 December 2018, WORLD OF RADIO 1963, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** NIGERIA. 7254.940 kHz at 0702 UT on Dec 31. Abuja Voice of Nigeria appeared on the band, but only S=5 signal in central Europe. Female presenter read news [selected SDR options, span 12.5 kHz RBW 15.3 Hertz] (Wolfgang Bueschel, df5sx, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Dec 31, DX LISTENING DIGEST) language? ** NIGERIA [non]. 9690.0, Dec 26 at 1927 on caradio, REE Spain good with no LAH; therefore, VON must be absent from 9689.9 --- somewhere else or nowhere? (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** NIGERIA [non]. FRANCE, Radio Nigeria Kaduna in 41mb via TDF Issoudun, Dec.28 2000-2300 on 7235 ISS 150 kW / 170 deg to WeAf Hausa, good signal https://swldxbulgaria.blogspot.com/2018/12/reception-of-radio-nigeria-kaduna-in.html Radio Nigeria Kaduna in 22mb via TDF Issoudun, Dec.29 0700-0900 on 13840 ISS 150 kW / 170 deg to WeAf Hausa, good signal https://swldxbulgaria.blogspot.com/2018/12/reception-of-radio-nigeria-kaduna-in_29.html Radio Nigeria Kaduna in 16mb via TDF Issoudun, Dec.29 0900-1500 on 17690 ISS 150 kW / 170 deg to WeAf Hausa, good signal https://swldxbulgaria.blogspot.com/2018/12/reception-of-radio-nigeria-kaduna-in_75.html (Ivo Ivanov, SWLDXBulgaria News, Dec 28-29, WORLD OF RADIO 1963, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** NORTH AMERICA. == Shortwave free radio logs week ending Dec 28: Wolverine Radio. Tuesday, December 25, 2018, 0128, 3440 usb. Music and ID. Very good signal, s15/s20. (Will-MD) Radio Humperdoo. Friday, December 28, 2018, 2048, 6930 usb. Punk rock/metal music, solid s9 signal. "Hello radio...Radio Humperdoo" ID at 2049. (Will-MD) Radio Humperdoo. Friday, December 28, 2018, 2245, 6930 usb. Music by John Denver, "Country Roads." Molly Hatchett, "Flirtin' With Disaster" at 2317. s7. (Will-MD) Old time radio. Friday, December 28, 2018, 2248, 6770 am. Surprisingly good s7 signal with an old radio show (Larry Will, Mount Airy, Maryland, radio@zappahead.net Icom IC-R75, G5RV, PL-880, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** NORTH AMERICA. 6954.0-USB, Dec 30 at 0125, talk and guitar at S9, into hard rock live performance with a crowd. 0140 SSTV, 0142 back to concert; recheck 0208 still going with heavy percussion S9+20, 0213 cut to short SSTV and off. These logs say it was Skippy Radio: https://www.hfunderground.com/board/index.php/topic,49512.0.html based solely on one of the SSTV images; no one nor I reported hearing any audible IDs (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** NORTH AMERICA. 4015.0-USB, Jan 1 at 0453, rock music S9+10, 0454 back-announcement something about California; inviting requests; 0455 HNY to someone in Waynesboro (MS? PA? TN? VA?), ID as ``WDDR, Drunken DJ Radio``, but he doesn`t sound drunk, yet. 0651 still going with music at S7-S8; 0657 SSTV to 0700 ``K`` in CW and off. Earlier had sought anypirate on 6.9 MHz band with no results. Wish more of them would run late into night when I for one would be more likely to hear them. A few others heard this, 55 posts, one from Waynesboro GA, at https://www.hfunderground.com/board/index.php/topic,49624.0.html including lots of SSTV images, between 0020 and 0700 (Glenn Hauser, OK, WORLD OF RADIO 1963, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** NORWAY. Quite a good signal from Radio Northern Star on 5895 kHz in full AM. Jingle-IDs and pop music. 1615 UT. vy73 (Harald Kuhl, Germany, Dec 30, BDXC-news iog via DXLD) 1 kW transmitter may be running only 50 watts (WRTH 2019 via DXLD) ** OKLAHOMA [and non]. 640, Dec 30 at 1334 UT, dead air from KWPN Moore, as usual around this time on Sunday mornings, facilitating KFI talk and something else (Glenn Hauser, Enid, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** OKLAHOMA. 90.1 WBFM, Dec 25 at 0520-0600+ UT, dead air from KUCO- FM, as the classical feed from WCPE must have failed, and no one around to fix it; may have started much earlier and lasted much later. This happens rather too often (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** OKLAHOMA. 95.1 WBFM Part 15 is this year`s frequency for Enid`s other Xmas sound & light show at a residence in the Pheasant Run addition on the western edge of the city, as witnessed circa 0130 UT Dec 26; certainly a better selexion of music, e.g. Mannheim Steamroller, than the Singing Xmas Trees on 89.5 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** OKLAHOMA. Location RF Ch Callsign Notes [DTV] Ardmore 19 K19II Returned to the air Dec. 4th but off again on the 5th Will eventually move to ch. 26 but not until 2020. Ardmore 22 K22JQ Returned to the air Dec. 4th but off again on the 5th Ardmore 24 K24IW Returned to the air Dec. 4th but off again on the 5th Enid 19 K19IR Returned to the air Dec. 5th but off again the same day [! missed it: have never seen it --- gh] Enid 33 KUOC-LD Granted STA for 750 watts (site is near the Chandler Park Swimming Pool, TULSA) Oklahoma City 19 KUOT-CD OFF Nov. 6th pending move to ch. 21; displaced by KAUT. Oklahoma City 22 KTOU-LD Operating at 50% power since Dec. 13th due to storm damage Oklahoma City 27 KFOR-TV Granted power increase to 600kw/467m, 35-34-07/97-29-21; sharing tower at Britton Rd. & Kelley Ave. with KAUT-43 & KOPX-62. Woodward 35 KUOK Granted STA for reduced power of 3.2kw. Already on air (FCC News via Doug Smith, Jan WTFDA VHF-UHF Digest) And similar info for all other states, provinces and estados in one master list (gh) ** OMAN. Reception of Radio Sultanate of Oman in English on Dec 29: 1415&1446 on 15140 THU 100 kW / 315 deg to WeEu English, good/fair, from 1541 on 15140 THU 100 kW / 315 deg to WeEu Arabic, good signal https://swldxbulgaria.blogspot.com/2018/12/reception-of-radio-sultanate-of-oman-in.html (Ivo Ivanov, SWLDXBulgaria News, Dec 29-30, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PAPUA NEW GUINEA. Popondetta (Oro Province): SW/FM/TV Update - Dec 2018 The specific location name of the Radio Northern SW transmitter site is: Biru. It's on the far north eastern outskirts of Popondetta provincial capital (TX site located some years ago by SWSites YG). Unfortunately the SW transmitter was vandalised in 2016 & remains off air & it's unknown if it will ever return. The NBC is seeking to establish two FM provincial service transmitters & towers in strategic locations in both the Sohe and Ijivitari District to extend coverage to the four corners of Oro and into borders with Milne Bay, Central and Morobe provinces. For 2019 and beyond, the NBC in Oro province is looking at introducing a free-to-air television service. Oro is one of a few PNG provinces still without a TV service. - Happy New Year everyone - (Ian - Australia (SWTXSites YG) via DXLD) ** PERU. Radio Logos, 4810 kHz, heard with a good signal from 1053 tune-in to 1104 tune-out. At first, a long talk (sermon?) by a man, joined by a woman at the end. At 1058, Peruvian song with flute music. ID at 1103, then back to music. Good signal level, but the USB was covered by the usual enormous ute, and the LSB suffered from CODAR and periodic lightning crashes. Radio Tarma on 4774.91 was also good at the same time. Both stations seem to have been right on the SR line at the time. Re-check at 1135 found Logos to be only a het (Art Delibert, N. Bethesda, MD, 12/27/18, Ten Tec RX-340, SAL-12 antenna, Hard-Core-DX mailing list via WORLD OF RADIO 1963, DXLD) ** PERU [and non]. Mundaka y las misteriosas grabaciones de radios de onda corta que utilizará en su nuevo disco === 22/12/2018 https://gruporadioescuchaargentino.wordpress.com/2018/12/22/mundaka-y-las-misteriosas-grabaciones-de-radios-de-onda-corta-que-utilizara-en-su-nuevo-disco/ Interminables códigos morse. Un instituto estadounidense que da la hora cada segundo durante todo el día. Noticieros en chino, italiano o idiomas indescifrables. Transmisiones gubernamentales, militares o clandestinas. El espectro radial encuentra su propia ‘deep web’ en la frecuencia de onda corta, aquella que en nuestras viejas radios puede sintonizarse - con mucho esfuerzo y paciencia - cuando el dial se pasea por las siglas SW1 o SW2 y nos topamos con sonidos de origen desconocido, verdaderos agujeros negros del audio. Resultado de imagen para banda peruana Mundaka [caption] Rodrigo Vera Tudela (28) posee alrededor de 150 de estas grabaciones. Obsesionado por lo críptico, el vocalista, guitarrista y compositor de la banda peruana Mundaka confiesa haberse topado con transmisiones japonesas, vietnamitas, argentinas e incluso peruanas. El espectro de onda corta es, paradójicamente, gigante. “Todo empezó cuando me topé con el concepto de Emisoras de Números, estaciones que se crearon durante la Guerra Fría y que emiten secuencias numéricas que nadie sabe para qué están, pero se dice que en los gobiernos se habla mucho de ellas”, sostiene el músico. El misterio que rodea estas emisiones es tan grande como la gran cantidad que se puede encontrar en internet. Las secuencias no solo son numéricas, sino que pueden ser palabras o letras (si son en ruso todo cobra un aura digna de una película de espías). Y la colección privada de Vera Tudela se podrá escuchar en el nuevo disco de Mundaka, grupo que con solo dos años desde su salto a la fama -con el muy buen álbum “Sonata tropical del Ártico” (2016)- está en proceso de consolidación con el próximo lanzamiento de un EP grabado en vivo hace algunas semanas llamado “Mar adentro”, el cual antecederá a su segundo álbum. “Las grabaciones que colecciono son solo las que grabo con mi radio”, aclara el compositor de las canciones de Mundaka. “Se van a escuchar en el próximo disco”, agrega. No es la primera vez que plasma su obsesión por esta clase de sonidos en sus piezas musicales. “Estratósfera”, tema instrumental de su disco debut, incluye grabaciones de la Nasa. “La idea es muy similar para lo que se viene”, adelanta de la placa de larga duración que proyecta verá la luz a inicios del 2019 (RPP via GRA blog via DXLD) ** PHILIPPINES. 9795, Dec 27 at 2254, S7-S8 keyboard variations on ``Jesus Saves``, FEBC Iba prior to 2300 broadcast in Mon language (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PHILIPPINES. Radio Philippines, 25.12.2018, Filipino Service, 0200-0330: 15640 333, 17700 333, 17820 333. Receiver: XH Data D-808; Antenna: Outdoor 50 feet Wire (Abid Hussain Sajid, Pakistani Dxer, WOR iog via DXLD) ** PRIDNESTROVYE. 7485even, MOLDOVA, Radiotelecentr (PRTC) transmitter Grigoriopol Maiac, very early on air around 0317 UT, to warm-up their broadcast center and staff during wintertime, hi. Scheduled from ---0330 to 0430 UT, BBC Persian, instead heard an 1025 Hertz tone in 0319-0329 UT slot, then BBC Persian started [selected SDR options, span 12.5 kHz RBW 15.3 Hertz] (Wolfgang Bueschel, df5sx, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Dec 29, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ROMANIA [and non]. 9810, Dec 25 at 1407, RRI Galbeni in Romanian, S9+10 with flutter, one of better signals on band, but with some CCI. Per HFCC that would be CNR via Nanning, i.e. CNR1 per Aoki and EiBi (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) see also SPAIN [and non] 6170, RRI at 2127 // 7310 and 7375 (both Very Good) with IS to 2130 and opening music and a man with ID, target areas, web platforms, and satellite reception info and a woman with news at 2131 – Very Good Jan 1 – It's amazing how the 49 meter band conditions absolutely suck after dark – at least for reception of European stations in Eastern North America. It really shouldn't be that way but that's to be expected as we are at solar minimum. After all, we don't have the plethora of tropical band stations that we used to have in the 1980s to make solar minimum easier to bear (Mark Coady, Selwyn, Ontario, Kenwood TS440S or Ten-Tec Argonaut II and 40 and 80 meter off centre-fed dipoles, ODXA iog via DXLD) See also SPAIN [and non] ** RUSSIA. The Russian Television Transition from Analog to Digital Begins The Russian Federation began to shut down their analog television transmitters on December 3, 2018. The first to go was the Tyer [Tver?] Region (RTRS) at 9:15am that day when over 100 transmitters were shut down leaving four analog channels remaining. All Federal broadcasting will be digital on January 1, 2019. WTFDA member Chris Kadlec explains in a post on Facebook: Just like here, many channels will continue to air an analog signals in the outlying republics. State and commercial channels are free to continue broadcasting in analog at their own expense anywhere in the country, while all analog channels will continue to display the letter "A" on the screen. The converter boxes are currently priced at $USD9 to 11 in Russia and must support DVB-T2 standard and MPEG4 video compression. Everyone will be able to receive two main sets of channels (????????????) [mul`tipleksy], the first being the required state channels (10 total) with Russia 1, Russia 24, Russia Culture, NTV, TV Center, and Match (a sports channel) and the second having the entertainment, etc. channels of "Star" (Armed Forces of the Russian Federation), Savior (Russian Orthodox Church, Moscow Patriarchate), Mir (an international state-run television company broadcasting in Russia, Belarus, and Kazakhstan), CTC, Muz TV, etc. The first package has some other channels too, and also will carry Radio Russia, Mayak and Vesti FM. All in all, the two packages carry more than 2 dozen free channels. (And you can see the official details at the http://rtrs.ru site). Ukraine made the switch on Sept. 1st but they weren't ready for it because they hadn't given enough time for planning. A court blocked the shutdown of some analog stations because of it, but they turned them off anyway, so you could say that hasn't gone as smoothly as Russia's surely will (WTFDA VHF-UHF Digest January 2019 via DXLD) DTV ** RUSSIA [non]. Pirate radio -------- Radio Stancia Russian Hooligans Ricevuto Radio Station The Russian Hooligans Music Station - free radio (TX probabile dalla Germania). Domenica 16 dicembre 2018, alle 1105 UT a 6220.25 kHz AM, qualità della ricezione discreta. Per l'ascolto ho utilizzato il ricevitore SDR FDM S1 Intel Core i7-4771 CPU 3.5 GHz e il software SDRSharper v0.3h mentre l'antenna. Report, inviato via email a radiostanciarussianhooligans@hotmail.com, conferma con messaggio email e QSL elettronica, in 12 gg. https://it2021swl. (Claudio Tagliabue, Italy / https://www.facebook.com/groups/1080049528677701/ QSL World, via Rus-DX Dec 30 via DXLD) ** RUSSIA [non]. Hi! in the USA there's a group who play rock music named Radio Moscow. Currently they are on tour (Jon Collins, Birmingham in the middle of the United Kingdom, Dec 29, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ``Psychedelic blues rock`` https://www.facebook.com/radiomoscowband/ ``Radio Moscow is a hard rocking psych power trio formed in Story City, Iowa by vocalist/guitarist, Parker Griggs. Current Location: San Diego`` http://radiomoscow.net/ Cursorily I have not found any current tourdates, USA or beyond. So are these guys SWLs or just glommed onto a cool name? (gh, DXLD) ** RWANDA [non]. Reception of Radio Itahuka via MBR Talata Volonondry on Dec.29 1800-1900 15420 MDC 250 kW / 315 deg CeAf Kinyarwanda Sat fair to good https://swldxbulgaria.blogspot.com/2018/12/reception-of-radio-itahuka-via-mbr.html (Ivo Ivanov, SWLDXBulgaria News, Dec 29-30, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Now we finally all (including WRTH 2019) agree that this is in Kinyarwanda, not Kirundi! (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SAUDI ARABIA. 1521, Dec 28 at 1910, JBA carrier hetting 1520 KOKC OKC, earlier than ever only 38 minutes after local mean noon here, but 2 megawatts into lowsun ionosphere presumably propagates it well into Western daytime. I am open to any other explanation of why such a carrier should show up here in the afternoon hours before sunset, and not in the evening when we know Duba is off overnight. Despite WRTH 2019 as 1500-0300, MWlist shows 1700-2230 only, with all MW & SW //s: https://www.mwlist.org/mwlist_quick_and_easy.php?area=1&kHz=1521 Bearing from here is about 38 degrees, but probably too weak to DF. Path crosses Hadrian`s Wall, as far north as 59 degrees N, just south of Iceland & Greenland, where it`s already post-sunset (Glenn Hauser, OK, WORLD OF RADIO 1963, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SPAIN [and non]. Not logs for Christmas but just long time listening --- RNE at 21+ a program starts with the 'holy night' song and two speakers refer about a live transmission Tenerife and the symphonic orchestra via the RNE network that includes the REE RFE and R5. The program included various Christmas songs and operas with a 2 hour duration and short comments by the two commenters in between. At 2245 there was a well known Christmas song sung by the children group. R Romania Actualitata was their competitor on same time with a similar program that included opera songs and known western songs sung by tenors and hot applauds in between. The Spanish opera program ended at 23 and then there was a discussion program. In contrast RRA continued with a Christmas concert of supposedly Celine Dion and mates who addressed in English and sung various songs of her repertoire including the Titanic song. Previously 2050 it aired happy classical music as from Vivaldi, etc. That program was cut for the station program's ID. I used several frequencies of both stations to have a better signal while I was listening in the +bed+ after 2125. Among the frequencies used were 855 and 909 for RRA while 738 and 774 for RNE among the tens used across all the band. Both programs were wonderful and were the only program that I was really in the mind of Christmas for all this period even that I watched a few children thatres [¿theatres?] so far. More logs later. Some family tasks are more important for the moment. 6 persons are 'above my head' and call me unstoppedly. I expect your comments anyway (Zacharias Liangas, Thessaloniki, Greece, https://www.facebook.com/zachliang https://del.icio.us/gr_greek1/ZAK DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SPAIN. 9690, Fri Dec 28 at 2301, I finally settle in to listen to M/W/F English from REE --- but already playing music, flamenco, and more music for the semihour, except for brief English ID at 2302, ``You are listening to the English language program of Spanish National Radio`` (not REE), and on to a song about Nochebuena. 2320 A Spanish REE ID inserted, so how is this really the ``English`` service, no spoken programming, rather music in Spanish? 2325 multi- lingual Happy New Year wishes. All four frequencies audible: // 12030 is as VG as 9690; 11940 good; 11685 quite weaker (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 9690, Dec 31 at 2254, REE inbooming with rock music just before 2019y. This has proved to be our best/only SW live NYE signal from W Europe. Of course, pre-empts 2300 English as simulcasting Radio Nacional de España coverage. By 2258 wild crowd and announcers standing by for 12 campanadas at medianoche. Which are then heard after 4 other bells signifying hourtop, ``Feliz 2,019`` and cheers. 2301 announcing a toll-free call-in number. 2305 a live(?) song with guitars about trabajo, outroed as a mambo. 9690 still audible Jan 1 at 0220 with Spanish orchestral music, but faded to S9-S5 (Glenn Hauser, OK, WORLD OF RADIO 1963, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SPAIN. 30 aniversario de La Voz de las Cañas. --- Hoy sábado día 29 de Diciembre se cumplen 30 años de la primera emisión de La Voz de las Cañas, una emisora de Onda Corta situada cerca de Madrid y que estuvo emitiendo programación "tropical" en la banda de radiodifusión de 60 metros, frecuencia 5067.9 kHz durante todo 1989 y principio de 1990. Seguro que los más veteranos aún la recuerdan. Más información en mi blog: https://jaarranzs.blogspot.com/2018/12/30-aniversario-de-la-voz-de-las-canas.html Feliz año 2019 ("Juan Antonio Arranz", 29 dic, playdx yg via DXLD) ** SUDAN. 7205, Sudan Radio, Al Aitahab, 1633-1655, 24-12, Arabic comments. 35433. (Méndez) 9505, Voice of Africa, Al Aitahab, 1650-1710, 24-12, French, comments about Africa, ID “La Voix de l’Afrique”. 25322 (Manuel Méndez, Spain, WOR iog via DXLD) Fair signal of Radio Omdurman Sudan on Dec.25 from 0910 on 7205 ALF 100 kW / 210 deg to CeAf Arabic https://swldxbulgaria.blogspot.com/2018/12/fair-signal-of-radio-omdurman-sudan-on.html Radio Omdurman on 9505, instead of Voice of Africa, Dec.25 1605&1705 on 9505 ALF 100 kW / 210 deg to CeAf Arabic, fair/good: https://swldxbulgaria.blogspot.com/2018/12/radio-omdurman-on-9505-khz-instead-of.html (Ivo Ivanov, SWLDXBulgaria News, Dec 24-25, DX LISTENING DIGEST) [and non]. On 28 December 2018, the Voice of Africa was heard on 9505 kHz in English with the following details: 1722, long nonstop conversation: post-colonial and current wars in Africa not just caused by the Europeans/Western countries alone but also by Africans and overseas opposition communities, although Western interests exploited the Africans during theses wars (e. g. diamonds, minerals), no musical interludes/bridges 1745, two „Voice of Africa“-IDs/continuous African music 1753, another talk (OM) in an unidentified language 1800, interference from Trans World Radio Swaziland (still this ID, not eSwatini) in English on 9500 kHz wiping out reception of Voice of Africa (Dr Hansjoerg Biener 30 December 2018, WORLD OF RADIO 1963, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Weak/fair signal of Radio Omdurman Sudan, Dec.29 from 0945 on 7205 ALF 100 kW / 210 deg to CeAf Arabic https://swldxbulgaria.blogspot.com/2018/12/weakfair-signal-of-radio-omdurman-sudan.html (Ivo Ivanov, SWLDXBulgaria News, Dec 28-29, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Reception of Voice of Africa Sudan Radio in French Dec.29: from 1636 on 9505 ALF 100 kW / 210 deg to CeAf French, good signal & from 1656 on 9505 ALF 100 kW / 210 deg to CeAf open carrier/dead air https://swldxbulgaria.blogspot.com/2018/12/reception-of-voice-of-africa-sudan.html (Ivo Ivanov, SWLDXBulgaria News, Dec 29-30, DX LISTENING DIGEST) After an analysis of BCDX/DXLD items on the Voice of Sudan, I decided to spend some days and hours for monitoring the station. The World Radio TV Handbook 2019 lists this schedule for the Voice of Sudan: 1600-1900: 9505 (al Fitihab 100 kW) French. 1700 English. 1800 Swahili 0: This schedule is, obviously obsolete. It also raises two more questions: 1: Some DXers report Hausa as one of the languages of the external service. KiSwahili as the lingua franca of Uganda/Kenya/Tanzania sounds much more plausible than Hausa which is a lingua franca in West Africa. 2: In contrast to the WRTH, HFCC lists the transmitter site as al Aitihab. Unfortunately, some of my findings lead to more questions: 0: 1630 (about 1631/1633) (accented) French. 1715 (accented) English (except for the claims). 1800 language indeed announced as Hausa, sign off shortly after 1900. Some observations on the IDs and claims: „la voix d’Afrique“ (rather than „de l’Afrique“) „This is the Voice of Africa“ „broadcasting from Sudan to you on 31 m broadcast band 9505 kHz (with some beats of Shaqira’s „this time for Africa“)“ „we share ideas“ „stay tuned for some amazing programmes“ I already reported on the content of an English broadcast. Another interesting information might be that in another broadcast a speaker seemed to mix United States and United Nations. It will certainly have severe consequences for your interpretation of world politics if you take US policies for UN lines. 1: In my youth some three decades ago, I had a language course in KiSwahili, and indeed the language sounded to me unlike KiSwahili (although an Arabic accent may have confused me). Even more surprisingly, there was much telephone interaction. So, we need someone with better knowledge of regional politics and African languages to explain why Hausa/Nigeria should be important for the external service of Radio Sudan and who the correspondents are. 2: When using google maps the coordinates of the HFCC dump you into the Nile. Unfortunately, I was unable to find a transmitter site in the surrounding area or a location named al-Aitihab. The Sudanese government speaks of Alfetehab http://mininfo.gov.sd/en/%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%87%D9%8A%D8%A6%D8%A9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B9%D8%A7%D9%85%D8%A9-%D9%84%D9%84%D8%A7%D8%B0%D8%A7%D8%B9%D8%A9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%82%D9%88%D9%85%D9%8A%D8%A9/ This location was not found either (Dr Hansjoerg Biener 1 January 2019, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SUDAN SOUTH [non]. VATICAN, Weak signal of Eye Radio via Santa Maria di Galeria, Dec.25: 1459-1500 15410 SMG 250 kW / 139 deg EaAf Time & Freq.Ann.in English, 1500-1600 15410 SMG 250 kW / 139 deg EaAf Juba Arabic/English*Mon-Fri * including other languages: Dinka; Nuer; Shilluk; Bari; Zande; Lutoho https://swldxbulgaria.blogspot.com/2018/12/weak-signal-of-eye-radio-via-santa.html (Ivo Ivanov, SWLDXBulgaria News, Dec 24-25, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SWAZILAND. [Re 18-52, Radio Equipment Forum] Stephen and Lorraine Stavropoulos --- Steve joined TWR Swaziland in May 1977 as an electrical engineer. In 1978 he met Lorraine. They returned together to Swaziland immediately after being married in January 1979. Steve worked shifts for a number of years, became operations manager and then became the chief engineer for 18 years before moving to West Africa in May 2014 to serve as TWR engineer for that region [Benin]. From April 2017, they relocated to the TWR Africa Regional Office, South Africa, to be their base for future projects in Benin and other countries. At the end of September 2018, they are moving back to Swaziland where Steve will take up the position of Station Director from 1st November 2018. Lorraine will continue as the DX secretary for Africa as well as audition programs before they air. TWR asked them to return for two years. After prayer, they believe this to be God's plan for them at this time. Besides raising their three children, Lorraine has been involved as a mission hostess and auditioning of programs. At the ARO office she is editing as well as auditioning programs. For many years she has been the DX secretary for Swaziland and now for Africa (from https://www.twr.org/global_staff/stavropoulos via Dr Hansjoerg Biener, DXLD) ** TAJIKISTAN. 4764.962, Tajik Radio from Yangi Yul site, S=9+20dB, 0139 UT, that's their 3rd TX, which is always odd fq on lower sideband. From Seoul Rep of [South] Korea log 0130 til 0230 UT, on Dec 30 [selected SDR options, span 12.5 kHz RBW 15.3 Hertz] (Wolfgang Bueschel, df5sx, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Dec 30, dxldyg via DXLD) ** TANZANIA [non]. 11720, MADAGASCAR. AWR Tanzania, Adventist World Radio - Dar es Salaam studio, relayed by Talata-Volondry, Malagasy, 12/30 at 1702-1728. Very nice signal with Swahili service. Nice bouncy instrumental music with bass and stringed instrument from 1702 tune-in, then excited YL in Kiswahili telling story, crowd sounds in background, musical breaks. 1722 lovely African choral religious music with piano. 1724 OM and YL with requests for listener reports, mentioning clear ID for AWR-Tanzania. Kids sing two closing songs with piano. To -1727:30*. Program quite fun to listen to and yes, this studio will directly QSL reports sent to them (Ralph Perry, Wheaton, Ill. Equipment: Drake R8B, Dentron Super – Tuner, Ameco & Palomar Preamps, Wellbrook Loop, 350’ LA BOG, Delta Skyloop, NASWA Flashsheet via DXLD) ** THAILAND. 6765.1, 1815, Bangkok Meteorological Radio good in USB mode with possible i/s, then female in Thai until 1826 when music resumed 12/12 (Bryan Clark, Mangawhai ** Using the League’s Northland SDR, Jan NZ DX Times via DXLD) Not often reported. Despite music, as semi-utility does not qualify for WRTH, but EiBi shows both 6765.1 and 8743, same hours in Thai and English: 00-02, 03-05, 06-08, 09-11, 12-14, 15-17, 18-20, 21-23, i.e. two hours on, one hour off. IIRC they do/did have a QSL card (gh, DXLD) ** THAILAND. 9940, Dec 25 at 1407, R. Thailand news in English about air pollution, S9-S6 with flutter, better than usual (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** TIBET. Holy to back (Holy Tibet Radio) English Service, 24.12.2018 1600-1700, 7385 444, 6130 444, 6025 444. Receiver: XH Data D-808, Antenna: Outdoor 50 feet Wire (Abid Hussain Sajid, Pakistani Dxer, WOR iog via DXLD) 4820even, CHN, V E R Y F A U L T Y audio buzz signal from Lhasa Tibet seven x 100 Hertz apart distance signals visible either sideband, by PBS Xizang Mandarin Chinese program, from morning log 0215 til 0400 UT [selected SDR options, span 12.5 kHz RBW 15.3 Hertz] (Wolfgang Bueschel, df5sx, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Dec 29, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) [and non]. 4920 kHz bad mixture of: 4919.962, CHINA, CNR Xizang PBS, Lhasa, Tibet, Tibetan, S=9+15dB 0147 4920.001, INDIA, AIR Chennai, Tamil Nadu, Southern sce, Tamil / Hindi / English, S=9+15dB at 0148 UT. Checked both in Seoul, Delhi and Qatar remote sites. 6200even, Xizang PBS, Lhasa, Tibet, "Holy Tibet" in Tibetian. Female singer, local pop like. S=7 at 0228 UT on Dec 30 from Seoul Korea log 0130 til 0230 UT, on Dec 30 [selected SDR options, span 12.5 kHz RBW 15.3 Hertz] (Wolfgang Bueschel, df5sx, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Dec 30, dxldyg via DXLD) ** TIBET [non]. TAJIKISTAN, Good signal of Voice of Tibet, Dec.24 2300-2330 on 7496 DB 100 kW / 131 deg to CeAs Tibetan https://swldxbulgaria.blogspot.com/2018/12/good-signal-of-voice-of-tibet-via.html (Ivo Ivanov, SWLDXBulgaria News, Dec 24-25, DX LISTENING DIGEST) TAJIKISTAN, Reception of Voice of Tibet Dec.29 2300-2330 on 7496 DB 100 kW / 131 deg to CeAs Tibetan, fair 2330-2400 on 7484 DB 100 kW / 131 deg to CeAs Tibetan, fair https://swldxbulgaria.blogspot.com/2018/12/reception-of-voice-of-tibet-in-41mb.html (Ivo Ivanov, SWLDXBulgaria News, Dec 29-30, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Plus & minus 6 kHz from 7490 where CNR1 can be heard hetting off-frequency WBCQ TOMBS during this hour; is that a jamming compromise rather than on 7495 & 7485? (gh, DXLD) At night made it to Europe at S=7 level: 7496even kHz Voice of Tibet via Yangi Yul TJK 2300-2330 UT Dec 30 did need 5 seconds to switch / move 12 kHz down to 7484even kHz Voice of Tibet via Yangi Yul TJK 2330-2400 UT Dec 30 [selected SDR options, span 12.5 kHz RBW 15.3 Hertz] (Wolfgang Bueschel, df5sx, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Dec 31, DX LISTENING DIGEST) was there no CNR1 on 7490 between these, and is CNR1 there to jam, 6 kHz away?? (gh) ** TURKEY. More than a third of Istanbul radio stations will soon cease broadcasting, since next year they plan to switch to a new radio tower, which will seriously limit broadcasting. 50 out of 130 city radio stations will be taken off the air as soon as the transition to the new Chamlyj TV radio tower is made due to the limited capacity of the tower. It is expected that the tower will begin to function next year, writes Hurriyet. The Supreme Council of Radio and Television of Turkey (RTUK) issued a statement saying that reducing to 80 active radio channels will eliminate the problem of hostile signals, which has arisen due to the large number of stations in the city. The statement indicated that complaints of hostile signals came from Bulgaria. The authorities said that the cost of the frequency will be 20 million Turkish liras. mk-turkey.ru http://onair.ru/main/enews/view_msg/NMID__71817/ (via via Rus-DX Dec 30 via WORLD OF RADIO 1963, DXLD) ?? This does not make sense. Must be something else going on here, like a further crackdown on the opposition. Why should all the FM stations have to be on one tower, or nowhere else? Is this about DAB? (Glenn Hauser, ibid.) ** TURKEY. TRT Voice of Turkey on odd frequency 11795.7 / 7245.7 / 11965.7 kHz on Dec.28 0930-1055 on 11795.7 EMR 250 kW / 100 deg to WeAs Persian, instead of 11795 Dec.27 1200-1225 on 7245.7 EMR 250 kW / 300 deg to SEEu Bulgarian instead of 7245 Dec.27 1300-1325 on 11965.7 EMR 250 kW / 072 deg to CeAs Turkmen, instead of 11965 Dec.27 https://swldxbulgaria.blogspot.com/2018/12/voice-of-turkey-on-odd-frequency.html (Ivo Ivanov, SWLDXBulgaria News, Dec 28, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 12035.73 approx., Dec 28 at 1426, VOT English is still on, tailing with IS and IDs in unID next language. I hasten to measure it but goes off at 1428 before I have pinned it to third decimal place. It`s been a few days since the last offness, unlogged when it is nominal. 11815.007, Dec 28 at 1430, VOT Turkish talk is almost on-frequency today (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) TRT Voice of Turkey in Italian on odd frequency 6185.7 kHz, Dec.28: 1500-1525 on 6185.7 EMR 500 kW / 290 deg to SEEu Italian, instead of 6185.0 https://swldxbulgaria.blogspot.com/2018/12/trt-voice-of-turkey-in-italian-on-odd.html TRT Voice of Turkey in Turkish on odd frequency 11925.7 kHz, Dec.29: 0700-0955 on 11925.7 EMR 500 kW / 105 deg to WeAs Turkish, instead of 11925.0 https://swldxbulgaria.blogspot.com/2018/12/trt-voice-of-turkey-in-turkish-on-odd.html TRT Voice of Turkey in Arabic on odd frequency 11955.7 kHz, Dec.29: 1000-1055 on 11955.7 EMR 500 kW / 180 deg to NEAf Arabic, instead of 11955.0 https://swldxbulgaria.blogspot.com/2018/12/trt-voice-of-turkey-in-arabic-on-odd.html (Ivo Ivanov, SWLDXBulgaria News, Dec 28-29, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 5960, Dec 28 at 2301, no signal from VOT English to N America. Dozy sloppyrator at Emirler probably forgot to change frequency from previous broadcast, but I don`t have time to go hunting for it nor check whether 5960 appear belatedly (Glenn Hauser, OK, WORLD OF RADIO 1963, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 5945.721 kHz, Die deutsche Sendung von TRT Emirler hatte heute den 5. Sender im Einsatz, S=9+35dB stark, jener der gleich 721 Hertz abweicht, ein TX von fünf schwingt odd fq. Die anderen haben eher übliche 3 bis 30 Hertz Abweichung aufzuweisen. Das TRT Nationalprogram in Türkisch aus Emirler kommt heute auf 5980.004 kHz, aber stärker um die S=9+50dB. 6050.003 kHz TRT Emirler En um 1942 UT, S=9+30dB, aber nicht sauber audioweise, eine ganze Parade von 100 Hertz tone-Strings zu sehen: 10 x 100 Hz Distanzstrings auf jedem Seitenband (Wolfgang Büschel, 2001 UT Dec 29, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 9610.024, TRT Emirler in English, at 2158 UT, S=9+20dB scheduled 2130-2225 UT. From Seoul Rep of [South] Korea log 2145 til 2220 UT, on Dec 29 [selected SDR options, span 12.5 kHz RBW 15.3 Hertz] (Wolfgang Bueschel, df5sx, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Dec 29, dxldyg via DXLD) 12035.74, Dec 30 at 1407, VOT English with Turkish music is S5-S7 and off-frequency; while 11815.0, VOT Turkish with Turkish music is quite stronger, S6-S9 and not much off-frequency (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 5960, Dec 31 at 2304, again no signal from VOT English to North America. Something`s always wrong at TRT? (Glenn Hauser, OK, WORLD OF RADIO 1963, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** TURKS & CAICOS. Providenciales, RF ch 16, CTN Granted permit for new station, 15.8kw/35m, 21-47-59/72-16-27. Tnx Jim Thomas for the Turks and Caicos item! Turks and Caicos are a small collection of islands off the southeast end of the Bahamas. Unlike the Bahamas, they’re still a British possession. DXing a station this far offshore may seem unlikely. However, the WTFDA once had a member living here [the noted Robert B. Cooper, Jr. -- I visited him once --- gh], and he logged (via tropo) UHF stations as far north as Maine. I believe this is an analog station, but it isn’t entirely clear (there appears to be a typo in the license regarding the emission designator) (Doug Smith, Jan WTFDA VHF-UHF Digest via DXLD) ** U A E. 6170.094, FEBC Manila, Urdu sce, S=6 signal strength, but S=9+20dB in remote Delhi INDIA SDR at 0226 UT. From Seoul Rep of [South] Korea log 0130 til 0230 UT, on Dec 30 [selected SDR options, span 12.5 kHz RBW 15.3 Hertz] (Wolfgang Bueschel, df5sx, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Dec 30, dxldyg via DXLD) ** U A E [and non]. TAJIKISTAN/UAE TWR AFRICA EXTENSION ? BAD FQ SELECTION though. Noted a 15 minute extension or special Christmas broadcast(?) by TWR Africa also in the 0345 till 0359:45 UT time range. Heard many 'Jesus' preaching items in probably Oromo language? All TWR Africa schedules in A-18 and B-18 season, in HFCC, Aoki Nagoya list show the TWR Africa towards Ethiopia/Eritrea outlet on various languages like Amharic, Oromo and Sidamo, only during 15 minutes duration in 0330-0345 UT slot. Today morning the UAE Al Dhabbaya transmitter was slightly odd fq on 7244.991 kHz. Heard the Babcock control room cello music over and over again even from 0320 UT onwards, S=9+25dB in Delhi. Bad fq selection by TWR Africa FMO though. Much terrible audio mixture co-channel with Tajik R Yangi-Yul on even 7245 kHz, same audio signal level [selected SDR options, span 12.5 kHz RBW 15.3 Hertz] (Wolfgang Bueschel, df5sx, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Dec 29, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U K. == Otherness: 5450 USB, Royal Air Force VOLMET, Wednesday, December 27 at 2323. Aviation weather with Diana Rigg Bond girl robo-voice. Fair but steady signal (Larry Will, Mount Airy, Maryland, radio@zappahead.net Icom IC-R75, G5RV, PL-880, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U K [and non]. UK/Russia: Update on investigations into the RT news channel. 20 December 2018 Ofcom has today found that the RT news channel broke broadcasting rules by failing to preserve due impartiality in seven news and current affairs programmes over a six-week period. Earlier this year, Ofcom launched a number of investigations into RT to determine whether certain programmes broadcast on the channel had complied with broadcasting rules requiring due impartiality. Having examined the programmes and all available evidence, including written and oral representations made by RT, we have concluded that the following seven programmes, which aired between 17 March 2018 and 26 April, broke due impartiality rules: Sputnik, RT, 17 March 2018, 19:30; News, RT, 18 March 2018, 08:00; Sputnik, RT, 7 April 2018, 19:30; Crosstalk, RT, 13 April 2018, 20:30; Crosstalk, RT, 16 April 2018, 20:30; Crosstalk, RT, 20 April 2018, 08:30; and News, RT, 26 April 2018, 08:00. Three further programmes were found not in breach of our due impartiality rules. [News, RT, 30 March 2018, 18:00; Worlds Apart, RT, 1 April 2018, 23:00; and News, RT, 4 May 2018, 08:00.] Taken together, the seven breaches represent a serious failure of compliance with our broadcasting rules. We have told RT that we are minded to consider imposing a statutory sanction. The broadcaster now has an opportunity to make representations to us, which we will consider before proceeding further. Our decisions are set out in full in Broadcast and On Demand Bulletin issue number 369 (PDF, 2.2 MB). https://www.ofcom.org.uk/about-ofcom/latest/media/media-releases/2018/update-investigations-rt-news [actually, the whole bulletin is devoted to a detailed documentation and discussion of the programmes. Hj. Biener] https://www.ofcom.org.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0020/131159/Issue-369-Broadcast-and-On-Demand-Bulletin.pdf (Dr Hansjoerg Biener, Germany, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. 4630-USB, UT Sun Dec 30 at 0200, must be CAP net as heard a few times before. Strictly struxured, YL utters encrypted message, each group twice, in clear fonetix, titled 4JV8L: MKGKS 3JCN3 SKF7K B5QV9 SQMNF DGWFV. Her OM contact then reads it back, each group once. On contrary, their own tactical calls are not clearly copied, ending with two numbers, like Reindeer? 50. More messages follow. What`s so secret about *Civil* Air Patrol? Makes it seem hush-hush para-military (Glenn Hauser, OK, WORLD OF RADIO 1963, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. 6586-USB, Dec 27 at 2246, New York Radio contacting many planes, specifying primary and secondary frequencies (such as 8918, 5598, 3016), making SelCall tests; North Atlantic coordinates cited; refers to Santa Maria, meaning flights which will be handed off to Azores ATC. EiBi shows 6586 is NY Radio CAR-B channel along with CAR-A on 6577, the latter shared 24 hours with Piarco Radio, Trinidad as CAR-B for it (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A [and non]. Radio Mashaal via Udon Thani at good level on 15760, 0525 with Pashto announcements for online and social media accounts, IDs and discussion program. Also heard but much weaker on // 12110 via Kuwait. Being in between receivers, I used the Tecsun Radios Australia online SDR which uses a receiver based at Goulburn in southern NSW, about 200 km from my home QTH. According to guidance published on the USAGM website, these services along with VOA, OCB, RFA and MBN are excepted from the government shutdown on following grounds: "The USAGM Office of General Counsel (OGC) has issued a memorandum establishing that there is a sufficient legal basis for the USAGM Board’s determination that United States international broadcasting activities of the USAGM qualify as “foreign relations essential to the national security” and are, therefore, excepted activities which may continue during the appropriations lapse." (Foreign relations essential to the national security being one of the three excepted activities, along with those required to manage the shutdown, and essential activities for protection of life and property.) The full USAGM guidance is available at https://www.usagm.gov/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/BBG-Shutdown-Guidance-FY-2019_12_17_v1.pdf (via Matt Francis, Paddington, NSW, Australia, Dec 30, WOR iog via WORLD OF RADIO 1963, DXLD) ** U S A [and non]. Iranians curse USAGM's RFE/RL Radio Farda for repeating regime propaganda --BBG Watch - USAGM Watch > Game Of Thrones Season 5 BBGWatcher December 31, 2018 0 Comments Hot Tub Blog http://bbgwatch.com/bbgwatch/iranians-curse-usagms-rferl-radio-farda-for-repeating-regime-propaganda/ BBG Watch Commentary Iranians are enraged by Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty's (RFE/RL) Radio Farda, as well as in other instances by the Voice of America (VOA) Persian Service, for repeating the Iran regime's propaganda without any added value of context and effective counter information or argument. Some Iranians in Iran and abroad are literally cursing Radio Farda and VOA in comments to some of the tweets posted by U.S. taxpayer-funded media outlets being managed by the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM), previously called the Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG). English translations of some of the Iranian comments to one Radio Farda tweet, with some readers commenting in general on USAGM media, were provided by an Iranian-born American journalist and media expert who had done work earlier for U.S. international broadcasting and the U.S. State Department in Afghanistan and Pakistan. Radio Farda Tweet quotes ISNA News Agency on Dec. 31, 2018: [apparently what becomes of Farsi:] a+s+n+a+: t+g+m+e+a+t+ hkw+a+l+ #d+a+n+sngfa+h+_t+h+r+a+n+ p+a+a+n+ a+f+t+h+;+ <>. -- RadioFarda r+a+d+y+w+f+r+d+a+ (@RadioFarda_) December 31, 2018 "The demonstration around Tehran University has ended and nobody was arrested." The angry readers were quick to respond and there was a lot of cursing on Twitter. Here is some of what they said: "(Curse word) you, money from the US, and news from ISNA??" Another tweet, "What did you sell your dignity to? Who is more important than people? It is really bad to be a brainwash hooker." Another tweet, "If anyone wants to read this, they can buy the local Hamshahri Newspaper and read it. (Curse word) The person who is tweeting is so excited to tweet that first he says according to the newspaper and now according to ISNA. He doesn't know what to do and he is going crazy." Another Iranian writes, "Please look at the title of your website and be ashamed that you are a platform for the regime and you are silencing their voice. Prince Pahlavi was right when he said that the regime reporters who are exported and working in Farsi outlets should be cleaned out." Another Iranian writes, "We know how to read ISNA, you don't need to repeat what they say." Another Iranian says, "Look at the responds and lift your heads up and see how people see through everything. Don't be offended. We have entered into a new era where the media traitors have lost their influence and people are getting their news from trusted sources. Islamic Republic has reached its end." Another Iranian: "Truly there is no shame and now Radio Farda is directly quoting the Islamic Republic news agencies." Another Iranian: "Your betrayal to history will remain and wait for the sea of anger by the people that will emerge." Mahtab Farid, an Iranian American journalist and international media expert who has done work in Afghanistan and Pakistan, wrote in a post on Facebook: Angry Iranians go on Twitter after the US funded Radio Farda quoted ISNA in a tweet and said, how the demonstration around Tehran University has ended and nobody was arrested. Radio Farda News Director, Mehdi Parpanchi also tweeted how Naja, the Islamic Republic police tells the demonstrators [in] front of Tehran University that they are required to get a permit. Decided not to share the tweets on my post because there was so much profanity and anger. However, this one was powerful. "Your betrayal to history will remain and wait for the sea of anger by the people that will emerge." While some current VOA Persian and Radio Farda reporters share some blame for their inability to use short-form social media posts without being perceived as conduits of regime propaganda, the ultimate responsibility for this failure rests with the senior USAGM, VOA and RFE/RL leadership which tolerates blatant bias, lack of balance, and partisanship in some political agency media content while firing VOA Mandarin Service journalists for not including enough "balance" from Chinese communist officials. If USAGM wants both balance and objectivity, the leadership needs to be consistent and needs to show it. Current USAGM leaders lack experience in intercultural communications, countering propaganda and managing government programs. During the Cold War, the Voice of America was sometimes criticized for not doing enough, but observers of U.S. international broadcasting and former VOA journalists do not recall anyone accusing VOA of repeating or being fooled by communist regime propaganda. An independent study by the American Foreign Policy Council (AFPC), which the BBG itself commissioned and then ignored, confirmed extreme pro-regime bias at both Radio Farda and VOA in recent years. Iranians in Iran and abroad, including Iranian-American journalists, are exasperated. One such critic wrote "I am so exhausted with VOA. I feel that I wasted my life [trying to get USAGM to reform] and nothing happened." Iranians in Iran and abroad have had enough of USAGM being perceived as taking the regime's propaganda at face value. Chinese social media comments say the same thing. If the agency journalists are unable to provide context and added value, then they are doing the propaganda work of repressive regimes by reporting their misleading statements without any immediate and effective counter. Twitter is no excuse. One can easily counter fake news or misleading regime statements on Twitter even while reporting them -- all in the same short tweet. It takes some skill, but it is easily done, one former VOA journalist and manager said. A journalist who lived in a communist-ruled country said that what seems as normal journalism in a country free of censorship and with multiple sources of information, is not at all normal in a closed society. USAGM leaders and some journalists lacking training and proper leadership are confusing balance with objectivity, the journalist observed. These are not the same, certainly not for people being bombarded daily by regime propaganda, was another observation. People in Iran, China and Russia are deeply offended when they see US-supported media outlets repeating misleading regime propaganda and not providing any context, the journalist pointed out. More angry comments from Iranians can bee seen to this RFE/RL Radio Farda tweet. h+snd+a+r+ f+r+m+a+n+d+h+ n+a+g+a+ d+r+ m+w+r+d+ t+g+m+e+ d+r+ m+q+a+b+l+ d+a+n+sngfa+h+ t+h+r+a+n+: n+a+z+m+n+d+ m+g+w+z+ h+s+t+d+ https://t.co/wnRid09XAQ -- Mehdi Parpanchi (@Parpanchi) December 31, 2018 (via Mike Cooper, WORLD OF RADIO 1963, DXLD) ** U S A. 15580, Dec 26 at 2128, VOA is a JBA carrier, again making me wonder if site has been switched from Greenville back to Botswana or somewhere. GB had been inboomable at this hour, unless the daytime MUF has become pitiful. Also JBA carriers are 15610 WEWN and 15825 WWCR, but they are about 1 megameter away while GB is almost double and a suitable skip distance even without sporadic E. The 19m Cubans, slightly further than Greenville, are as big as ever (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A [non]. 6020, Dec 31 at 0600, news in French all about the RDC (Congo DR) elexions, from VOA via SAO TOME. This is the service which has added some Lingala segments, but presumably not while on SW (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A [and non]. 5850, UNITED STATES, WRMI at 0830 with World of Radio (Glenn Hauser) confirmed on. Perfect reception all the way to the end - Armchair, Dec 23 (Rick Barton, Sun City AZ, Grundig Satellit 205(T.5000) & 750; HQ-200; RS SW-2000629, with various outdoor wires, WOR iog via DXLD) Tnx; would those hearing this on 5850 please also confirm whether it also be on 5950 and 7730? (gh) [Yes, Jan 6 --- gh] [See also Zichi`s logs with SW Radiogram on WRMI for WOR comments] WORLD OF RADIO 1962 monitoring: confirmed Tuesday December 25 at 2030 on WRMI 7780, JBA. Also confirmed Wednesday December 26 at 2200 on WBCQ 7490.16v, S5-S8 and WRMI 9955, S7-S9, almost synchronized. 9955 has a medium SAH, from what? The only other 9955 registrant is HBN = T8WH PALAU at 1800-2200 due west in Chinese, English, but could be more than they really use. Maybe did not turn off carrier immediately (and no other modulation heard), and/or ChiCom jamming; or a second WRMI transmitter/exciter QRMing itself, à la KSGL? Next: 0930 UT Friday Unique 5045-LSB low-power NSW Australia 0729 UT Saturday HLR 6190-CUSB Germany to WSW 0930 UT Saturday Unique 5045-LSB low-power NSW Australia [hiatus] 1200 UT Saturday Unique *9265 via WINB to WSW 1230 UT Saturday WRMI 9955 to SSE [NEW] 1531 UT Saturday HLR 9485-CUSB Germany to WSW [not last week] 1700 UT Saturday WRN *5950 via WRMI to WNW [unconfirmed] 2030vUT Saturday WA0RCR 1860-AM non-direxional 0400vUT Sunday WA0RCR 1860-AM [nominal 0415], ND 0830 UT Sunday WRMI 5850 to NW, 5950 to WNW, 7730 to WNW 1130 UT Sunday HLR 7265-CUSB Germany to WSW 2130 UT Sunday WRMI 7780 to NE 0230 UT Monday WRMI 5950 to WNW, 9395 to NNW 0400vUT Monday WBCQ *5130v Area 51 to WSW 0430 UT Monday WRMI *9955 to SSE 0930 UT Monday Unique 5045-LSB low-power NSW Australia 2330 UT Monday WRMI *9955 to SSE [OR, I hope, NEW #1963] * also webcast; WORLD OF RADIO 1962 monitoring: missed checking Sat Dec 29 at 1200 on Unique/WINB 9265 and new 1230 on WRMI 9955. Got to sleep sometime. Anyone hear them? Not confirmed Saturday Dec 29 at 1531 on HLR 9485-CUSB; no signal here, but a JBA carrier at UTwente SDR; and WOR may have been holiday pre-empted again this week, anyway. Confirmed NOT on WRMI 5950, Sat Dec 29 at 1715; is supposed to be carrying WRN at 15-18 UT, which would include WOR at 1700 Sat. Finally I am able to pull enough JBA signal to tell that it`s something in Spanish and with bits of music. At least no WOR today: per other obs, what`s really on 5950 is quite unpredictable with skedgrids ignored. Next: 2030vUT Saturday WA0RCR 1860-AM non-direxional 2200 UT Saturday WRMI *9955 to SSE [NEW] 0400vUT Sunday WA0RCR 1860-AM [nominal 0415], ND 0830 UT Sunday WRMI 5850 to NW, 5950 to WNW, 7730 to WNW 1130 UT Sunday HLR 7265-CUSB Germany to WSW 2130 UT Sunday WRMI 7780 to NE 0230 UT Monday WRMI 5950 to WNW, 9395 to NNW 0400vUT Monday WBCQ *5130v Area 51 to WSW 0430 UT Monday WRMI *9955 to SSE 0930 UT Monday Unique 5045-LSB low-power NSW Australia 2330 UT Monday WRMI *9955 to SSE [OR, I hope, NEW #1963] * also webcast; WORLD OF RADIO 1962 monitoring: confirmed Saturday December 29 at 2200 on new WRMI 9955 airing, fair. Also confirmed UT Sunday December 30 at 0517 on WA0RCR, 1860-AM, MO, about 8 minutes in so started very late circa 0509; earlier chex at 0433, 0456 found prolonged ham radio shows. Next: 2130 UT Sunday WRMI 7780 to NE 0230 UT Monday WRMI 5950 to WNW, 9395 to NNW 0400vUT Monday WBCQ *5130v Area 51 to WSW 0430 UT Monday WRMI *9955 to SSE 0930 UT Monday Unique 5045-LSB low-power NSW Australia 2330 UT Monday WRMI *9955 to SSE [OR, I hope, NEW #1963] * also webcast WORLD OF RADIO 1962 monitoring: confirmed Sunday December 30 at 2130 on WRMI 7780, fair. Missed checking UT Monday Dec 31 at 0230 on WRMI 5950 & 9395. Confirmed UT Mon Dec 25 from 0402 on Area 51 webcast, also via WBCQ 5130.4, S9 at 0428. Also confirmed UT Mon Dec 31 at 0430 on WRMI 9955 good S9+10 (tho I hated to interrupt ``Hallelujah`` fill music still playing at 0430!). Combo of factors made new WOR 1963 unready on Dec 31, so more replays of 1962: confirmed Mon Dec 31 at 2330 new time on 9955, good, as I interrupted a preacher; and UT Tue Jan 1, 2019 at 0030 on WRMI 7730, VG; and Tue Jan 1 at 2048 the 2030 on WRMI 7780, fair S9. WORLD OF RADIO 1963 contents: Alaska, Argentina, Bolivia, Brasil, Canada, China, Cuba, Denmark, France, Greece, India, Iran and non, Ireland, Italy and non, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, Nigeria non, North America, Perú, Poland non, Romania, Sa`udi Arabia, Spain, Sudan, Turkey, USA; and the propagation outlook WOR 1963 ready late for first SW airings Wed Jan 2: 1030 UT Wednesday WRMI 5950 to WNW 2200 UT Wednesday WRMI *9955 to SSE 2200 UT Wednesday WBCQ *7490v to WSW [Unique Radio NSW and via WINB on vacation until mid-January] 0729 UT Saturday HLR 6190-CUSB Germany to WSW 1230 UT Saturday WRMI *9955 to SSE [NEW] 1531 UT Saturday HLR 9485-CUSB Germany to WSW 2030vUT Saturday WA0RCR 1860-AM non-direxional 2200 UT Saturday WRMI *9955 to SSE [NEW] 0400vUT Sunday WA0RCR 1860-AM [nominal 0415], ND 0830 UT Sunday WRMI 5850 to NW, 5950 to WNW, 7730 to WNW 1130 UT Sunday HLR 7265-CUSB Germany to WSW 2130 UT Sunday WRMI 7780 to NE 0230 UT Monday WRMI 5950 to WNW, 9395 to NNW 0400vUT Monday WBCQ *5130v Area 51 to WSW 0430 UT Monday WRMI *9955 to SSE 2330 UT Monday WRMI *9955 to SSE [NEW] * also webcast; direct linx to these and many others at: Complete updated WOR sked, all affiliates, satellite, webcast, AM&FM: http://www.worldofradio.com/radioskd.html (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) New 9955 times on WRMI summarized [WORLD OF RADIO 1963] FYI, your program is still being aired on KBDB-FM HD2, Sundays at 04:00 AM Pacific Time (traffic, Forks Broadcasting, WA, Jan 1, WORLD OF RADIO 1963, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 1200 UT, viz.: 96.7 930 watts --- That`s the substitute/successor to KFKB 1490, which has been silent for two years. Forks WA is near the NW tip of the conterminous on the Olympic Peninsula. Unable to get any confirmation many months ago, I had removed it from the WOR schedule (Glenn Hauser, WORLD OF RADIO 1963, DX LISTENING DIGEST) WRMI WRMI WRMI WRMI WRMI WRMI WRMI WRMI WRMI WRMI WRMI WRMI WRMI WRMI: ** U S A. 5850, WRMI this week cutting off the first 42 minutes of Broad Spectrum Radio, which appeared to be a repeat of a show from November 19th which started abruptly at 0742:30. They were in the middle of a pitch for sending money to James B's church, and then did a 'short' digital bit with photos from San Francisco, which indeed has been the same programme aired since November 19 but usually cut short. Then continuing with SW Radiogram as expected with the usual mix of MFSK text and photos. Items this week were all in MFSK64 except for the intro, and they carried stories and photos about the first voice from space (60 years ago) and a bunch of 'Christmas themed' images: Photo of the Atlas B rocket that launched the SCORE satellite that broadcast President Eisenhauer's words 60 years ago this month Some of the Christmas themed photos (above) Then Ad/Message/contest announcement in both digi-text, digi photo and audio from Tecsun Radios, Australia: [illustrated in the WOR iog] Then into Glenn Hauser's World of Radio #1961 with the usual mix of radio hobby news including items about Hungary on 540 kHz making it to North America, the continual problems at Radio Havana Cuba, and other items. In well, 4+4+4+4+4 with occasional but relatively brief deep fades where the noise crept up and made for fuzzy image decodes. *0742-0900* 23/Dec [Sunday], SDRplay +SDRuno +ANC-4 +FLDigi for digi-bits +randomwire. 7780, WRMI starting out with the Screaming Cajun Preacher(tm) (Terry Blalock) with his usual screaming shtick and incoherent babbling. I'm still unsure why he does this or who might actually get anything out of this. WRMI ID at BoH. The SW Radiogram started out with pretty decent copy, but it SUDDENLY faded out completely at about 2351, meaning the end of the broadcast was undecodable. The sudden fading of the photo being sent is telling: In OK, 3+4543+ until that mentioned fade out when it ABRUPTLY took a dump. 2315-2351 23/Dec SDRplay +SDRuno +ANC-4 +FLDigi for digi-bits +randomwire (Kenneth Vito Zichi, from my 'home' in Williamston, Michigan, heard with an actual radio and actual antenna in my actual yard/house with my actual analog ears, and mostly in 'real time' (well, occasionally recorded, for reasons of sanity and sleep, but I do then actually listen to the recording! :) DX LISTENING DIGEST) 9395, Dec 25 at 0629, this WRMI is S9+10 with hymn, Bob Biermann ID and another hymn `Kyrie Eleison`, so is this YWS, Oldies, or something special for Xmas? (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) As per the WRMI Facebook page: WRMI is now on a new tropical band frequency: 4980 kHz. The transmission is from 2100 to 0000 UT, and the programming is Supreme Master TV (suprememastertv.com). This is beamed to the Caribbean and Latin America; your reports to info@wrmi.net or to the reception report form on our website (wrmi,net) would be most welcome (via Jordan Heyburn, UKOGBANI, Dec 26, bdxc-news iog via DXLD) 4980, Dec 25 at 2057, JBA which I think is WRMI ID & IS loop prior to starting at ``top of hour`` (correct in this case). Meanwhile, 9455 does not come on by 2100, which for a few days had been carrying Supreme Master TV. Meanwhile2, 9395 is well audible with Oldies. By 2149, 4980 has improved a little as I hear Jingle Bells and talk. No RTTY yet on 4985; does it start at a specific time, and whence? By next check 2335, 4985 RTTY ACI is now going, while 4980 up to S9+20 plays Vietnamese(?) music; and 9455 is still off. Furthermore, during this hour, SMTV on 4980 is also // 9395 and 5950. It was initially scheduled 23-24 on 9395 but that was supposedly dropped. Retune to 4980 at 2400* just in time to hear the carrier go off. For now, 4980 is not continuing past 0130 as it did during first testing yesterday. It could be used as late as 0900 as registered. 4980, Dec 26 at 2130, JBA carrier; and 9455 also a JBA carrier, but the latter would be IBB Mandarin via Lampertheim, Germany, and/or ChiCom jamming. That may be why WRMI moved off 9455. BTW, HFCC shows 9455 also HFCC registered for the imaginary but pending? new ALGERIA site BEC, 300 kW all the way from 19 to 24. WRMI skedgrid as of early UT Dec 27 now shows 4980 at 21-24 only with Supreme Master TV, via XMTR 3, 160 degrees (what was on #3 before?). 4980 is off again after 0000 UT Dec 27. And one additional entry for SMTV: 14-15 Sunday only, XMTR 1, 44 degrees on 7780 --- when it will be // 15770, which starts at 1400 daily, XMTR 9 at 44 degrees. 5950, Dec 26 at 0617, WRMI with hymn ``Rock of Ages``, rather than RFI English, so no more ``goodness of heart`` SW relays of RFI? (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 4980, Dec 27 at 2240, WRMI with Supreme Master TV, now regular at 21-24 and even acknowledged in disgraced FB. But of more significance, // SMTV programming is *also* on stronger 5950 and strongest 9395, *instead* of DW English via WRN via WRMI. Programming is a drama with music, slow syllables in uncertain language but not English which appears later in the hour. SMTV is metastasizing into more and more frequencies. I had previously found SMTV 4980 plus 5950 and 9395 during the 23-24 UT hour on Dec 25. Today Dec 27 at 2321 check, 4980 // 9395 during slow Chinese? and music, while 5950 is dead air, with ACI from real Chinese on 5945. Another case of WRMI schedules not matching what they are really doing. The skedgrid at http://www.tinyurl.com/WRMIfqs as of early UT Dec 28 still claims 5950 & 9395 at 22-23 are with WRN; at 23-24, 5950 with Radio France International (English), and 9395 with System G. Checking the System G program schedules below, 9395 at 23-24 UT is supposed to be Oldies M-F, VORW Sat, YWS Sun. 9395 at 22-23 is supposed to be RAE in Italian M-F, Oldies & Walking in Power both Sat & Sun and both // 7780. There is no program sked for System E = WRN (and never has been) (Glenn Hauser, OK, WORLD OF RADIO 1963, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Here in NB, more or less off the back of the beam, 4980 kHz at 2100 UT provided (understandably) only a weak barely audible signal, much weaker than Rebelde on 5025 kHz. Decent signal at 2250. 5010 kHz also audible but weaker than 4980 kHz (Richard Langley, Dec 27, WOR iog via DXLD) Based on information, that in the direction of 160° two different antennas exist, I guess now quite simply: The horizontal log-periodic antenna is used for the 9955 kHz, and the 4980 kHz gets aired via a horizontal rhombic antenna. But as I said, wild speculation. ;-) Laut WRMI Programm-Spreadsheet sendet man mit transmitter 3 ==> 160° Azimut, d.h. gleiche Richtung wie die 9955 kHz. Die Azimutalkarte habe ich eigentlich speziell für die SWRG-Aussendungen designed (keine Relevanz der 4980 kHz). https://www.dropbox.com/s/s0n09b2hz5jq0vj/2018-12-02_WRMI_azimutal_swrg.png?dl=0 (roger thayer, germany, WOR iog via DXLD) On your azimuthalmap, XMTR 9 has changed from 87 to 44 degrees on 15770 (Glenn Hauser, ibid.) Thanks for the correction. The old information, however, I leave as a "placeholder" towards Africa. https://www.dropbox.com/s/ql3p2dwavx13je7/2018-12-27_WRMI_azi.png?dl=0 (roger, ibid.) 5950, Dec 28 at 0625, another check of this WRMI to find out what they are running tonight: it`s a low-key conversation with a woman who wrote an apocalyptic SF book and is making a film, about Florida in the near future becoming independent as authoritarianism is taking over the USA. The project started in 2010 and she never thought in eight years it could be coming true. Her comments are clear, but her interviewer is off-mike with an accent and mumbling, hard to understand. I keep listening for some clue about the name of the book, the film or the author, but they are never mentioned as the long interview finally ends abruptly at 0648, when it is immediately followed by Radio Praga opening in Spanish! with a `fin de semana` feature about the Pilsen beer factory. The unID English discussion almost seemed like an original rough recording which needed to be edited and fixed up for broadcast, at least with an outro clearly giving the pertinent details. I did gather that the book is available on Amazon and the protagonist is named Rachel (sp?) with no last name, to hide her ethnicity. Anyone recognize this? So was this from Radio Prague? Can`t find anything like it at radio.cz concerning recent broadcasts. Or was it RFI which had been occupying this hour recently? Nothing at rfi.fr either. Any ideas? It seems like WRMI is just playing random files at random times, rather than plugging into WRN or RFI (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 15770, Dec 28 at 1858, pro-Jesus gospel huxter, unlike Supreme Master TV which is the only thing WRMI schedules on this frequency; indeed, 1859 outro as `Christ Gospel Broadcast` in Jeffersonville IN, and then ID as ``21525``, Radio Africa Network. 21525 is also on but JBA. This is hardly the first time that RAN programming has shown up on other WRMI frequencies; is it just too complex to arrange all those Systems, transmitters, frequencies and antennas? But at 1900, 15770 into stories about animals doing rescues, now we`re talkin` SMTV as indeed IDed at 1904; and in Spanish at 1912. As a multilingual myself (not including Vietnamese, Chinese), I can handle some multi-lingual broadcasts, but it seems to me SMTV is driving away droves of listener-viewers by constantly mixing up languages on its single channel. What a business model! You never know when it`s going to be in English or for how long (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) WRMI, 4980 kHz // 5950 kHz with Supreme Master TV 2352 - 0000Z, Dec 28, RTTY QRM on 4980 [from 4985 --- gh]. Better reception on 5950. Both S-9 signals. SINPO = 42232 (4980) & 43333 (5950). Christmas song at 2356, then male announcers in slow English discussing soap. O Come All Ye Faithful followed by WRMI ID at 0000Z. Classic rock from 0001 Dec 28 with Sting singing If You Love Someone. 4980 off air at 0000Z (Mike Newland, Morgantown, KY, Icom IC-706 & G5RV up 35 feet, WOR iog via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 5950 // 9395, Fri Dec 28 at 2240, WRMI in Italian mentioning Buenos Aires --- and also // 7780. So the RAE relay gets three transmitters this hour today (four if you count Spanish on 5010 only). Transmission skedgrid shows RAE Italian supposed to be on 7780 only, while 5950 & 9395 are supposed to be on WRN in the 22-23 hour (which had been DW in English). The program grids find RAE Italian only on System G (primarily Oldies) at 22-23 Mon-Fri on 7780 and 9395, but not 5950. So what will happen at 2300 today Fri Dec 28? 9395 // 5950 switch to SMTV where it is *not* scheduled. 7780 switches to Blalock the Blaster, `Full Gospel Hour` [sic] where it had been nominally for some time, 2300-2330 only. You never know what these frequencies will be carrying at the same hours from one day to the next. 0500-0700 UT is another span when WRMI runs different programming from one night to the next. UT Sat Dec 29 at 0552, Oldies on 5950 // much stronger S9+10 9395. 0556 VOA News starts --- oh2, 5 minute segment likely to get chopped short at hourtop --- but no, allowed to continue to conclusion 0601, commercial, and more Oldies on both. BTW, checking the WRMI System B program skedgrid Dec 29, I see: `Media Netework Plus` [sic] Tuesdays at 6-7 pm EST = 23-24 UT, AND `Media Network +` [sic] Wednesdays at the same time --- and during this hour only, 5950 is supposed to duplicate 9955. MN+ on the skeds does not necessarily mean that particular program, but anything from PCJ Radio International; I have not tried to hear what. 5950 // 7780 // 9395, Sat Dec 29 at 2203, whatever the skeds may show, these three WRMIs are all running Oldies Xmasmx. 5950 // 9395, Sun Dec 30 at 0611, more Xmasmx Oldies, not WRN and not RFI. 5850, UT Sun Dec 30 at 0143, WRMI-12 with World Music fill, as skedgrid shows System F at 01-02 UT with blank blox on Sat, Sun, Wed, Thu; and one half or the other on Mon, Tue. WRMI webcast, UT Mon Dec 31 after 0500 when 9955 is off after WORLD OF RADIO, now has a gospel huxter in Spanish; you never know what will be running on this. 9395, Dec 31 at 0552, Tecsun Australia SW radio ad on this WRMI and back to music (Oldies?). Tecsun-Au has also be advertising on SW Radiogram and Aussie SW stations, which is great, but odd its spots now on WRMI: are they doing business in N America? Has anyone over here bought SW radios from them, and for less than domestic sources? 9395 // 5950, Jan 1 at 0743, WRMI Oldies, no more RFI in Spanish (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 5950, WRMI extreme weak S=5-6 signal from Okeechobee here on that channel, seemingly decreased to only 10 kW of power - or total different antenna azimuth ?, compared to other RMI outlets these days. 9395 kHz Oldies via WRMI heard at 0600-0610 UT. S=9+20dB on NJ/NY states [selected SDR options, span 12.5 kHz RBW 15.3 Hertz] (Wolfgang Bueschel, df5sx, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Dec 31, DX LISTENING DIGEST) WBCQ WBCQ WBCQ WBCQ WBCQ WBCQ WBCQ WBCQ WBCQ WBCQ WBCQ WBCQ WBCQ WBCQ: ** U S A. 5130.4, UT Sat Dec 28 at 0058, WBCQ with `Analog Telephone Show` ending with website something like analogtelephonesystemsshow.web.com but that doesn`t work nor any variations I try. What is it correctly? Includes lots of recordings of intercepts, tones, switching sounds of years ago, phone-phreaking I would like to hear. But reception here is too poor to get much out of it, UT Sats at 00-01. NOT on the WBCQ sked. And not part of Area 51 so assume it is not webcast. At 0059 a bit of switching confusion, seemingly about to go AWWW but instead on to `Intelligence Report` with Michigan militia guy Mark Koernke who is back in business after many years` silence. [answers: see MUSEA/WORLD OF TELEPHONY] 7490.19 at 0100 Dec 29 is starting `Allan Weiner Worldwide`, stronger than // 9330.004, almost on-frequency! Both these were much stronger an hour ago but are fading down now, so over to John Carver`s report on AWWW: ``Dead air this evening on 7490 at the top of the hour but soon the familiar strains of the theme song start. Allan in the studio in FLA by himself this evening as Angela is off on her own. Allan lamenting the end of the year, referring to it as the year of the moonbat. First phone call at 0106 from a gruff caller who probably could be called a moonbat. Complaining about the Cubans, Russians and commies in general who are taking over our government. Meanwhile an annoying, pumping hiss in the background of the audio. Freddie calls at 0121 and the topics go all over the place. Strange show this evening. The usual support for Trump but also warnings again from Allan about the coming year and possible financial problems. Urges everyone listening to have at least two weeks worth of food, water, fuel and money along with weapons to defend it. After phone call Allan states that he and Angela will be back in Maine by the middle of February so that he, Tom and Timtron can begin work on installing the transmitter for the superstation. New on the air date for the new station is July 1st with some testing earlier in the year. He also stated that most of the work on the 3265 transmitter is done now and once it's up he might run it 24/7. Another pro Trump phone call. The caller does state that 9330 is working this evening as that's what he's listening on. Freddie calls again at 0150 to say that he agrees with the previous caller and more Trump talk ensues. Reading of the Free Radio Report at 0156 and closing prayer at 0159. Program was off the air at 0201. 7490 was also off the air shortly after that. John, Mid-North Indiana`` (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 5130.411, WBCQ guitar music/singer program, 0245 UT, logs from Cape Canaveral Florida state [selected SDR options, span 12.5 kHz RBW 15.3 Hertz] (Wolfgang Bueschel, df5sx, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Dec 29, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 9330.113, Dec 30 at 1412, TOMBS via WBCQ achieves its typical off-frequenciness, despite having reached 9330.004, Dec 29 at 0100 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 5130.4, JBA carrier UT January 1, when Larry Will said a special NYE Area 51 broadcast would be on via WBCQ at 03-06 UT; but I did enjoy some of the music and comedy via his stereo webcast (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) WINB WINB WINB WINB WINB WINB WINB WINB WINB WINB WINB WINB WINB WINB: ** U S A. 13690, Dec 26 at 1434, no DRM from WINB for a change despite M-F 11-17 sked. Strangely, at 2137 I find RTTY centered on 13688, with zero-beats at 13687.55 and 13688.45. Normally there is no RTTY around here, so I wonder if that be another data experiment via the WINB transmitter? 13685-13695, Dec 27 at 1505, DRM noise is back from WINB, missing yesterday, and still the totally lopsided version: noise in the top half, multiple carriers beating in the bottom half. 13688, Dec 27 at 2259, RTTY again today, suspected of also emanating from WINB transmitter (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) OTHERSW OTHERSW OTHERSW OTHERSW OTHERSW OTHERSW OTHERSW OTHERSW OTHER: ** U S A. 5890, Dec 25 at 0449, WWCR-4 is on with S9+30 of dead air except for some hum. The *only* time 5890 remains is UT Tue-Sat 03-05, `Worship with Kelly Lawson` at 04-05; tough luck, Kelly (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 4840, December 28 at 0100. WWCR with the demented conspiracy theorists on the "The Divided Kingdom" program. Lots of right wing political talk mixed with usual nutty paranoid christian weirdness, e.g. "Satan is attacking us, wrecks in the car, all those things we have to endure at Christmas." They further lose all credibility by discussing an article posted on "World Net Daily" as if it were truthful. They said next week they're going to review two DVDs they recently acquired with subject material including "cannibalism" and "horse meat." (Larry Will, Mount Airy, Maryland, radio@zappahead.net Icom IC-R75, G5RV, PL-880, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 4840, UT Sun Dec 30 at 0150, WWCR with `VORW`; John is introspectively musing about his experiences as a YouTube producer. Says this is hour one of two, but cut off abruptly at 0200 by WWCR for its next show, `Truth House with E. C. Fulcher` (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. 5085, Dec 25 at 2338, WTWW-2 Xmasmx, distorted. Some guys are effusive about the audio quality of this; it may be very strong and wideband, but often I find the distortion level intolerable. Driving it too hard (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 5829.986, WTWW S=9+15 in Sligo Ireland, but contain 60 Hertz deep BUZZ signal too! from morning log 0215 til 0400 UT [selected SDR options, span 12.5 kHz RBW 15.3 Hertz] (Wolfgang Bueschel, df5sx, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Dec 29, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 5829.986 kHz, WTWW English sermon, 0556 UT [selected SDR options, span 12.5 kHz RBW 15.3 Hertz] (Wolfgang Bueschel, df5sx, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Dec 31, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. 5970, Dec 26 at 0240, no signal from WEWN Spanish, nor at 0607 when yet much higher 11520 WEWN English is audible at S1-S4. Believe 5970 was also AWOL the night before. Only one transmitter operable? At 1426 neither 5970 nor daytime Spanish frequency 12050 is to be heard. 12050, Dec 27 at 2238, no signal from WEWN Spanish, nor on night frequency 5970; while there is a JBA carrier still on English day frequency 15610. Schedule at http://ewtn.org/radio/freq.htm claims 12050 runs 14-24 at 155 degrees, and 5970 runs 00-14 at 160 degrees. Two time columns are labeled CST and UTC, 6 hours apart. IIRC, WEWN skeds used to be in EST, but I called them out for that since Alabama is in CST. As long as RCM be absent from 12050, R. Ndarason International, via Ascension at 1800-2100 should be unblocked; haven`t tried it yet. 12050, Dec 28 at 1825, WEWN is S9+10, back on with praise song in Spanish, so never mind hearing Ndarason uncovered. Other Spanish frequency 5970 was still absent last night. Now, no signal on 15610 for WEWN English but it is not opening until 1900 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 5970, Dec 29 at 0552, WEWN Spanish is back, after missing for a few nights (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A [and non]. Reception of World Harvest Radio International WHRI Angel 1, Dec 29: 2200-2400 on 7335 HRI 250 kW / 047 deg WeEu English Sat/Sun, very good * co-ch same 7335 BJI 100 kW / 255 deg EaAs Chinese China Nat.Radio-2 https://swldxbulgaria.blogspot.com/2018/12/reception-of-world-harvest-radio_30.html (Ivo Ivanov, SWLDXBulgaria News, Dec 29-30, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 7314.997, WHRI pop music program, (not Lester Sumrall) at 0323 UT, also S=9+50dB powerhouse in FL state remote SDR. 10 kHz wide audio broadband, excellent audio quality, seemingly the best sounded transmitter unit in Cypress Creek? [selected SDR options, span 12.5 kHz RBW 15.3 Hertz] (Wolfgang Bueschel, df5sx, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Dec 29, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. 7504.997, WRNO not in Chinese, but English sermon heard, at 0316 UT, about future of Israel, Jewish people and brothers. Little distorted audio noted in the feed path, like transformed scratching digital audio on phone line? Logs from Cape Canaveral Florida state. [selected SDR options, span 12.5 kHz RBW 15.3 Hertz] (Wolfgang Bueschel, df5sx, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Dec 29, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 7505.005, WRNO, Mandarin Chinese sermon at 0606 UT on Dec 31, S=9+25dB signal in NJ-US, few 'Jesus' mentions could be recognized talking [selected SDR options, span 12.5 kHz RBW 15.3 Hertz] (Wolfgang Bueschel, df5sx, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Dec 31, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A [non]. Uncle Bill's Rockless NYE Special being received here on 9400 kHz at 1800 UT Dec 31 with an excellent signal (Alan Roe, Teddington, UK, WOR iog via DXLD) via BULGARIA, q.v. Rather good reception into Masset on 9400 from 19 to just past 20. Nice show too. Will have to drop Bill an email! 73, (Walt Salmaniw, BC, ibid.) sic; he must have meant 18-19+ UT (gh) ** U S A. 650, Dec 28 at 1906 UT, weather and ID for ``AM 650, KGAB``, Rush theme. This is at the limit of groundwave on a quiet summer day, but now could as well be early skywave from Cheyenne WY. KLTT 670 Denver is always audible in daytime, noise level permitting (Glenn Hauser, Enid OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. WSM 650 --- Had news passed to me that a couple of days ago WSM took a lightning strike that blew up a lot of stuff. If you can't hear them, it`s because they are running 5 kW until repairs can be effected (Kevin, Crump, TN, Redding, Dec 29, ABDX yg via DXLD) Still reaching Connecticut tonight. SW BOG on SONY HD table radio with The Grand Old Opry shortly after 8 PM local time (FARMERIK, ibid.) WSM 650 --- Tonight it seems to be back to its old self (Kevin Redding, Crump, TN, 0311 UT Dec 31, ABDX yg via DXLD) Yes, it`s back at full power according to engineer Jason Cooper on my facebook group (Paul B Walker, 0313 UT, ibid.) [non] My opinion also here in IL and glad I caught Greenland on 650 the night of their mishap at the end of nice non-auroral TA conditions. They initially may have been less than 5 kW as they weren't really a factor that first night. 73 KAZ (Neil Kazaross, 35 miles NW of Chicago, 0351 UT Dec 31, ibid.) It was 5 kW according to WSM staff (Walker, ibid.) Thanks! It was a great tip (FARMERIK, CT, ibid.) ** U S A. Formerly silent stations informing the FCC that they are back on the air: 880, KLRG, AR, Sheridan – Silent Nov. 16; back on the air Dec. 13 with reduced power (AM Switch, NRC DX News Jan 7 via DXLD) Licensed for U2 50000/220/CH 31000, address in Clearwater FL, religious, silent since 5/2018, $tereo (NRC AM Log 2018-2019 via DXLD) ** U S A. Radio Insight – LGBTQ Format Sunnylands Broadcasting Classic Hits “Valley 106.5” 1270 KVGH/106.5 K293CL Thousand Palms/Palm Springs [CA] will debut its new for LGBTQ by LGBTQ format on Wednesday, December 26. The change comes with operations of the station and sister Soft AC “CV 104.3” KHCV Mecca coming under the umbrellas of non-profit QChella Media Corporation. Led by President Elijah Hartman, the radio operations will be overseen by longtime broadcast executive Brad Fuhr. New KGAY call letters are pending (AM Switch, NRC DX News Jan 7 via WORLD OF RADIO 1963, DXLD) Could this be a first in American broadcasting? (Glenn Hauser, ibid.) ** U S A. The FCC Media Bureau is apparently losing patience with Birach and WPON. (We've discussed this a lot in past TipSheets....) I see word in "Inside Radio" of the latest which is MOST: interesting! For details see: https://tinyrul.com/WPONshortleash --kvz (Kenneth Vito Zichi, MARE Tipsheet Dec 28 via DXLD) WPON: 1460, Walled Lake MI, silent since 2017 (NRC AM Log via DXLD) ** U S A. 1710, December 27 at 2149. WQFG689, Jersey City NJ. Suddenly this one popped up with a very good signal, ID "WQFG689 owned and operated by Hudson County New Jersey." (Larry Will, Mount Airy, Maryland, radio@zappahead.net Icom IC-R75, G5RV, PL-880, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. I spend, as you probably guessed, most of my radio time on the amateur radio bands. I do SWL from time to time and have become a fan of online radio stations as well. My favorite recently being WMMT FM, which has one of the most unusual radio programs, at 9 PM Eastern [02 UT] playing back voice mail recordings left by family members and friends the previous two hours for the inmates in the listening area of the various prisons around Whitesburg KY area via their main transmitter and various LPFM translators. Just when you think you’ve heard it all! [WMMT-FM 88.7 MHz, Whitesburg, Kentucky, "Mountain Community Radio" Station Format: Variety Website: https://www.wmmt.org/ Audio Feed: http://perseus.shoutca.st:8240/stream -- radio-locator.com --- gh] The only social media I participate in is on Twitter. There are a few SWLs there as well Radio Amateurs and news junkies like myself there. I avoid the insane pointless political monkey cage shit fights that seem to cover the extremes of all sides. @UlisK3LU is what I use. I would like to pitch in some news and items I come across and observations into DXLD if that`s alright? The shortwave spectrum will always be special to us all and I think it will be used again in some way that would benefit mankind. It’s a question what will it be and will we all live long enough to see it. Thank you again Glenn for all you do. I hope 2019 is a productive and healthy year for us all. And it would be nice to see a new station or two along the way. 73, (Ulis Fleming, K3LU, Dec 27, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. Virginia --- Norfolk, ch 6, WMTO-LP Issued Notice of Violation for excessive aural power of 12.4 kW. See text; this might (or might not) impinge on “FrankenFMs”. [Viz.:] The Notice of Violation issued to WMTO-LP cites two different figures for the maximum permissible aural power of a channel 6 LPTV. WMTO (which was using a separate FM transmitter to generate their aural signal) was in violation of both figures, but the figure the FCC regards as authoritative could have consequences for so-called “Franken FM” stations. Analog TV stations operating on channel 6 have an aural signal on 87.75 MHz. This signal can be received on FM radios, if they tune that far out of the FM band. There are, of course, no full-power analog TV stations left on channel 6. However, low-power stations still exist. Some of these stations are programming their aural signals as FM radio stations. Probably the best known is WRME-LP Chicago, “Me-TV FM 87.7”. The Notice of Violation states at one point the maximum permissible ERP for a channel 6 LPTV station is 3 kW. At the end of the same paragraph, it says the maximum permissible aural power is 660 watts. FCC regulation 73.1560 says the aural ERP is not to exceed 22% of the visual. 22% of 3 kW is 660 watts. However, LPTV stations are regulated under part 74, not part 73. Regulation 74.780 contains a list of Part 73 regulations that are applicable to LPTV stations. 73.1560 is not on that list. I am not a lawyer, but the way I read that, the 22% power limit does not apply to LPTVs. And the way I read that, the maximum permissible aural power for an analog channel 6 LPTV is 3 kW. Again, either way WMTO is in trouble. But if the Commission’s interpretation is that the 660-watt figure is correct, then all Franken-FMs have a problem. 73.1570 is also not on the list. This is the regulation that defines 100% modulation of an analog TV aural carrier as +/-25 kHz. 73.1545 is not on the list. This is the regulation that requires the frequency of the analog TV aural carrier be 4.5 MHz above the visual carrier. If the FCC regards 73.1560 as applicable to analog LPTVs, it is reasonable to presume 73.1545 and 73.1570 are also applicable. And if those regulations are applicable, a channel 6 LPTV’s aural signal must be on 87.75 MHz. That frequency is not tunable by most FM radios. (many channel 6 LPTVs have been operating their aural signals on other frequencies within the 82-88 MHz band – usually 87.7 or 87.9 MHz) “Franken-FMs” use an aural deviation of +/-75 kHz. This is 100% modulation for FM radio. If 73.1570 applies, then aural deviation is limited to +/-25 kHz – 33% modulation. This all becomes a moot point in 2-1/2 years. The repack will be complete on July 3rd, 2020. A year later, the FCC will cease to authorize analog operation of LPTV stations – and it will cease to be possible to receive any kind of TV audio on an FM radio (Doug Smith, TN, FCC News, Jan WTFDA VHF-UHF Digest via DXLD) ** VATICAN. Vatican City State Extraterritorial Administrative Area: 6010, Vatican Radio special Christmas Eve services from St. Peter's Basilica with English commentary/explanation. Lots of traditional choral Christmas music, that was kind of nice. Fading in, starting at 111 and up to 34542+ to ALMOST fair by mid bc, and then fading back into the noise floor by end of my recording (I recorded this as I shared family time before church with the grandkids and kids. Doesn't EVERY radio geek do stuff like that?) 2025-2230 24/Dec, SDRplay +SDRuno +ANC-4 +randomwire (Kenneth Vito Zichi, from my 'home' in Williamston, Michigan, heard with an actual radio and actual antenna in my actual yard/house with my actual analog ears, and mostly in 'real time' (well, occasionally recorded, for reasons of sanity and sleep, but I do then actually listen to the recording! :) DX LISTENING DIGEST) 15695, 25 Dec, 1053, UNID location. Vatican Radio (?) In English. Music and at 1057 YL speaks, special transmission of Christmas with the Christmas mass live by Pope Francisco and simultaneous translation in English by YL. The signal is almost local here for me. Local signal in the SDR of Twente (Jorge Freitas, Feira de Santana Bahia 12°14´S 38°58´W -, Brasil, Tecsun PL-310ET, Antenna Delta Loop 8,5 meters, WOR iog via DXLD) Vatican Radio Urbi & Orbi blessings, Dec.25 1055-1130 on 15585 SMG 250 kW / 210 deg to WeAf French 1055-1130 on 15595 SMG 250 kW / 084 deg to N/ME Arabic 1055-1130 on 15695 SMG 250 kW / 145 deg to CeAf English 1055-1130 on 17590 SMG 250 kW / 165 deg to SoAf Portuguese https://swldxbulgaria.blogspot.com/2018/12/vatican-radio-urbi-orbi-blessings-dec25.html (Ivo Ivanov, SWLDXBulgaria News, Dec 24-25, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 15695 Vatican === The broadcast, as recorded using the U. Twente SDR receiver, has been archived here: https://shortwavearchive.com/archive/radio-vaticana-popes-christmas-message-and-urbi-et-orbi-blessing-december-25-2018 and here: https://archive.org/details/RadioVaticana15.695MHz25December20181050UTC (-- Richard Langley, Dec 31, WOR iog via DXLD) Vatican Radio, Santa Maria di Galeria CVA, Santa Messa 0850-1040 UT on Jan 1st --- 15585 French, from time to time CW QRM 15586 kHz 15595 Arabic 15695 English 17590 Portuguese (Wolfgang Bueschel, df5sx, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Jan 1, dxldyg via DXLD) ** VENEZUELA. Cuarto sabotaje contra emisora Radio Mundial en Táchira los dejó sin señal --- 01/01/2019 Nelson Chacín Fernández, director de Radio Mundial 860 AM, denunció que las instalaciones en la que están los equipos repetidores de la estación fueron objeto de sabotaje por cuarta vez este año, situación que dejo fuera del aire tanto a esta emisora como a la Radio Cultural del Táchira 1.060 AM de la gobernación del estado. Resultado de imagen para Radio Mundial 860 AM, Resultado de imagen para Radio Cultural del Táchira [caption] “Hemos denunciado esto en cuatro oportunidades y los cuerpos de seguridad se hacen de la vista gorda. Es importante un medio de comunicación en la frontera o es que prefieren que nuestros hijos escuchen las estaciones de radio de la guerrilla colombiana o que nuestros hijos aprendan en las zonas rurales el himno de Colombia y no el de Venezuela”, dijo Chacín. Indicó que la programación de la estación de radio es el reflejo de las expresiones de los oyentes que manifiestan en los diferentes espacios las situaciones que deben afrontar día a día. “Radio Mundial transmite únicamente la veracidad que está pasando nuestro país. ¿Es mentira que tengamos colas en las calles por combustible desde hace meses? ¿Que tenemos colas en la calle por gas doméstico? ¿Acaso es falso que no tengamos energía eléctrica y seamos víctimas de apagones permanentemente? Eso es lo que forma nuestra programación de radio”, agregó Chacín. La señal fue recuperada luego de varios días pero con menor potencia a causa de los daños en los equipos (El Nacional via GRA blog via DXLD) ** YEMEN [non]. SAUDI ARABIA, Reception of Republic of Yemen Radio on Dec.29 from 0855 on 11860 JED or RIY / unknown to N/ME Arabic, good: https://swldxbulgaria.blogspot.com/2018/12/reception-of-republic-of-yemen-radio-on_29.html SAUDI ARABIA, Very good signal of Al-Azm Radio, Dec.29 from 0900 on 11745 JED or RIY / unknown to N/ME Arabic: https://swldxbulgaria.blogspot.com/2018/12/very-good-signal-of-al-azm-radio-dec29.html (Ivo Ivanov, SWLDXBulgaria News, Dec 28-29, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ZAMBIA. 13680.003 ZMB VoHope Africa from Lusaka Makeni Ranch* location. * CVC Lusaka Makeni ranch SW 4965 6065 9430 9505 13590 13650 kHz, of 2009 year, at location 15 32 18.89 S 28 00 09.83 E 13680 kHz 315 degrees azimuth. 1024 x 718 image. QSL card and log-periodic image [selected SDR options, span 12.5 kHz RBW 15.3 Hertz] (Wolfgang Bueschel, df5sx, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Dec 29, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. Trans-Atlantic JBA MW carrier search, Dec 25 from 0604: 531, 549, 558, 612, 621, 648, 666, 693*, 711, 774, 837, 846, 882, 909, 1017, 1044, 1089, 1107, 1215, 1413, 1512. *=strongest but still can`t pull audio. I was encouraged to do this upon hearing a het upon 1090 without really trying (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. Trans-Atlantic JBA MW carrier search, Dec 27 at 2306- 2319. Again after first noticing a 1 kHz het upon 1090 without really trying: 531, 549, 621, 684, 774, 837, 882, 909, 999, 1044, 1053, 1089, 1215, 1413, 1431. This time I`m using the JRC with N/S inside shortwire (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. Trans-Pacific JBA MW carrier search, Dec 30 at 1320, not a full bandscan but checking some likely spots: 837 (maybe megawatt CNR5 in Fujian), while the major NHKs are not audible); 1098-west, surely Marshall Islands carrier. At 1329 now I have traces from the NW of NHK on 828, 774, 693, 594; and Korea South on 1566 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. 570, Jan 1 at 0707 UT, `Coast to Coast AM` with VG dominant signal. Just missed any local break. My closest regulars KLIF Dallas and WNAX Yankton (both day and night) are both C2CAM affiliates, and neither has a night pattern pushing so much signal this way, but more likely than several others carrying that program further east or west. Las Cruces might be on ND day power, but supposedly OLDies format (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. 4102.85, Jan 1 at 0652, various numbers JBA in CW, ID as ``W`` and string of E`s (dits), the beacon somewhere in the Mojave? Desert with wind speed and other weather readings (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. 5019.998 kHz signal string visible on remotes in Edmonton Alberta (thanks Don Moman VE6JY!), and in MI, NY, NJ states also. Could it be Solomons Isl radio again? 0634 UT Dec 31 [selected SDR options, span 12.5 kHz RBW 15.3 Hertz] (Wolfgang Bueschel, df5sx, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Dec 31, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. Was für ein Ditter-Geblubbere läuft auf UTE 6022.030 kHz, S=9+15dB und auf jeder Seite 12 x Signal Strings sichtbar, immerhin jeweils 50/100/150/200 Hertz Distanz usw. stört heftigst die CRI Albanisch Sendung aus Shijiazhuang China auf 6020 kHz. Stoltenberg armada Kriegsspielzeuge auf dem Atlantik gegen Putin Kaliningrad St.P. Murmansk? (Wolfgang Büschel, 2001 UT Dec 29, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. 6089.995 kHz noted at 0651 UT in Ireland remote Atlantic Ocean coast. Maybe Ethiopian drifted down? [selected SDR options, span 12.5 kHz RBW 15.3 Hertz] (Wolfgang Bueschel, df5sx, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Dec 31, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ UNSOLICITED TESTIMONIALS ++++++++++++++++++++++++ ACKNOWLEDGED ON WORLD OF RADIO 1963: Thank you for the bc! Merry Christmas & Happy New Year (Brian Gilbert, KI7IIT, Roseburg OR, with a check to Glenn Hauser, P O Box 1684, Enid OK 73702) Thanks to Glenn Swiderski, NC, for a contribution via PayPal TO BE ACKNOWLEDGED FUTURELY: Doug Brown, London, Ont. & Seminole, Florida for a US$ check to Glenn Hauser, P O Box 1684, Enid OK 73702 USA Glenn, I sent you a small contribution, in honor of WOR 1960, because it was in about 1960 that I got my first real shortwave radio, and began to learn the relationship between frequency and wavelength, meterbands, etc. I also began to learn about the vast variety of languages on SW, though I was still only in first year Spanish at school. Keep up the good work (Tim Hendel, AL, with a check to P O Box 1684, Enid OK 73702) Thanks to William T Hassig, Mt Prospect IL, for another WOR donation by check with a greeting card to Glenn Hauser, PO Box 1684, Enid OK 73702. Happy Holidays and Happy New Year, Glenn. Thank you for all the hard work you put into the weekly DX Listening Digest. Take care and 73 (Mike Stone, Arlington Heights, IL, with a donation via PayPal to woradio at yahoo.com) Thanks to Don Decaria, NF7R, for a contribution via PayPal to woradio at yahoo.com Hi Glenn -- Thank you for the many years of enriching the lives of SWLs around the globe with your knowledge of our wonderful hobby -- PS You should sell RHC shirts with ``Something`s Always Wrong at RHC`` Ha! 73! (Ulis Fleming, Odenton MD, K3LU, with his QSL and other cards, and a check to Glenn Hauser, P O Box 1684, Enid OK 73702) Thanks for your dedication to the listening hobby. Happy New Year! -- (Terry Colgan, Austin TX, with a contribution via PayPal to woradio at yahoo.com) Glenn; I hope the new year will be good for you and yours. Best, (Bruce Miller Earle, with a generous PayPal contribution to woradio at yahoo.com) PUBLICATIONS ++++++++++++ HITLIST UPDATE Hi Glenn. My latest Hitlist update. http://www.w4uvh.net/hitlist.htm 1) Argentina - RAE: Added link to Facebook page 2) Australia - Unique R: New entry (Thanks to Tim Gaynor in WOR iog) 3) Australia - Hobart R Int: new entry 4) Cuba - RHC: Updated links for Freqs (added 2nd link for frequencies in languages other than Spanish) (Thanks to Glenn Hauser in WOR iog) 5) Denmark - R Oz-Viola: new entry (Thanks to William Spenkelink in FB group for the FB tip) 6) Italy - IBC: New entry (although IBC just announced on 31 Dec that SW has been suspended, I'll leave this new addition in as there is an intention to return) 7) USA - R Marti: Added link to B-18 frequncy schedule 8) USA - WHR: Updated links to new Family Broadcasting domain name (Thanks to Glenn Hauser in WOR iog) Unless there's a major change anywhere, the next update will be late January. HAPPY NEW YEAR, and 73 (Alan Roe, Dec 31, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UPDATED: DX/SWL/Media Programs http://www.worldofradio.com/dxpgms.html New applications that can read/search Eibi Schedules It seems that in the last couple of months there has been releases of various apps that can read and search the EiBi database of schedules. Included in this is an application for various Icom transceivers, and one for Elecraft radios with the general coverage option. This includes, of course, the new Alexa skill that was mentioned some time ago as well as a few SDR applications. If you're interested in these apps, check out the Schedules section of https://wiki.radioreference.com/index.php/SWL_Broadcast I must admit that it's curious that these apps are concentrating on the EiBi database, and not considering all the others. (HFCC, Aoki, etc.). Only Dan Ferguson's master spreadsheet does this, and I am told that the Perseus file that is part of his download is readable by SDRUno, which can run many SDRs. If there's others that should be on this page, please pass them along (Mike Agner, Dec 29, NASWA yg via DXLD) LANGUAGE LESSONS See also DIGITAL BROADCASTING --- DTV ++++++++++++++++ Collective nouns Bryan Clark and I were talking about collective nouns - pack of dogs, herd of cows, flow of sheep, murder of crows etc. What would you call a collection of DXers? A dithering of DXers? A dotage of DXers?? Answers please. They will be included in the February column (Jan NZ DX Times via DXLD) How about ``a logbook of DXers`` ? (gh) MUSEA +++++ Pirate Radio Archive streaming 24-Dec to 2-Jan The Irish pirate radio audio archive and oral history about the Irish pirate radio era has been streaming from 24 December at http://pirate.ie/archive/dec-24th-jan-2nd-streaming-live-online/ including interviews from the pirate.ie meet-up at the Ballsbridge Hotel, Dublin in October which commemorated 30th Anniversary of the end of Irish pirate era on 31st December 1988. There is also material available on demand. I particularly liked the 16-minute interview with "Bill Ebril transmitter man" about building MW transmitters for Irish pirate stations from 1970+ : http://pirate.ie/archive/interview-bill-ebril-transmitter-man/ The streaming is scheduled until 2nd January. Great memories - I used to listen to MW Irish pirates across the water in Lancashire in the 1970s and 1980s. 73, Alan Pennington, Dec 27, bdxc-news iog via WOR iog while in effect, via DXLD) MUSEA / WORLD OF TELEPHONY ++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Question about late 1960s "tone interval sigs" Hello Glenn, In 1967 I first became aware of the wonderful world of shortwave listening, and I made a few recordings. Unfortunately, it was mostly brief snippets, but at least it's something. My shortwave interest was then supplanted in 1970 by something even more amazing to me, the analog telephone network, of which I have over a thousand hours of recordings, mostly of just the sounds of calls progressing through it. Thanks to the phone network getting my attention, my shortwave interest never deepened to the point of seeking exotic stations in the 60 meter band, etc., but those 2 1/2 years of exploring the stuff you know all too well, were nonetheless wonderful. Reviewing some of the old tapes, I find there are some loose ends I want to tie up. Specifically, there are six of what might be called "tone interval signals," which seemed to me to be coming from ship-to-shore stations (similar to WOO & WOM). While one of these stations eventually identified itself as being in Cuba, by starting to use a voice announcement in the early 70s, the others remain a mystery to me to this day. (And I don't recall what the name or call sign of the Cuban station was.) At least 3 of these were so ubiquitous that I'm sure you know exactly what they were. Would you be willing to listen to a brief recording that contains the sound of those six "tone interval signals," one after another, and solve the mystery for me? It would really give me a sense of closure; I've been wondering about these since I was 10 years old! It's on Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/evan-doorbell/late-60s-tone-i-ss Thanks so much, (Johann North, a.k.a. former phone phreak Evan Doorbell, San Antonio TX, Dec 29, DX LISTENING DIGEST) I am wondering if you are the one behind the Analog Telephone Show on WBCQ? UT Saturday 00-01 on 5130. Unfortunately reception is too poor here to get anything out of it. I also did some minor phone-phreaking back in the day (Glenn to Johann, via DXLD) Glenn, Yes that's me. Given the bad reception, it's good to hear that you know of it, after only 4 episodes! (Johann, ibid.) I think you gave a website at the end of last night`s program, but I couldn`t copy it? (Glenn, ibid.) Glenn, The 4 programs we've aired so far, begin here: https://soundcloud.com/evan-doorbell/analogtelsysshow001 Subsequent shows are the same URL, except they end in 002, 003 etc. And some of my more user-friendly narrated programs (including the ones used in the shows) are here: https://soundcloud.com/evan-doorbell/sets/group-1 Here are some programs that focus on the phreaks and phreaking: https://soundcloud.com/evan-doorbell/sets/phreaking (Johann, ibid.) Johann, Very interesting! #1, 2 and 4 sound familiar, altho certainly not heard here in many years. But I can`t think of which stations they were. Maybe they`ll come to me. It would help a lot if you had the frequencies! RF not AF. My logs that far back are of course not online. No doubt they are point-to-point or coastal stations. I can also open it up to the 800 members of my WOR io group. There is also David Kernick of Interval Signals Online, dealing mainly with broadcast stations but he might have or know something about these. http://www.intervalsignals.net Do let me know of any IDs which emerge. Tnx for access to your shows. 73, (Glenn to Johann, ibid.) For what it's worth: on the audio link herein, I remember the second featured-tone (at :06 into the attachment) being by far the most dominant of such HF signals in the Atlanta area, circa '68-'69. But always at a slower "tempo" than what we hear (Greg Hardison, WOR iog via DXLD) Example number two was pounding into the Chicago area -- one of the strongest signals on the bands -- on multiple frequencies in the late-1960s. I never did figure out what it was where it was from, though I remember hearing a claim it was some sort of 'radio control circuit.' Doubt it - DRA (David R. Alpert, CA, WOR iog via DXLD) DIGITAL BROADCASTING --- DRM See BULGARIA; CHINA; USA: WINB ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ DIGITAL BROADCASTING --- IBOC See MEXICO 950 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ DIGITAL BROADCASTING --- DTV See also MEXICO; OKLAHOMA; RUSSIA ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ REPACKING MADNESS! From a Post on the TV and FM DXing List A reminder that Phase 2 of the DTV Repack begins today (12/1/18), and is the longest phase, with a deadline of April 12, 2018. Stations in Phase 2 that are changing channels can start testing today, and move any time up to April 12. Stations in many markets across the country are assigned Phase 2, including Miami, Denver, Houston, and Los Angeles. Nothing in the Northeast; closest stations to me (Poughkeepsie) that are moving are WSEE-16>21 Erie, PA, and WHSV 49>20 Harrisonburg, VA. Most markets of any size with multiple stations changing channels will require co-ordination between stations. Here's an example from Phase 4. Something as "simple" as WVPX Akron, OH moving from ch 23 to ch 22 involves the following: WVPX can’t move from 23 to 22 until WJAC in Johnstown,, PA moves from 34 to 35. Here’s how: WVPX can’t move to 22 until WFXP moves off 22 to 26. WFXP can’t move to 26 until WVIZ moves off 26 to 35 and WNYB moves from 26 to 5. WVIZ can’t move to 35 until WYTV moves from 36 to 31. WYTV can’t move to 31 until WBNX moves from 30 to 17. WBNX can’t move to 17 until WKYC moves from 17 to 19. WKYC can’t move to 19 until WFMJ moves from 20 to 33. WFMJ can’t move to 33 until WNPB moves from 33 to 34 (and WQHS moves from 34 to 36-- and WQHS can‘t move to 36 until WYTV moves off 36.…. Oh oh, we have an endless loop!!) And WNPB can’t move to 34 until WJAC moves from 34 to 35!!!! And by the way, WPXI in Pittsburgh can’t move from 48 to 23 until WVPX makes its move. There'll be a quiz on this tomorrow!!! (Chris Lucas, WTFDA VHF-UHF Digest January 2019 via DXLD) ATSC 3.0 --- THE NEXT MAJOR BROADCAST STANDARD EXPLAINED Written for Digital Trends [November 2018] You might not have heard about it much yet, but in the coming years, you’re sure to hear the term ATSC 3.0 a lot, and with good reason: It could be a massive overhaul for antenna-based TV, also known over-the-air (OTA) TV. If you think the days of paying attention to broadcast TV are over, you should read on. ATSC 3.0 may sound like the name of a new Star Wars vehicle, or possibly a standardized test required to get into grad school. But in fact, it’s a major upgrade for antenna TV, designed to allow for 4K resolution and even a major sound upgrade to broadcast TV. The switch could be as significant as the transition from analog broadcasts to digital HD — except this time it’s going to be a whole lot easier. Follow us below to find out all you need to know about ATSC 3.0. . . https://www.digitaltrends.com/home-theater/atsc-3-0-ota-broadcast-standard-4k-dolby-atmos/ (via Jan WTFDA VHF-UHF Digest via DXLD) Glenn, I know what you mean about unreliable DTV signals if you are not in the heart of a metro area, and, if you wish to get your TV over the air, maybe just to see local news. Of course, I cannot personally react to picture quality, but, I think the whole DTV thing is, or was, sort of a swindle for the ordinary TV watching public. Hardware manufacturers had the opportunity to sell all new TV sets, while FCC and Canadian agency could sell off unused spectrum to the highest bidders. Just one man's opinion. My grandmother, who was raised bilingual, (English and German) had a great word, which I guess I could spell "handzwagel." It meant something like to swindle, or rip off. I have heard some Americans use the Anglicized "huntswaggle," and I have asked native Germans of my generation if they knew Grandma's old word. None of them did. perhaps it was a dialect word. Anyway, in a place like Enid, I am sure that, unless you pay the cable providers, TV reception is much less than it was before 2009. 73, (Tim Hendel, AL, DX LISTENING DIGEST) I would say it`s ``hornswoggle``. DTV picture resolution quality is undeniably far superior to analog, but how it came about is the problem (Glenn to Tim, via DXLD) RADIO EQUIPMENT FORUM +++++++++++++++++++++ LAMENT FOR THE TROPICAL BANDS It's too bad that the tropical bands are basically bereft of stations when compared to the plethora of stations that were audible every night during the 1980s especially on a night like this where band conditions allowed for stations like Radio Sondergrense in South Africa and Radio Verdad from Guatemala to be received with the best signals that I have noticed from them from my home in several years. If you weren't part of this hobby in the early to mid-1980s then you missed out on what I consider to be the best of both worlds where there were lots of stations to hear and receiver technology had vastly improved and digital frequency readout had become standard on all serious receivers. It was a glorious time to enjoy the hobby (Mark Coady, Selwyn, Ontario, Kenwood TS440S or Ten-Tec Argonaut II and 40 and 80 meter off centre-fed dipoles, Dec 28, ODXA iog via DXLD) Last of the scanners: Are police security measures and new technologies killing an American obsession? - The Washington Post By Terrence McCoy, https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/social-issues/last-of-the-scanners-are-police-security-measures-killing-an-american-obsession/2018/12/28/4e344a62-09f5-11e9-a3f0-71c95106d96a_print.html?noredirect=on In a white house on a quiet, leafy street in Takoma Park, Md., lives a man who listens to nothing but mayhem. He is remarkable not because of his appearance -- tall, thin, black hair -- but for what he has around him at all times: scanners. On this day, the scanners of Alan Henney -- whose tweets of bedlam are followed by dozens of Washington journalists -- were going full blast. Eleven cluttered his coffee table and living room, all tuned to different radio frequencies from across the region. There was the chirp of D.C. Fire and EMS responders. The prattle of dispatch in Prince George's County. And the broadcast of Montgomery County officials telling of a traffic accident, which, Henney concluded solemnly, "doesn't sound very good." Something else that didn't sound very good: the garbled noise coming from one scanner, obscuring D.C. police chatter. To Henney it sounded like death -- not the death caused by crime or traffic accidents, but the demise of a passion. Across the United States, there are hundreds, if not thousands, of people like Henney who listen to official communications on radio signals, sifting through a morass of chatter for interesting news. Some pester crime reporters with tips. Others, such as Henney, showcase the hard-won news items -- like gem hunters would a stone -- on their social media feeds. But soon, Henney fears, all of that may end. And what will become of the scanner enthusiasts when there's nothing left to scan? Over the past few years, an increasing number of municipalities and police departments, including the District's, have begun encrypting their radioed communications, a trend driven in part by fear that bad guys and terrorists need to do little more nowadays than download a police-scanning app to get all the intelligence they need on what police are doing and where. Just this year, police in Las Vegas, Richmond and Knoxville, Tenn., have encrypted their radio communication. But what police are calling a public safety measure, scanner hobbyists are describing as a blow to transparency. Now they're asking plaintive questions about whether it portends the end of a pastime once incubated in science clubs and Scout groups. "Who's to blame? Who caused it? . . . What's the future?" despaired one enthusiast in a YouTube video shot amid his scanners and wires. "Is our hobby dying?" lamented a chat thread on RadioReference.com. "The easy days of scanning are gone," prophesied a post on eHam.net. In the D.C. region, the keeper of the scanners' code, and a source of stability in these turbulent scanning times, is Henney -- director of the Capitol Hill Monitors group, publisher of the Capitol Hill Monitor periodical and author of the 534-page Washington-Baltimore Scanner Almanac. He spends his days at home now, tending to his ailing 87-year-old mother, planning annual regional scanner gatherings, listening to the channels he still gets and tweeting updates in the staccato voice of a just-the-facts-ma'am newsman. Meanwhile, he apportions blame for the possible collapse of his obsession. High up on the list: Radio Shack. There was a time when Henney was getting started -- just a boy and his scanner, given to him by his father as a birthday gift -- that Radio Shack was a haven for enthusiasts like him. But then the company pivoted from the radio to other electronics -- and the sense of disillusionment in the scanning community was great indeed. "Abandoned," Henney mourned. "Many of us felt abandoned by Radio Shack." It was only the beginning. Police and other public safety agencies started switching to a more complicated trunked radio system, requiring the purchase of additional equipment and sending the expense of the hobby soaring. Then came the terrorist attacks of 9/11 and, with it, increased concern over securing communications. More recently has arrived a new generation of Americans who are less enamored of the radio waves, preferring social media and newer technologies. "I'm not saying enthusiasts my age do not exist," said Kenny Lorber, 27, who also volunteers with the Montgomery County Park Police. "But they are definitely dwindling." So, too, are the number of people going to Henney's annual scanning meetings, plunging from a height of about 50 people in the 1990s to fewer than half that number these days. Even longtime scanning buffs have started dropping out. "In November, I turned 80 years old," said Willard Hardman, who wrote the scanning almanac with Henney. To him, scanning is no longer "cost-effective." "As a result," he said, "I sold or gave away my equipment and left the hobby." Those who have left, and those who aren't willing to take up the avocation in the first place, are missing out on what scanning buffs describe as an unfiltered, fully texturized reality -- undiluted by information gatekeepers such as journalists and spokesmen. "This radio traffic really gives you the pulse of the city and makes you realize how many stories are not being told," said Luke Berndt, who got into this when he was living near the Adams Morgan fire station and his daughter kept wondering where the trucks were going. The answer, it often seemed, was to tend to an overdose. This was an event, he learned, that occurred thousands of times every year in the District but was rarely reported. This plumbing of a city's underside, accessing knowledge few have -- all of it mingles to yield an intoxicating feeling that has kept Henney, who supports himself with rental properties in Delaware's Rehoboth Beach, coming back for more. He now stood for lunch. He buckled one scanner onto his belt. Then he put on a black vest with big cargo pockets. Into each, he fitted a scanner. He started for the door wearing five or six scanners and got into a car fitted with two extra radio antennas and equipped with a catalogue of radio channels. "What if something big happens and I miss it? I don't like to miss stuff," he said by way of explanation as he drove to Mark's Kitchen, a Takoma Park restaurant. There, he set up shop at a side table, arraying his scanners before him. Sometimes people look at him a little funny, but he rarely pays attention. His focus is on the news that could happen at any moment. So far that day, there had been only one bit of news that he said "rises to the level of a tweet." It hadn't been big. Just an all-terrain vehicle crash near Camp Springs, Md., with "serious but hopefully [nonlethal] injuries for the ATV rider," as he'd reported. But it had been big enough: Enough for the public to know. Enough to distract him from the feeling that one day he may not have any more news to share. Back at his house an hour later, he saw no one had followed up on his tip. But maybe someone would with the next one. (c) The Washington Post Company (via Mike Cooper, DXLD) Filtered RF Preamplifiers from Heros Technology Ltd. In the beginning of this year we bought Filtered RF Preamp-lifiers for our Aihkiniemi radio shack from Heros Technology Ltd. Design was just what we were looking for, amplifier with 3 MHz LPF and bypass. In early winter 2018 after getting all 5 we first quickly bench tested them and found out that LPF and amplification were working as promised. Quality of closure and everything else were also fine and satisfied us. So, I took them to Aihkiniemi [DX-pedition site] in March and tested in a real situation and was delighted when noticed at once better signal purity on MW with promised amplification. But after few hours of use, the first tested device was silent. And so on, all four units, which I had with me, were silent after few times of switching on and off, only bypass was working. To find out what was wrong, we checked them after my DX-expedition (pictures) and found problem in amplifier circuits, voltage level was too low already before MMIC Gali-74. After that we decided to keep one and to test it later in October to be sure that it was not our own fault to break these (PSU failure or ESD), even they have two internal regulators. Keeping that unit continuously switched on, it was broken itself after 7 hours of use, similar way as the others. Only after that we took contact to Heros Technology to tell about quality problems and made fair proposal of compensation, if fixing all these ourselves. No answer of our three emails so far. Heros Technology have obviously serious problem with the quality control and customer service. Based of our experience, we can not recommend anyone to buy their Amplifiers. My guess is that amplifying circuit board includes cheap poor quality" Made in China" parts. Heros Technology Ltd's web pages are giving big and old company's picture, but official company information found from the internet are telling something different (Martti Karimies via DXing.info FB via SW Bulletin Dec 30 via DXLD) PROPAGATION +++++++++++ Parts of the U.S. Government are closed. However, because the information this site provides is necessary to protect life and property, it will be updated and maintained during the Federal Government shutdown. [See also HAWAII] :Product: Weekly Highlights and Forecasts :Issued: 2018 Dec 31 0038 UTC # Prepared by the US Dept. of Commerce, NOAA, Space Weather Prediction Center # Product description and SWPC contact on the Web # https://www.swpc.noaa.gov/content/subscription-services # # Weekly Highlights and Forecasts # Highlights of Solar and Geomagnetic Activity 24 - 30 December 2018 Solar activity was very low throughout the period. No Earth-directed CMEs were observed this period. No proton events were observed at geosynchronous orbit. The greater than 2 MeV electron flux at geosynchronous orbit reached high levels on 29-30 December, with moderate levels on 24-25, and 28 December. Normal levels were observed on 26-27 December. Geomagnetic field activity reached G1 (Minor) storm levels on 28 December and quiet to unsettled levels on 27, 29-30 December in response to recurrent CH HSS infleunce. Quiet conditions prevailed on 24-26 December. Forecast of Solar and Geomagnetic Activity 31 December - 26 January 2019 Solar activity is expected to be very low throughout the outlook period. No proton events are expected at geosynchronous orbit. The greater than 2 MeV electron flux at geosynchronous orbit is expected to reach high levels on 31 December, 01-03, 06-12, and 25-26 January with moderate flux levels expected on 04-05, 13-21, and 24 January. Normal levels are expected throughout the remainder of the period. Geomagnetic field activity is expected to reach G1 (Minor) storm levels on 24 January, with active levels expected on 04-06, and 16 January due to recurrent CH HSS effects. Quiet to unsettled conditions are expected throughout the remainder of the outlook period. :Product: 27-day Space Weather Outlook Table 27DO.txt :Issued: 2018 Dec 31 0038 UTC # Prepared by the US Dept. of Commerce, NOAA, Space Weather Prediction Center # Product description and SWPC contact on the Web # https://www.swpc.noaa.gov/content/subscription-services # # 27-day Space Weather Outlook Table # Issued 2018-12-31 # # UTC Radio Flux Planetary Largest # Date 10.7 cm A Index Kp Index 2018 Dec 31 69 10 3 2019 Jan 01 69 5 2 2019 Jan 02 69 5 2 2019 Jan 03 69 5 2 2019 Jan 04 69 12 4 2019 Jan 05 69 15 4 2019 Jan 06 69 15 4 2019 Jan 07 71 8 3 2019 Jan 08 71 5 2 2019 Jan 09 71 5 2 2019 Jan 10 71 5 2 2019 Jan 11 71 5 2 2019 Jan 12 71 5 2 2019 Jan 13 71 5 2 2019 Jan 14 71 5 2 2019 Jan 15 71 5 2 2019 Jan 16 71 12 4 2019 Jan 17 71 5 2 2019 Jan 18 71 5 2 2019 Jan 19 71 5 2 2019 Jan 20 69 5 2 2019 Jan 21 69 5 2 2019 Jan 22 69 5 2 2019 Jan 23 69 5 2 2019 Jan 24 69 20 5 2019 Jan 25 69 12 3 2019 Jan 26 69 12 3 (SWPC via WORLD OF RADIO 1963, DXLD) ###