DX LISTENING DIGEST 7-072, June 23, 2007 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 2007 contents archive see http://www.worldofradio.com/dxldmid.html 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 NEXT SHORTWAVE AIRINGS OF WORLD OF RADIO EXTRA 75: ** tentative Sat 2130 WRMI 9955 Sun 0230 WWCR3 5070 Sun 0630 WWCR1 3215 Sun 0800 WRMI 9955 Sun 1500 WRMI 7385 Mon 0300 WBCQ 9330-CLSB [apparently canceled; unconfirmed] Mon 0415 WBCQ 7415 [time varies] Mon 0530 WRMI 9955** Mon 0930 WRMI 9955** Tue 1030 WRMI 9955** Wed 0730 WRMI 9955** WORLD OF RADIO, CONTINENT OF MEDIA, MUNDO RADIAL SCHEDULE: 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 For updates see our Anomaly Alert page: http://www.worldofradio.com/anomaly.html WRN ON DEMAND: http://new.wrn.org/listeners/stations/station.php?StationID=24 WORLD OF RADIO PODCASTS VIA WRN NOW AVAILABLE: http://www.wrn.org/listeners/stations/podcast.php OUR ONDEMAND AUDIO [also CONTINENT OF MEDIA, MUNDO RADIAL] http://www.worldofradio.com/audiomid.html or http://wor.worldofradio.org ** AFGHANISTAN. Please look at the link http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/6224972.stm (Zacharias Liangas, June 21, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Viz.: TALEBAN RADIO STATION BACK ON AIR By Pam O'Toole, BBC News A pirate Taleban radio station, Voice of Shariat, or Islamic law, has begun broadcasting again, reports from south-eastern Afghanistan say. A Taleban spokesman said a half-hour programme was broadcast on Tuesday night and would now be broadcast daily. The broadcast had a message from the fugitive Taleban leader, Mullah Omar, Kor`anic verses and criticised the presence of foreign press. The station closed six years ago with the fall of the Taleban regime. Local people said the station could be heard in parts of four south- eastern provinces - Paktika, Paktia, Khost and Ghazni. Weak reception The sound quality may have been poor, and reception faint, but the content of the latest transmission from the Voice of Shariat was familiar to those who remember the station which used to carry the Taleban's message across Afghanistan. An Afghan official in Paktia province confirmed the programme could be heard there, but he said reception was weak. It is not clear where the broadcasts originate from. Two years ago, the Taleban announced they were relaunching the Voice of Shariat as a pirate radio station from somewhere in their former stronghold of the south. They said they would use a mobile transmitter to avoid being shut down by American or Afghan forces. Last year its broadcasts could be heard briefly and intermittently in some southern provinces. Un-Islamic But this is thought to be the first time it has been heard in the south east. The Taleban took over Afghan radio when they swept to power in Kabul in 1996. They threw out female presenters and banned music, but used radio to broadcast their hardline Islamic view of the world to the rest of the country. They were tougher on television, outlawing it as un-Islamic. And they were famously known for hanging television sets. However, nowadays, the Taleban and their allies are thought to be behind fairly sophisticated propaganda videos circulating in Pakistan and Afghanistan and some Taleban commanders have even allowed Western camera crews to film them. The Taleban also make extensive use of the internet and have their own internet site (BBC News via DXLD) WTFK????????? These so-called journalists leave out basic facts! Never even a hint of which band it`s on (gh, DXLD) No frequency is mentioned in the report, but presumably it is on mediumwave (Andy Sennitt, Media Network blog via DXLD) Sergei Says: June 21st, 2007 at 16:32 e I wonder if that has anything to do with a recent surrender of an ex- chief of Taliban’s Voice of Sharia? (Sergei [Sosedkin?], ibid.) AFGHAN TV STATION REPORTS "OFFICIAL" LAUNCH OF TALEBAN RADIO | Text of report by Afghan independent Ariana TV on 21 June Residents of Paktia and Paktika provinces say Voice of Shari'ah radio, launched recently in the area by the Taleban, is urging people to rise up against the Afghan government and foreign peacekeepers. Zabiollah Mojahed, who calls himself a Taleban spokesman, said the radio began broadcasting on Wednesday night [19 June]. [Correspondent] Purported Taleban spokesman Zabiollah Mojahed says the Voice of Shari'ah launched officially on Wednesday night. Some locals say they have been listening to the station - which follows the Taleban's former policy and carries religious anthems instead of music - for some time. It is said the Taleban have launched a propaganda campaign against the Afghan government and foreign peacekeepers deployed in the country. Locals say the Taleban are using the radio to urge the people to rise up against the government and NATO forces. Paktia's Information and Culture Department has confirmed that the station is on the air, saying it can be received on 88 [MHz] FM, and covers few areas. The move is not surprising; the Taleban have already launched a website, a magazine and a daily news publication to publicize their aims and activities. Nevertheless, it is unclear where these publications are printed. [It is believed that] they have been smuggled into the country, though. It should be noted that Pakistan is usually known as a good place for the movement to carry out its political and cultural activities. Source: Ariana TV, Kabul, in Dari 1530 gmt 21 Jun 07 (via BBCM via DXLD) AFGHAN OFFICIAL DISMISSIVE OF TALEBAN RADIO | Text of report by Afghan independent Tolo TV on 22 June [Presenter] The Interior Ministry has dismissed the importance of the Taleban-run Radio Sada-ye Shariat's broadcasts inside Afghanistan. Zmaray Bashari, the spokesman for the ministry, said that the whereabouts of the radio station has not been identified but it is believed that the programmes are broadcast from outside of the Afghan territory. The Taleban spokesman in a telephone conversation told Tolo TV that they aired the programmes from Paktia Province. [Correspondent] Three days ago, the Taleban reported the launch of their radio station in the provinces of Khost, Paktia, Paktika and Ghazni. Radio Sada-ye Shariat programmes were aired in most parts of Afghanistan during the Taleban regime but they stopped with the Taleban's collapse. The Ministry of Interior spokesman said that Radio Sada-ye Shariat covers a small region and airs programmes for few hours only. He added that the Taleban wanted to turn the public against the government of Afghanistan through their radio programmes. During the Taleban regime, Radio Sada-ye Shariat was the only media source in existence in Afghanistan. The station used to air domestic news and inform the people about the orders of Mullah Mohammad Omar, the Taleban leader. Songs without instrumental music and answers to questions about Shariat were among other programmes of the radio station during the Taleban regime in Kabul. The only other sources which the people had access to during that time were foreign radio stations which aired programmes from outside of Afghanistan in Dari and Pashto languages. Source: Tolo TV, Kabul, in Dari 1330 gmt 22 Jun 07 (via BBCM via DXLD) I had this earlier item from from an Afghan weblog... [26 months old?] "2005-04-23 --- The Taliban's New Radio Station Taliban guerrillas launched a new clandestine radio station last week, called "Shariat Zhagh" or "Voice of Shariat". It goes on the air between six and seven o'clock in the morning, and the same time in the evening, broadcasting anti-government commentaries and propaganda from a mobile transmitter. The broadcast can be heard in five southern provinces, including the former regime's old power base Kandahar. Radio Shariat was the Taliban's main radio while they were in power. By satellite phone from an undisclosed location, the Taliban spokesman Hakimi said that the Taliban is fighting an insurgency in the south and east of the country. Since they were out from power in late 2001, they needed their own voice because the international media were pro-American. The Taliban's new radio station criticized US and other foreign troops operating in Afghanistan since the Taliban were ousted. When the Taliban spokesman was asked what Taliban would do if US forces disclosed and destroyed their station, Hakimi said they would install another one." (via Steve Whitt, MWC via DXLD) ** ALASKA. Hi, after the recent GE map update, the KNLS transmitter site is now visible at 59.7478N, 151.7333W (Jari, OH6BG, shortwavesites yg via DXLD) see also MADAGASCAR ** ALBANIA. RTSH WEBSITE BACK ONLINE We note that the website of Radio Televizioni Shqiptar, the national broadcaster of Albania, is back online at its usual URL: http://www.rtsh.com.al The website appears to be still under construction. There is a section for the External Service, Radio Tirana, but some of the pages are blank. There are also blank pages intended for lists of the RTSH radio and TV stations. Hopefully, the missing information will soon be added (June 22nd, 2007 - 16:07 UTC by Andy, Media Network blog via DXLD) R. Tirana specifically: http://rtsh.com.al/radiotirana/index.php At the top and upper right it looks like listen live links, but go nowhere, yet? (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ANTARCTICA. FIELD DAY FROM THE SOUTH POLE It's not just Field Day here on the continental United States - it's also Field Day on the South Pole! Robert Reynolds, NØQFQ, a ham down at Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station, said all three US bases on the Pole will be on the air for Field Day. Amundsen-Scott, KC4AAA; Palmer Station, KC4AAC, and McMurdo Station, KC4/W1MRQ, will be operating on 40 meters around 7.235 MHz and on 20 meters around 14.243 MHz throughout the event. McMurdo will also be operating CW on 7.028 MHz. Since the Pole at this time of year is in total darkness, Reynolds says 40 meters will be the better band. Reynolds went on to say that Amundsen-Scott will be on the air throughout the entire 24 hour event. Palmer and McMurdo, he said, will be on the air "as much as possible." Please send QSLs for Amundsen-Scott, Palmer and McMurdo to QSL Manager Larry Skilton, K1IED, 72 Brook St, South Windsor, CT 06074 (ARRL via Mike Terry, dxldyg via DXLD) ** ARGENTINA. 11710.52, RAE, Buenos Aires, 21/6 0305, full ID in French. Poor signal, good audio, no QRM, 23322. Mvg (Maurits van Driessche, Belgium, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ARGENTINA. 6214.27, Radio Baluarte, Puerto Iguazú, 1112-1120, June 22, Portuguese, Reactivated!!! (Thanks Nicolas Eramo for the tip!!!!), Religious programme (all in Portuguese), 34343 (Arnaldo Slaen, Argentina, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) See BOLIVIA ** AUSTRALIA. RA, June 21 at 1300 was running open carrier on 9590, 9580, 9560, then at 1303 joined news in progress. Somebody forgot to pot up the program line feed? (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BELARUS. Re DXLD 7-071, FM bandscan Minsk 99.75, Sound from TV ch. R5 [thus no FM stations at 93.25 video; that must be a messy situation, mixing TV and FM on same band. Don`t the other FM stations in between QRM TV and vice versa?? -- gh] Not as messy as it may seem. It's a temporary situation, resulting from the old East European frequency allocation system where the FM band below 100 MHz was reserved for TV broadcasting. Since all of Europe will move to digital terrestrial TV (that will be on UHF), these TV transmitters between 87.6 and 100 MHz (channels R4 and R5) will be closed in the coming years. Until then, the frequency management authorities are aware of the interference problem in the transition period, and coordinate FM frequencies in a way that they do not interfere with TV and vice versa. The situation is much more messy in many West European regions with an overcrowded FM band where FM stations - due to the limited frequency resources - meanwhile often are assigned without proper protection and suffer from chronic interference problems (Bernd Trutenau, Lithuania, June 21, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Re: ``99.75, Sound from TV ch. R5 [thus no FM stations at 93.25 video; that must be a messy situation, mixing TV and FM on same band. Don`t the other FM stations in between QRM TV and vice versa?? -- gh]`` It's the sound from cable TV (Victor Rutkovsky, Russia, ibid.) Re DXLD 7-071: ``0100-0200: Belarus only heard on 6115 (announced "Seinko" ???) and 6190, but with different programmes! All other frequencies were Off.`` 0100-0200 on 6115 is Deutsche Welle in Russian. ``0200-0230: BR-1 heard again on 6010, 6070, 6080, 6115 (strong), 6190 (strong) and 7145. 6040 and 7110 seemed to be Off (Anker Petersen, Denmark, DSWCI DX Window June 13 via DXLD)`` 6040 & 7110 are both from Hrodna. Might be deadzone or maintenance. ``It seems mostly correct what HFCC has announced.`` My observations during the last couple of years have shown that actual schedule of Belarusian transmitters usually corresponds to HFCC data. -- 73! (Serghey Nikishin, Moscow, Russia, ibid.) ** BHUTAN. 6035, *0000v-0055 fade out, 14/19-06, BBS, Thimpu, Dzongha. Buddhist Monks chanting, talk, 34333, QRM Belarus 6040 and 14-06 also Colombia AP-DNK (Anker Petersen, Skovlunde, Denmark, AOR AR7030PLUS with 28 metres of longwire, via Dario Monferini, playdx yg via DXLD) ** BOLIVIA. UNIDENTIFIED. Hoy jueves 21/6 escuché una nueva emisora latinoamericana en 4732 kHz. A las 1110 despues de más de 20 minutos con música pop en español (Thalia, Morelis, Rubio, etc) se identificó como Radio Universitaria, el locutor (en español) anunció noticias, titulares de diarios e información general: antes de volver a la música se volvió a identificar como Radio Universitaria. No escuché mención de ciudad o país. Saludos (Alfredo Locatelli, Uruguay, http://elescucha.webcindario.com http://www.qsl.net/cx1no condig list via DXLD) As per info of OM Alfredo Locatelli I listen now Radio Universitaria, unID location with musical program and IDs with jingles on the frequency of 4732 kHz. Radio Baluarte is reactivated on SW frequency (Nicolas Eramo, Argentina, 2235 UT June 21, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ?? I assume the Baluarte remark, 6215v?, is unrelated to Universitaria. See ARGENTINA (gh, DXLD) Antes que nada, gracias por compartirla con todos Alfredito! La estoy escuchando en estos precisos momentos [¿cuáles?], en los 4731.99, con señal aceptable pero con un ruido infernal en el cual se meten desde los de la mala propagación con los de la tormenta eléctrica que en estos momentos se está desarrollando sobre Buenos Aires. A las 1050 en adelante la escucho con música folklórica argentina (estilo zambas) pero aún no escuché la voz de algún locutor. anoche, Nico Eramo, que la había reportado, dijo que le pareció una tonada boliviana o peruana en la voz de quien llevaba adelante la programación. 73 (Arnaldo Slaen, Argentina, timestamp as received 5:54 am [so CDT, gh`s zone?] June 22, condig list via DXLD) 4732.03, Radio Universitaria, Cobija, Pando, Bolivia, 2245-0015, June 22/23, Spanish, musical program, several IDs and several mention of Universidad Amazónica de Pando "97.9 MHz y ahora también onda corta 4730 kHz", "en los 4730 kHz y en los 97.9 MHz Frecuencia Modulada, transmite Radio Universitaria, desde la ciudad de Cobija, ... Universidad Amazónica de Pando"; "en la Radio Universitaria." Gives e- mail address radiouap @ hotmail.com (Nicolás Eramo, Argentina, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Postal Address of Radio Universitaria and General Information of Pando in Spanish: Radio y Television Universitaria Campus Universitario Av. Las Palmas Cobija, Pando Bolivia Tel 3-842-2141 INFORMACIÓN GENERAL --- El departamento de Pando está ubicado al norte de la República de Bolivia. . . http://www.uapnet.edu.bo (via Nicolás Eramo, DXLD) 4731.99, Radio Universitaria, Cobija, Pando Department, 1052-1110, June 22, Spanish, New station!!!!!! Thanks Nicolás Eramo for the tip!!!!!! Bolivian & Argentina folks, Identification or announcement by female at 1108, 24332 (Arnaldo Slaen, Argentina, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CANADA. New look CBC Website --- http://www.cbc.ca/radio/ My initial reaction to the changes to the CBC website was negative, but the CBC Radio page is quite handy. It tells you at a glance what is on Radio One and Radio Two in all time zones. And you can sort all CBC Radio programs by Name, Genre, Host, and Network (Fred Waterer, ODXA via DXLD) Well at 1800+ UT Saturday --- my computer clock is on UT of course --- this displays CBC Overnight programming on both networks! (gh, DXLD) ** CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC [and non]. HCJB on You Tube; Raising a Radio Antenna in Africa/Solar Powered Fixed Tune Radio/Kununurra visit HCJB Global Engineers along with nationals from the Central African Republic raise one of the support poles for an antenna for a Christian short-wave radio station. Posted June 6th: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5oOZpnZyUoE [presumably Radio ICDI, about which nothing has been reported in months; are they really on the air on 6030 and/or 7160? --- gh] The only subscriber to his channel is HCJB Global Engineering so I checked their videos. They have 32; only technical one is: http://www.sonsetradio.com The SonSet Radio is an exciting tool to equip the Voice of Jesus around the world. Find out more about this fixed-tuned solar powered radio and help us provide these radios for people around the world. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jYb1_djt_Lw They also have one on a visit to Kununurra but hardly any shots of the transmitter site: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aRrRMThmO8k (Mike Barraclough, England, June 21, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CUBA [and non]. REVIEW SHOWS U.S. BROADCASTS REACH CUBANS BUT FEW NUMBERS CITED --- By LAURA WIDES-MUNOZ Associated Press Writer MIAMI (AP) -- The U.S. government's anti-Castro radio and TV stations have improved significantly in recent years after allegations of corruption and mismanagement, according to a draft State Department review of the Office of Cuba Broadcasting. But how many people are watching and listening to the stations, designed to offer an alternative to the tightly controlled Cuban media, is unclear. The report, obtained by The Associated Press on the eve of a congressional debate over future Cuba-related funding, cites a boost in TV Martí's [hereafter: Marti, as published] signals reaching Cuba, but it bases those conclusions on anecdotal evidence not included in the report. "We're very pleased. I think it reflects the hard work that's being done here," said Alberto Mascaro, chief of staff for the Cuba broadcasting office, "and more importantly it reflects the hard work of our employees." Though similar reviews of the stations included listener and viewer data in past years, the recent audit, conducted from January through March, did not. However, the review lauded the broadcasting office's use of a Gulfstream jet to beam signals into Cuba, saying it could be replicated in other parts of the world where governments attempt to block U.S. broadcasts. Mascaro said conducting accurate surveys of Cuban listening and viewing patterns is next to impossible in the communist nation. Radio and TV Marti are requesting $33 million in next year's budget, down from $38 million they received last year. The Bush administration also requested $46 million for other Cuba-related programs to promote political change on the island, but a House bill likely headed to the floor this week slashed that to $9 million. That makes money for the Marti stations all the more important for those who support the current U.S. policy toward Cuba, which has been under an American trade embargo for more than 40 years. Critics, including U.S. Reps. Jeff Flake, R-Ariz., and Bill Delahunt, D-Mass., have long accused the network of airing one-sided broadcasts and giving jobs to political allies. They also maintain the TV broadcasts are a waste of money because they have long been jammed by Fidel Castro's government. Delahunt, who said he has not yet seen the review, planned to conduct interviews this weekend and listen to concerns regarding Radio and TV Marti. The report makes a number of recommendations, including evaluating whether Marti programs recently carried on South Florida TV and radio stations reach Cubans. It also urged tighter security and better quality control to make sure Marti employees follow standards. Finally, the review urged the Cuba broadcasting office to create a long-term plan for providing programming in a post-Castro Cuba, as well as how to compete now with the "Telesur" satellite broadcast, funded by Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez's government. A spokeswoman for the State Department's inspector general's office, which conducted the review, said the agency would not comment on a report that had not yet been released. The review's findings were first reported by the Miami Herald (AP-NY-06-20-07 2125EDT via Dave Alpert, CA, DXLD) see also VENEZUELA [non] ** CUBA [and non]. CARTA DE HUBER MATOS A LOS MILITARES CUBANOS. 12-06-2007 --- "La alianza del pueblo y los militares cubanos forjada en la dinámica de los hechos y en el compromiso con los héroes de verdad de nuestra historia, con los Céspedes, los Agramonte y los Maceo, etc., será el marco de garantía para avanzar hacia la realización de la Nueva República: La patria de todos los cubanos, menos los que la traicionan y prostituyen"... "Militares cubanos: La opción está clara. De un lado: Cuba, la familia y el futuro. Del otro: Dos demonios que agonizan cargados de culpas y de miedo"... http://www.cubademocraciayvida.org/web/article.asp?artID=4836 (via Juan Franco Crespo, Spain, Noticias DX via DXLD) ``It`s not DX``, but ex La Voz del CID (gh, DXLD) ** CUBA [and non]. On 6/20/07 I heard a loud R. Habana Cuba in English on 6100 covering R. República via Rampisham, UK at 0220-0300+. In checks of 6100 on 6/21/07 at 0210 RR was clear with a carrier, but no audible signal under. Today - 6/22/07 - at 0227, the signal has slight bubble jamming audible with ID sequence. 5910 via Germany had the usual bubble jamming present to some extent all three days. It appears that the RHC in English was a one off. If intentional or an accident (Pedro routing RHC instead of bubbles) - who knows? This could be similar to the mixing of RHC audio with the Spanish numbers which has occurred (& presumed to be an accident); or it could be a trial of the Chinese method of using otherwise existing audio stream to jam an unwanted signal (Mark Taylor, Madison, WI, USA, June 21, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** EGYPT. European local service on 95.4 FM in Cairo relaying BBC world service! Hello DXers, I noticed last week that the English service of the local network "The European local service" on FM 95.4 in Cairo is relaying BBC world service, mainly the news hour from 2000 UT. I checked the // shortwave frequency and it turned out to be the same programs. First time to hear such a thing, relaying a live show via another network which was somehow impossible during the last few years as the BBC Arabic section, not to mention Radio Sawa and DW's Arabic are trying to have a spot on the FM band in Cairo, just like most of the Arab countries but the Egyptian authorities are not welcoming the idea --- I wonder why!? But hopefully this is a step forward to an open minded policy. All the best (Tarek Zeidan, Cairo, Egypt, June 21, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ETHIOPIA [and non]. Unlike previous evenings, June 20th showed R. Ethiopia, 9704 in the evening causing heterodyne to Niger, which is a bit stronger (Thorsten Hallmann, Münster, Germany, June 21, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GERMANY [and non]. Radio Zusa this Sunday Date - 24th of June 2007 Time - 1200 to 1300 UT Channel - 6045 kHz This Sunday MV Baltic Radio are relaying a programme from Radio Zusa. Radio Zusa is a Local Radio station transmitting on 3 FM Channels south of Hamburg and is interested in broadcasting over short-wave from time to time. The theme of this transmission on Sunday is the German reunification. You will be able to hear some very interesting reports, e.g. from radio amateur operators from the time of the cold war, and how they kept in contact with each other over the radio. Of course we play good music as well in the Programme. Unfortunately the program is in the German language. Good listening (Tom Taylor, June 23, DX LISTENING DIGEST) More about Radio Zusa can be found on http://www.zusa.de (Peter Kruse, Germany, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) However, nothing about the upcoming shortwave broadcast there. Some promotion in advance would have been a good idea, instead of letting it go by almost unnoticed, away from an announcement through the 9290 connection just one day in advance. Radio Zusa is one of the citizen radio stations in Niedersachsen. The name stands for ZUcker (sugar) and SAlz (salt), referring to the sugar plant at Uelzen and the salt deposits around Lüneburg and Dannenberg (the latter now well-known for the nuclear waste dump at Gorleben). Studios are located in these three towns, with at least the first two ones being of more or less equal importance, since the station is the outcome of a merger of radio groups at Uelzen and Lüneburg. And yes, the town is indeed spelled Uelzen. A while ago it provided a good laugh when diesel motor units with an "intelligent" software produced displays of this train running to "Ülzen". Dannenberg --- And while we're at it: In the past Norddeutscher Rundfunk (NDR) operated a mediumwave transmitter at Dannenberg, 80 kW daytime only on 630, mostly used by Sender Freies Berlin, just like it was the case with the shortwave transmitter of Radio Bremen. At times SFB used the frequency for its cultural program SFB 3, and hardly anybody is able to see the point of this; did they really believe that anybody in the GDR would listen to classical music via mediumwave? Famous is a temporary constellation during 1994, when 630 carried at times SFB 3, at other times NDR's new youth station N-Joy. About the hardest possible clash of different ARD programming. Finally SFB left 630 altogether and NDR shut it down (in 1997 if I recall correct). Later it had been reactivated by Deutsche Telekom from their 756 site at the village of Scheppau near Königslutter (or rather in between Königslutter and Braunschweig), now 100 kW day and with reduced power of 16 kW also at night, nowadays carrying Voice of Russia // Zehlendorf and Wilsdruff (I guess that still 15 years ago one would have been declared as mad for a prediction that this site will relay Radio Moscow). It is widely believed that NDR's closed 630 transmitter was located at the Zernien FM/TV site about 15 km west of Dannenberg, but that's not true. Instead it is a separate site just outside (about 2 km to the northeast) Dannenberg, found to still be in good condition ten years after its closure. Scroll down to "Dannenberg-Pisselberg" at http://www.senderfotos.de/nieders.htm Pictures of the 756/630 site are posted there under "Königslutter / Scheppau" as well (Kai Ludwig, Germany, June 23, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** HAWAII. Rare photos of WWVH, now off-limits: http://www.well.com/user/dmsml/wwvh/index.html And lots of other Hawaiian and other station photos via: http://www.well.com/~dmsml/look.html (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Prompted by HAWAII item in 7-071 ** HAWAII. 880, KHNR HI, Honolulu 6/12 1422 [EDT] noted apparently at full strength relaying sister station KGU-760 with “Focus on the Family” until 1427, ID and slogan “Hawaii’s Christian Voice,” environmental tips, into “Voice of Prophecy.” Recheck 6/14 1600 & 2305 found it very weak relaying unknown station (not KGU) or KHNR-FM). (5P-HI1) (Dale Park, HI, IRCA DX Monitor June 23 via DXLD) Ex-870 ** HONDURAS. HONDURAN RADIO STATION REACHES REMOTE PARTS OF COUNTRY WITH GOSPEL --- Listeners depend on us http://www.spcm.org/Journal/spip.php?article12654 (via Artie Bigley, DXLD) This is the same article by Ken MacHarg, previously in DXLD about HRVC, claiming that it is on SW 4820, while in fact it has been MIA for months. It has appeared in several Christian publications, and another one has been forwarded by Bruce Atchison. This one includes some illustrations of HRVC (gh, DXLD) ** INDIA [and non]. China jams AIR, DD in Arunachal http://www.zeenews.com/articles.asp?aid=378311&sid=NAT Shillong, June 21: People in most in Arunachal Pradesh are unable to access any Indian news channel or tune into All India Radio programmes, an English daily reported on Thursday. According to the report both All India Radio and Doordarshan have been jammed by the more powerful Chinese transmitters. These powerful transmitters are used to air Chinese radio and television programmes to the residents of the Arunachal districts near the Chinese border. The people of the area neither speak nor understand Chinese. The weak transmitter in Itanagar does not cover the remote districts of the state, though it serves the state capital and areas near it. People in these areas are also unable to access private news channels. At a time when China is claiming Arunachal Pradesh as its own territory, Delhi cannot afford to brush the issue under carpet. Anger and frustration has forced people in the region to ask Indian officials to start Chinese classes. The report adds that there is also the fear in the districts bordering China that New Delhi may let go of their areas to China during border talks. Bureau Report (via Alokesh Gupta, Zacharias Liangas, DXLD) WTFK? WRTH and Jose Jacob`s list show Itanagar on 4990 morning and evening, 6150 afternoon; and MW 675. And is FM involved now? Why are these stories so vague? China listings show 675 in Nei Menggu 200 kW, and several low-power outlets. That`s quite a distance from Itanagar, and there must be many other co-channel MW situations between China and India. 4990 has a 10 kW outlet in Hunan, schedule not clear, vs 50 kW Itanagar. Is that what this refers to? But the Indian transmitter is five times as powerful as the Chinese, contrary to the story`s assertion. I could not begin to try to figure out which TV channels from which locations could be in conflict. ``Jamming`` implies deliberate intent to interfere. Is this really the case? BTW, looking at the AIR MW listings in WRTH 2007 page 239, the very last one on 1602 kHz is in Zero, NE region. Is there really a place in India called Zero? 73, Glenn Hauser, OK, USA (gh, DXLD) Glenn, There is indeed a place in India called Zero. It is in Arunachal Pradesh. The name is not related to the numeral as we know it in English. It is a tribal name that's spelt that way in English. 73, (Abie AB1F [ex-VU2ABE] Alexander, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Zero (Also spelt Ziro) is indeed a hill station in the Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh, details at : http://www.north-east-india.com/arunachal-pradesh/ziro.html Well, Glenn, this report on the website has been quoted from a newspaper. Don`t know what was there in the original newspaper report. However, can't believe these scribes will be specific on the freq's & txer power. Regds (Alokesh Gupta, New Delhi, DX LISTENING DIGEST) [cr-india] 'Arunachal tunes in to Chinese Stations' A year ago, ToI [Times of India?] reported that "Pakistani radios charm Jammu residents", (2 March 2006). According to the news story, "No Indian FM radio covers Jammu and Kashmir but people in this region have three Pakistani FM radio channels to tune in to. Jammu, less than 50 km from the Pakistani border, receives clear signals of Radio Burrak 104, Awaz 105 and Awaz 106." Pakistan's broadcast regulator, PEMRA's stated aim is to put an FM radio station in each district of the country. It is not very surprising that Arunachal tunes in to Chinese radio stations, or that Assam and Tripura listen to Bangladesh Betar or that north Bihar tunes into Nepali stations like Lumbini FM. India listened to Radio Ceylon for decades. You can't keep out good radio with border guards, fences and mine-fields. Like the present story says, there is no need to jam cross-border transmissions - all you have to do is broadcast better programmes from more stations on your side of the border. Arunachal Pradesh has five AIR stations: Itanagar, Passighat, Tawang, Tezu and Ziro (LRS). Only one of the 4 private FM channels put up for bidding last year in Itanagar found a taker. (Only 12 of the 32 frequencies available in the North East were sold). There are no community radio stations in the North East - yet. Until there is some radical re-thinking on our radio policy, our borders will remain vulnerable to the machinations of sinister foreign channels that fill the air with pirated Hindi film songs and Rabindra Sangeet (Sajan Venniyoor, crindia, June 23 via Alokesh Gupta, dx_india via DXLD) ** INDIA. PUBLIC SERVICE BROADCASTING IN INDIA http://multimediameetsradio.typepad.com/ebu/2007/06/public-service-.html All India Radio (AIR) is facing an uncertain future, according to Abhijit Bora, a media analyst and lecturer at Gauhati University, in Assam. Speaking at the RadioAsia conference in Singapore, he said that AIR was struggling in the face of stiff competition from commercial rivals and an indifferent government. The government controlled AIR was the chief provider of news and information to Indians for almost 70 years. It has a near 100 per cent penetration of the country and broadcasts in 21 local languages and 146 Indian dialects. The landscape changed dramatically, though, in 1995, when the Supreme Court of India ruled that the airwaves were public property. The Court's decision implied that the government should not be allowed to monopolize radio. The ruling opened the floodgates and requests have come pouring in from private companies and community groups alike for FM licences. Even foreign broadcasters have joined in, with the BBC alone acquiring seven licences. They will be joined by many more, as the government is preparing to accept bids for another 340 FM stations. Under Indian legislation, none of the private, foreign-owned or community stations will be allowed to carry news bulletins. Abhijit Bora expressed concern that the liberalization of the airwaves could affect national unity, as well as depriving hundreds of millions of people of an important source of education. He said that from its earliest days, in the 1930s, AIR had not only brought Indians closer together, but also "played an important role as an Open University for people in rural areas." Around 70 per cent of Indians live in remote areas, while 60 per cent are illiterate. Poverty and other factors prevent many adults from acquiring an education. Abhijit Bora said that commercial broadcasters were interested only in playing Bollywood songs, while community and educational stations did not have the resources or backing to assume AIR's mantle. Several speakers had earlier accused the private FM stations of lacking imagination and of all sounding the same. Abhijit Bora complained that the government had turned its back on radio, in favour of aiding the expansion of cable TV. The government was withdrawing funding for radio to encourage AIR to generate its own revenues. However, Abhijit Bora claimed that AIR lacked both the experience and the know-how needed to exploit business opportunities and attract advertisers. He suggested the situation was further complicated because despite everything, the government still relied on AIR to reach voters in remote areas. The irony was that AIR continued to suffer from its image as a government mouthpiece, which made finding its own feet harder still. Public service broadcasting in India, concluded Abhijit Bora, "was not an encouraging scenario." (via Alokesh Gupta, dx_india via DXLD) ** INTERNATIONAL INTERNET. "Refuse Radio" is just a scummy aggregator site that puts up fake pages for every radio station in hopes of getting incoming clicks via Google searches. Try clicking on that fake "listen now" link and you'll see it doesn't go anywhere. Findradio.us is another one like that. s (Scott Fybush, NY, IRCA via DXLD) ** INTERNATIONAL INTERNET. INTERNET DAY OF SILENCE http://www.rewind45.com/ On Tuesday, June 26, thousands of U.S.-based webcasters plan to turn off the music and go silent in a unified effort to draw attention to an impending royalty rate increase that, if implemented, would lead to the virtual shutdown of the country's Internet radio industry. Major webcasters like Yahoo! Launch, Rhapsody, and Pandora.com will silence their streams along with other Day of Silence participants like KCRW.org, Live365, MTV Online, Radioio, RadioParadise, and AccuRadio. Many webcasters are planning to shut off access to their streams entirely, while other webcasters plan to replace their music streams with long periods of silence (or static or ocean sounds or similar) interspersed with occasional brief public service announcements on the subject (via Mike Terry, dxldyg via DXLD) From KCRW... On Tuesday, webcasters will turn off their music streams for a day, in protest of new high Internet Radio music royalty rates. KCRW presents a one-hour special in honor of this Day of Silence, "D- Day for Webcasters." Guests include: Live 365.com, AccuRadio, Pandora, NPR, Bagel Radio, Yahoo Music and WAMU-FM. Online KCRW replaces all its regular webstreams with this program, every hour from 12:01 am to 11:59 pm [PDT = UT -7] on KCRW.com. Anyway, I hope it gets more people involved (Juan Gualda, FL, ABDX via DXLD) ** INTERNATIONAL VACUUM. See ** IRAN. IRAN’S NEW ENGLISH TV TRAILS DOCUMENTARIES, ANNOUNCES FREQUENCIES BBC Monitoring has observed Press TV giving some details of its programming and global transmission frequencies. Press TV is Iran’s soon-to-be-launched 24-hour English-language satellite TV news channel. Ezzatollah Zarghami, the head of Iran’s state broadcaster, was reported on 13 June as saying that the channel would be launched in the “first half” of the Iranian month beginning on 22 June. The channel was observed on 19 June showing promos for its documentary programmes. A video montage, without commentary, showed a mixture of political and cultural programmes. The titles included Living Afghan, Nuclear Energy, Speak Out Against Them, Operation Iraqi Destruction, Islam in Europe, Israel - finally defeat, War is not the Answer, and Voyage to Persia. The channel also showed brief clips of correspondents reporting from a number of international locations. These included Washington, Istanbul, Basra, Islamabad, Khartoum, Cairo, Abuja, London and Ramallah. The channel gave the following frequency information (Satellite (location) frequency in MHZ; symbol rate; FEC; polarity): Hot Bird 8 (13 E) 12437; 27500; 3/4; H Badr 4 (26 E) 12054; 27500; 3/4; V Optus B3 (152 E) 12564; 30000; 2/3; H Galaxy 25 (97 W) 12053; 22000; 3/4; V Hispasat 1C (30 W) 12172; 27500; 3/4; H Intelsat 10 (68.5 E) 12682; 26657; 1/2; H AsiaSat 3 S (105.5 E) 12353; 30000; 3/4; V AsiaSat 2 (100.5 E) 3660; 27500; 3/4; V Badr C (25.8 E) 3760; 27500; 3/4; H Arabsat 2 B (30.5 E) 12644; 3000; 3/4; H These transmissions can also be viewed on the Internet at http://www.presstv.com or http://www.presstv.ir (Source: BBC Monitoring research 19 Jun 07 via Media Network blog via DXLD) Sergei Says: June 19th, 2007 at 21:55 e Streaming video is great at mms://217.218.67.244/presslive Just saw them showing the views of Moscow under a title Matryoshka Inside Out. Do they plan to compete with Russia Today TV or what?! By the way, RTTV finally updated its site design about a week ago (Media Network blog via DXLD) ** ISRAEL. IBA ENGLISH NEWS WILL STAY ON THE AIR Read more from the Jerusalem Post http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1181813067171&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull Andy Sennitt comments: This is the clearest statement yet that Israel Radio’s foreign service is safe. For years, there have been rumours of cuts, even closure, but always the IBA has always backed off at the last minute. Current events in the Palestinian territories have no doubt concentrated minds (Media Network blog via DXLD) IBA EMPLOYEES STILL FEAR FOR FUTURE OF ENGLISH BROADCASTING The chances that English-language broadcasting will be harmed by upcoming budget cuts at the Israel Broadcasting Authority are “virtually zero,” IBA spokeswoman Linda Bar has told Haaretz. Employees, however, say they have yet to receive such a promise and continue to fear for the future of English-language public broadcasting. “We’ve received calls of support, but no assurances at this point,” said Steve Leibowitz, editor of IBA English television news. “We’ve been told we’re still in a crisis.” IBA management is considering a possible merger between English radio and television in order to cut costs. Though the decision regarding the merger was expected yesterday, it was pushed off until later this week, Bar said. In the meantime, meetings between English-language television and radio representatives are scheduled for tomorrow, in an attempt to draft a formal plan that would detail the possible merger. “We’re trying to prepare for if and when,” Leibowitz said. “The axe has yet to fall.” (Source: Haaretz) (June 20th, 2007 - 12:46 UTC by Andy, Media Network blog via DXLD) ** KASHMIR. Chinese QRM: See INDIA ** KOREA NORTH [non]. 9485, Shiokaze - Sea Breeze via Taiwan. The Tue. pattern for English continues. YL heard June 19 (4th consecutive Tue.) with details about abductees. The pattern for English on Sat. ended June 16. Instead heard English on Wed., June 20, YL sign-off announcements at 1327, "This is Shiokaze Sea Breeze from Tokyo, Japan". 9930, Open Radio for North Korea - RE: DXLD 7-070: indeed there is no weekend broadcast, as confirmed by their lack of a June 16 & 17 audio recording at http://www.nkradio.com/eng/sub.html?s=4 (Ron Howard, Monterey, CA, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** LATVIA. 9290 kHz Relay this weekend Saturday June 23rd Latvia Today 1000-1100 UT Radio Casablanca 1100-1200 UT Sunday June 24th Latvia Today (mid summer festivities) 1900-2100 UT Good Listening (Tom Taylor, 0803 UT June 23, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MADAGASCAR. NORTH TEXAS GOP LAWMAKERS PUBLISH BUDGETARY WISH LISTS Area congress members show earmark requests in bid to outshine Dems 08:16 AM CDT on Saturday, June 23, 2007 By BRENDAN McKENNA / The Dallas Morning News WASHINGTON – Rep. Pete Sessions, R-Dallas, seeks $1 million for a drug rehabilitation program to tackle Dallas' "cheese" epidemic. He is asking to keep money flowing for the Texas-built V-22 Osprey tilt- rotor aircraft. He even wants U.S. taxpayers to spend $2.5 million for a shortwave radio station in Madagascar. Usually, constituents and budget watchdogs have to wait until the money is spent to find out what lawmakers are asking for, if even then. But the drive to shine light on the congressional spending practice known as earmarks has prompted some lawmakers to tip their hand. . . . [skipping most of the article] . . . Even the seemingly odd requests, such as Mr. Sessions' for $2.5 million on behalf of Madagascar World Voice radio, bring to light important projects such as the role of radio in combating HIV/AIDS in Africa, officials say. "MWV is making a difference in Madagascar and can make a difference all across Africa," James McGee, U.S. ambassador to Madagascar, wrote to Mr. Sessions. "I support their worthy efforts in the fight against HIV/AIDS and would encourage them to expand their coverage to as wide an audience as possible." But no matter how worthy the cause, asking for an earmark is no guarantee of federal funding, Mr. Harrison said. "At the end of the day, each of these is a request," he said. "We're under no illusions we'll get all of our requests." (via Mike Terry, dxldyg via DXLD) Trying to get even more taxpayer money into hands of gospel huxters. Presumably refers to the SW station under construxion in Madagascar by World Christian Broadcasting, which already runs KNLS, HQ in Tennessee, not Texas! I could not find any mention of Madagascar on Sessions` House website (Glenn Hauser, DXLD) ** MALAYSIA. 6049.65, Asyik FM (RTM), June 21, has been off the air for the past 5 or 6 days (Ron Howard, Monterey, CA, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MALI. On June 20th at 2000 and 2100+ no sign of it on 4835 or 5995, but 2049-2051 4835 (didn't pay much attention, but think it was quite .0 and not off-frequency), normal programming, good signal and good modulation! Likely not the transmitter used there at other times (Thorsten Hallmann, Münster, Germany, June 21, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** NEW ZEALAND. RNZI schedule effective 19 June: Analog service: 1300–1550 6095 Pacific 1551–1850 7145 Fiji, Niue, Tonga Samoa, Cook Islands 1851–2050 9615 Pacific 2051-0458 15720 Pacific 0500-0658 9615 Pacific 0700-1058 6095 Pacific 1059-1258 9870 NW Pacific, Bougainville, Papua New Guinea, Timor DRM Service: 1200–1300 7145 Pacific 1300-1550 NO SERVICE 1551-1850 6095 Fiji, Niue, Tonga Samoa, Cook Islands 1851–2050 9890 Fiji, Niue, Tonga Samoa, Cook Islands 2051–2150 11675 Fiji, Niue, Tonga Samoa, Cook Islands, Vanuatu 2151–0258 13730 Pacific, Solomon Islands , Vanuatu 0259-0458 11675 Pacific 0459–0658 9890 Pacific 0659-1158 7145 Pacific As of 2027 UT June 21, and still at 0153 UT June 23, RNZI`s own website http://www.rnzi.com/pages/listen.php still carried the previous schedule dated 6 May to 2 Sept, with obvious(?) errors in it, showing 15720 and 13730 both in analog and both in DRM between 2359 and 0258! Perhaps all the `new` schedule does is correct that? Remember, you read this here first! (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** NIGERIA. V. of Nigeria update: Observation on June 21st: 9690 1045 English, fair signal, as usual 9690 *1527 vernacular, good signal, as usual 15120 1630 Arabic usual, 1700-1857 English to Europe 7255 1900 French, 1930 Hausa new, untraced after 2000. Observations on June 22nd so far: none until 1042... only a very weak carrier on 9690 (Thorsten Hallmann, Germany, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** NIGERIA. Hi Glenn, some strange little logs today: VON, 15120 June 20th, 1857 IS, then French (two hours earlier than normal). Must have closed somewhen between 1915 and 1945 and not heard later on 7255 or somewhere else. Also not heard that afternoon on 9690 or 11770 (Thorsten Hallmann, Münster, Germany, http://www.africalist.de.ms (not 100% up to date), June 21, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** NORWAY. Does anyone know if NRK's mediumwave outlet at Vigra has ceased broadcasting? I've checked 630 kHz from my location over the past few weeks and all I've managed to get is Tunisia. NRK Vigra was relatively easy to get after dark this time last year (Darren Rozier, Stowmarket, Suffolk, England - Roberts R9914, June 22, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PAPUA NEW GUINEA. 7325, 0622, Wantok Radio Light on new frequency 1/6 with “Family Life” program and station promo as “Your Inspiration Station”. Good and clear. Also loud & clear at 1816 with gospel songs (Bryan Clark at Mangawhai, New Zealand, with AOR7030+ and Alpha Delta Sloper antenna and various 100 metre BOGs to the Americas, June NZ DX Times via DXLD) ** RUSSIA. CONCURSO DE FRECUENCIA RM --- El programa diexista FRECUENCIA RM, de La Voz de Rusia, se propone celebrar el 75 aniversario de las emisiones en español de la emisora. Para ello se ha planteado organizar un pequeño sorteo de 10 discos CD, con una grabación hecha en 1996 sobre la Historia de la Radiodifusión en Rusia, que abarca algunos aspectos históricos principales de su desarrollo. Para participar hay que enviar informes de recepción de las emisiones en español de La Voz de Rusia, hasta el 31 de julio del año en curso por vía postal o electrónica. Lo importante es que en la dirección se indique “Concurso Frecuencia RM”, para no confundirlas con otro concurso que realiza la emisora. Además Frecuencia RM, editará una QSL especial, que los participantes recibirán a vuelta de correo. Mientras mas informes se envíen mayor será la oportunidad de resultar ganador. El sorteo se realizará en el programa Frecuencia RM del 14 de agosto del año en curso, con la participación del presidente del jurado, Arnaldo Slaen. Dirección postal: 115326 Moscú, Rusia. Calle Pyatnitskaya 25. Concurso Frecuencia RM Servicio en español La Voz de Rusia cartas @ ruvr.ru pcortes @ orc.ru (via Arnaldo Slaen, Noticias DX via DXLD) ** TAIWAN [non]. Re 7-071, QSL with site? Hi Glenn, They did not specify the transmitter site (Mukesh Kumar, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** UGANDA. Looking for the Ugandans on June 20th showed generally the same as some more observations in the past weeks: 4976 on as usual, but 5026 either off or much weaker. Dunamis 4750 checked briefly before 1900, but no sign of it, as last week (Thorsten Hallmann, Münster, Germany, June 21, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U K [non]. See EGYPT ** U S A. HOUSE SUBCOMMITTEE APPROPRIATORS ALLOW FOR CUTS TO PORTUGUESE AND RUSSIAN Dateline: WASHINGTON, 06/21/07. In what appears to be an oversight, the wording of the BBG's FY 2008 appropriations bill from the House of Representatives left out the reversal of cuts for the Portuguese to Africa Service and the Russian Service. All other Services were specifically mentioned in the bill and the bill provides funding for all of the targeted Services except Portuguese and Russian. However, despite the bill, there are very strong indications that the BBG is feverishly preparing to announce the elimination of most if not all of the targeted Services and a major reduction in force (AFGE Local 1812 via DXLD) VOA Portuguese to Africa was one of the few services not to have its funding restored. This is unfortunate, as it is one of VOA's most popular and effective services, and it is not duplicated by a "Radio Free" station. Posted: 22 Jun 2007 (Kim Andrew Elliott, DC, kimandreweliott.com via DXLD) see also MADAGASCAR; VENEZUELA [non]! ** U S A. Local Community Radio Act of 2007 LOW POWER FM EXPANSION COMES BEFORE THE SENATE Submitted by jonathan on 21 June, 2007 - 9:29am. Grassroots Media | Legislation and Regulation | Newswire | Radio Senators Maria Cantwell and John McCain have introduced a Senate bill to authorize hundreds of local, noncommercial Low Power FM radio stations to communities across the country. A companion bill was introduced in the House. The Local Community Radio Act of 2007 would remove the artificial restrictions imposed on LPFM by a 2000 law passed at the urging of corporate radio giants and NPR, claiming that small community stations would interfere with the signals of larger stations. While these claims were debunked by a taxpayer-funded study in 2002, Congress has not yet acted on those results - denying many communities the opportunity to apply for LPFM stations. If passed, this bill will pave the way for educational groups, nonprofits, unions, schools and local governments to launch new local radio stations across the country. Get additional details from the Prometheus Radio Project, and express your support for local radio by signing the online petition at ExpandLPFM.org. Full Story: [statement via Prometheus/Free Press] Bipartisan legislation was introduced today in both the House and Senate that would bring hundreds of local, Low Power FM (LPFM) radio stations to cities and suburbs across the country. On a national press call this morning, the Indigo Girls joined religious groups, community radio broadcasters and public interest advocates in support of the "Local Community Radio Act of 2007" sponsored by Reps. Mike Doyle (D-Penn.) and Lee Terry (R-Neb.) in the House, and Sens. Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) and John McCain (R-Ariz.) in the Senate. "Radio should reflect the vibrant diversity of music, points of view and news in our communities, not just the narrow content a few large radio conglomerates deem profitable," said Emily Saliers of the Indigo Girls. "The Local Community Radio Act can make this idea a reality and deserves the support of Congress and community groups across the country." A recording of today's national press call is available here. On the call, the House co-sponsors of the Local Community Radio Act explained the importance of the legislation. "Diverse, informative, thought-provoking, locally oriented programming has been dramatically restricted across the country by the current federal laws governing the separation between broadcast frequencies," Congressman Mike Doyle said. "Enactment of this legislation would improve the quality of life in communities across the country by providing new and different programming -- and especially programming addressing local interests and events -- to these communities." "I really believe Low Power Radio has the potential to make communities stronger," Congressman Lee Terry said. "Congress should be expanding the forums for our local communities to communicate. There are several groups in the Omaha area that want to apply for an LPFM station, and that s why I am working to push this legislation forward. I encourage my colleagues to jump on board and get more local stations on the air." In response to the introduction of the Local Community Radio Act, FCC Commissioner Jonathan Adelstein said: "Localism and diversity have always been at the heart of radio. Many Low Power FM stations across America reflect the best of these traditions and have flourished despite existing interference standards. As I've traveled throughout this country, I've seen local churches, schools and other community- based organizations use low power stations to broadcast locally relevant news, information and music. That's the essence of radio, and we should do all we can to promote it." LPFM stations are community-based, noncommercial radio stations that broadcast to neighborhoods and small towns. LPFM licenses make owning a radio station possible for churches, schools, labor unions and other community groups that best understand the needs of their local communities. "The founders of WRYR built our station to help educate our community, promote its uniqueness, and assist in fighting sprawl along the shores of the Chesapeake Bay," said WRYR-LP founder Mike Shay. "The station has focused people in our area to care even more about local businesses and environmental issues. Because of Low Power FM radio, we are more politically active, caring, and engaged, which has enabled us to make a difference in our community." LPFM stations have also been essential in times of crisis. During Hurricane Katrina, LPFM stations in the Gulf Coast region stayed on the air and provided their neighbors with lifesaving information. "Our low power station helped many people find shelter and restart their lives after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita," said John Freeman, director of the Southern Development Foundation and founder of Louisiana's KOCZ-LP, Opelousas Community Zydeco Radio. "Folks knew to listen to us during the storm, and to work with us and our community to rebuild, because our station was the strongest source of Zydeco music in the town where it was founded. Opelousas is relying on KOCZ for church services on Sunday, youth hip-hop programming, Gospel, health information, and more. Low Power FM is helping our community to grow." In 2000, Congress authorized the FCC to issue LPFM licenses. But legislators attached an unnecessary rule that limited LPFM stations to rural areas. Since then, thousands who submitted applications with the FCC to operate their own stations have been blocked. "Effective and meaningful communication vehicles are a must for cities like Omaha," said Tim Clark, president of the 100 Black Men of Omaha Chapter, an organization that has been unable to obtain an LPFM license. "The need for Low Power FM radio stations for inner cities is so important when it comes to creating a sense of community and purpose, and uplifting a people to move to action. With so many commercially driven stations mostly driven by the bottom line, the community does not have a voice -- no way to mobilize the community to action. New community Low Power FM stations will give an opportunity for people to have a greater appreciation for their history, cultural enrichment and community pride." Since 2000, the FCC has awarded more than 800 LPFM licenses to church groups, schools and civil rights organizations. The bills introduced today would authorize the FCC to license hundreds -- if not thousands -- of new LPFM stations in cities, towns and suburbs across the country. "We ve been building radio stations that strengthen local music and culture, give families access to their local governments, help diverse communities get on the air, and save lives -- in rural communities," said Hannah Sassaman, organizer with Prometheus Radio Project, a group that helps set up community radio stations. "We applaud Congressman Doyle and Congressman Terry for their great vision in bringing this vital service to America's cities." "Radio consolidation has shrunk playlists and knocked whole genres of music such as jazz and bluegrass off the commercial dial," said Future of Music Coalition s Policy Director Michael Bracy. "The Local Community Radio Act holds the promise to return radio to what made it great: cutting edge music, diverse genres and voices, and local, community-based programming. This is something Congress should have done a long time ago." In 2003, the FCC released a $2 million, taxpayer-funded study -- known as the "MITRE Study" -- which unequivocally found that increasing the number of LPFM stations would not cause significant interference. The FCC urged Congress to repeal the restrictions it had placed on licensing LPFM stations. But no action has been taken. "The number of churches that could have been granted LPFM licenses could have been beyond 500 had the FCC been allowed to accept applications from more communities," said Dr. Ken Bowles, general manager of Midwest Christian Media and founder of KHIS-LP in Cape Girardeau, Mo. "The MITRE study was done at the direction of Congress. Congress now has an opportunity to remove the ill-advised ban and allow Christian low power broadcasting to flourish -- bringing new formats and localization to urban areas." LPFM stations have been instrumental in allowing religious groups to broadcast their church services, reaching new audiences and people who are unable to leave their homes. "We believe it is the responsibility of the church to foster public dialogue about matters that affect the quality of life of people in local communities. It is our experience that Low Power FM radio is more responsive to this dialogue and serves the community more effectively than corporations far removed from local concerns," said Rev. Larry Hollon, chief executive of United Methodist Communications. "The power to speak is the power to persuade, and thus the power to change the world," said Cheryl Leanza, managing director of the United Church of Christ Office of Communication, Inc. "Low Power Radio is about giving many people voice who have been voiceless and powerless. The United Church of Christ is excited that this legislation will enable more community groups and churches to bring their voices to the airwaves." The 1996 Telecommunications Act dramatically increased media consolidation - and decreased media diversity. LPFM stations provide opportunities for people of color and women to run local radio stations and for local groups to address issues affecting their community. "Media consolidation has made it extremely difficult for women and people of color to become radio station owners," said Joe Torres, government relations manager of Free Press. "People of color own just 7.7 percent of all full-power radio stations and women own less than 6 percent. This important legislation would provide more people of color and women with opportunities they are denied in the commercial sector." "Consumers Union strongly supports this legislation to provide more creative opportunities for communities to be heard in what has become a very consolidated radio marketplace," said Gene Kimmelman, vice president of federal and international affairs at Consumers Union. "We are extremely pleased to see Congress moving forward legislation to bring more LPFM radio stations to communities throughout the country," said Parul Desai, assistant director of Media Access Project. "LPFM stations serve the needs of the local community, which are often neglected by commercial broadcasters. Our hope is that Congress acts quickly on this legislation so that constituents can begin to reap the benefits of a local voice in their community." "Common Cause urges members of Congress to support the Low Power FM bill, said Lauren Coletta, senior director of media programs at Common Cause. Low Power FM stations are organized by local people to serve their communities in unique ways that commercial broadcasters are unwilling to do." "In California, we've seen the value of radio stations that are local and community-driven," said Jeff Perlstein, executive director of Media Alliance. "It's high time Congress put these public resources -- these radio frequencies -- to work for the public." "LPFM is a low-cost, high-democracy form of community media, said Anthony Riddle, executive director of Alliance for Community Media. "There ought to be a way for every community with the will and an idea to have its own voice. Congressmen Doyle and Terry shouldn't just be applauded-- they should be joined by every other member in supporting this eloquent and simple ideal." "While other forms of media are consolidated and homogenous, Low Power FM remains an innovative outlet for local and diverse voices," said Amina Fazullah, staff attorney for U.S. PIRG. "This legislation is a great step forward towards a responsive media that serves citizens and not the corporate interest." (via Kevin Redding, June 22, ABDX via DXLD) If this was 1997, I'd be excited. But given the number of translators polluting the FM band, not to mention FM IBOC, are there any clear frequencies left for "hundreds of local, noncommercial" LPFM stations? I think the LPFM train left the station a long time ago and no one's aboard. ---------- (Harry Helms W5HLH, Smithville, TX EL19, ibid.) ** U S A. Since the Enid Eagle made drastic cuts to its TV schedule supplement, I have been forced to rely on zap2it.com (or occasionally TV Guide online), and have checked certain channels` listings the full 24 hours. This led to a discovery that A&E still has something worth watching on it, despite the dumbing-down of Breakfast with the Arts from fine to popular `arts`. M-F at 3-4 am CDT (0800-0900 UT), there is an hour of documentaries intended for classroom use, commercial- free, but axually running about 50 minutes, then fillers. This week my VCR caught a 2-parter on Hemingway, and another on Dalì. Next weeks` listings: Mon June 25 Eva Braun Tue June 26 Eleanor Roosevelt Wed June 27 John & Abigail Adams Thu June 28 Ben Franklin Fri June 29 Billy Yanks Mon July 2 Paul Revere Tue July 3 Daniel Boone Wed July 4 Patrick Henry Thu July 5 Davy Crockett Fri July 6 Buffalo Bill (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** VENEZUELA. RCTV BUSCA SEÑAL POR CABLE Debido al enfriamiento de las manifestaciones estudiantiles "espontáneas" y al fracaso de los planes desestabilizadores de Marcel Granier y su combo de "delicuentes comunicacionales", la plana mayor de RCTV ya está "pidiendo cacao" a Cavetesu (Cámara Venezolana de la Televisión por Suscripción), para entrar en la parrilla de programación de más de medio centenar de cableoperadoras a escala nacional. Según fuentes extraoficiales, RCTV tiene adelantadas negociaciones con las empresas NetUno e Intercable, además de la retransmisión por DIRECTV a través del canal 117. Este último hecho se consumaría dentro de 2 semanas, aproximadamente. Es evidente que la salida de RCTV por cable y satélite echaría por tierra los burdos "argumentos" de "cierre" esgrimidos dentro y fuera de Venezuela, por un sector de "disociados" manipulados por el canal de Quinta Crespo y Globoterror. Y no es cuestión de chiste o ironía, amigo Glenn, en Venezuela tenemos un GRAVE PROBLEMA de salud pública, producto de la "guerra psicológica" aplicada por los medios privados de comunicación y la cual ha permeado en las capas altas y medias de la sociedad venezolana. RCTV pudo haber continuado emisiones a través del satélite, cable e internet, desde el propio día del vencimiento de la concesión en señal abierta; sin embargo, el plan golpista de Marcel Granier necesitaba una justificación y por eso la barata tragicomedia "deliofiallesca" del ¿cierre? apreciada antes y después del 28 de mayo. Es preciso aclarar a ciertos colegas, que RCTV nunca ha dejado de estar al aire vía Caracol Internacional, que transmite el noticiero de la planta - conocido como "El Observador" - y a través de la página cibernética Youtube. Señores, los elementos jurídicos y técnicos nos asisten en relación con el caso RCTV. Sinceramente, es bien patética la imposibilidad de entablar un debate serio, enriquecedor y trascendente, con un sector de colegas que no parece ser gente de radio, de medios, y conocedora a fondo de la materia. Es una prueba contundente de hasta dónde han llegado los efectos de la disociación psicótica. ¿Cómo quedarán ante los ojos de Venezuela y el mundo cuando la mentira termine de desnudarse? Vaya interrogante. Estimado Glenn, a continuación te envío una nota humorística sobre el asunto RCTV. [I assume this is Adán`s own attempt at satire --- gh] PARILLA DE PROGRAMACIÓN DE RADIO CARACAS-MIAMI TELEVISIÓN ¡URGENTE, ÚLTIMA HORA! - Fuente: Anti-DE-PRESS (Caracas, Venezuela) De acuerdo con fuentes fidedignas que pidieron el anonimato, el señor Marcel Granier piensa abrir muy pronto una sucursal de RCTV en Miami. Nuestro equipo de investigación logró obtener una hoja con la grilla de programación del novel canal, la cual mostramos a continuación: 6:00am /Himno de los Estados Unidos de América (interpretado por los artistas llorones de RCTV) 6:05am /El Noticiero Equilibrado. Presentado por Otto Reich y Salvador Romaní. Con la colaboración informativa de la muy "objetiva" FNCA (Fundación Nacional Cubano Americana), y demás miembros "notables" del exilio cubano en la Florida. 7:00-10:00am /Programación Infantil/ Dibujos des-animados/ "El ABC del dinero", con Rico Mc Pato/ "Cómo fabricar una bomba matacomunistas", con el Comando F4 y Posada Carriles/ "Mami, mi amiguito es comunista, ¿éso es contagioso?", con el clan Teletubbies. 10:00-12:00m /Talk Show con Geraldo Rivera/ Tema del día: "¿Cuál es la mejor marca de caucho (llanta) para hacer una balsa y escapar de la feroz dictadura venezolana?". 12:00-1:00pm /El Noticiero Equilibrado (emisión meridiana), presentado por John Negroponte. Con el equipo de corresponsales que más sabe de Venezuela, estando en Miami. 1:00-3:00pm /Bloque de telenovelas/ "Asesinos Comunistas"/ "Chávez Es Un Gorila"/ "Mi Ama De Llaves Es Chavista". Todas con el talento artístico de la FNCA y RCTV. 3:00-5:00pm /Talk Show con Cristina Saralegui/ Tema del día: "Chávez quiere eliminar las tangas (hilos dentales) en Venezuela". En vivo, con modelos mediovestidas. 5:00-6:00pm /Miniserie "Mi Perro Habla Como Fidel Castro". Diario de un disociado. Una historia de la vida real. 7:00-9:00pm /Documental del Hysterical Channel, titulado "Chávez Come Niños En Salsa De Anguila". En asociación con la Nineteenth-Century- Fox-News. 9:00-10:00pm /El Maravilloso mundo del American Way of Life (On The Rocks). Espacio de concursos moderado por George W. Bush. Pierde el que primero se emborrache. Keep on walking! -hic- 10:00-11:00pm /El Noticiero Equilibrado (emisión estelar), presentado por Condolezza Rice. Sponsored by the National Endowment For Democracy. En un país sin libertad de "depresión", un grupo de periodistas dicta talleres como para ponerse a llorar. "Por la defensa del derecho de la gente a lanzarse a las vías del Metro de Caracas, en horas pico y con música para deprimidos", es la consigna del equipo de redactores y reporteros. ¡Viva la libertad de "depresión"! 11:00-11.05pm /Himno de los Estados Unidos de América (interpretado por los artistas llorones de RCTV). 11:05pm-6:00am /Patrón- Audio de discurso de Marcel Granier sobre la inmortalidad del cangrejo...y de la concesión de RCTV. 73s y buen DX (Adán González, Catia La Mar, Estado Vargas, VENEZUELA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** VENEZUELA [non]. HOUSE APPROVES MACK AMENDMENT PROMOTING VOICE OF AMERICA BROADCASTS TO VENEZUELA --- June 21, 2007 - http://mack.house.gov/index.cfm?FuseAction=PressReleases.View&ContentRecord_id=391 “While we in this chamber can debate in freedom, the American people can hear and see our every word thanks to a free press. But in Hugo Chávez’s Venezuela, the only thing the people can see or hear are the things that Hugo Chávez lets his media print and broadcast.” – Congressman Connie Mack WASHINGTON - The House of Representatives approved an amendment offered by Congressman Connie Mack (FL-14) today that will provide an accurate and comprehensive alternative source of news to the people of Venezuela. Mack’s amendment to the fiscal year 2008 Foreign Operations Appropriations Bill, which passed by a voice vote, would grant the Broadcasting Board of Governors the tools to increase broadcasting to Venezuela and Latin America. On the House floor earlier today, Mack, a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and one of Congress’ most outspoken critics of Hugo Chávez, gave the following address: “While we in this chamber can debate in freedom, the American people can hear and see our every word thanks to a free press. But in Hugo Chávez’s Venezuela, the only thing the people can see or hear are the things that Hugo Chávez lets his media print and broadcast. “Freedom of the Press died in Venezuela on May 27, 2007, when Chávez shut down Radio Caracas Televisión (RCTV). “This was just the latest in a long line of actions to snuff out free press, free speech, and free thought. “By shutting down the largest and oldest TV network in the country, Chávez is sending a message to all other media that he has the power to do anything he wants with radio and TV stations. “The government is targeting opposition voices because of their massive reach, appeal, and influence throughout the country. “Chávez said, “I am going to go after those who resist the revolution and eliminate them one by one” in reference to one of the only remaining independent voices left in Venezuela. “As the window on independent media in Venezuela closes, Voice of America will play a critical role in getting the truth out about what is happening in the country. “Voice of America must provide and create additional programs. With targeted funding, Voice of America can have an even greater ability and capability to broadcast longer with more programming. “Voice of America serves a significant counter to Chávez propaganda being exported to Nicaragua, Bolivia, Ecuador and Cuba. [a reference to TeleSur? --- gh] “Mr. Chairman, my amendment would specifically grant the Broadcasting Board of Governors the tools to increase broadcasting to Venezuela and Latin America. “Chávez’s communist plans for the future do not include independent media and freedom of the press. “We must recognize the War on Terrorism is in our backyard. The gang of countries lining up with Chávez is powerful: Bolivia, Ecuador, Nicaragua, and others together with the likes of Iran. We must recognize the serious threat to our national security. “In fact, just this morning, Chávez announced plans to visit Iran in a few weeks, following a long courtship between the two countries. “The window on freedom is closing fast. “We cannot turn our backs on the people of Venezuela. We must do more to promote freedom inside Venezuela. “America has always been the beacon of freedom in our hemisphere. “Now we must be the pillar of hope for the people of Venezuela and our friends and neighbors in Latin America who fear Hugo Chávez and his communist revolution.” In 2005, the House passed Mack’s amendment to the Foreign Relations Authorization Act that would authorize the U.S. Government, through the Broadcasting Board of Governors, to initiate radio and television broadcasts that will provide a consistently accurate, objective, and comprehensive source of news to Venezuela. -- 30 – (Mack`s website via DXLD) Sergei Says: June 22nd, 2007 at 15:12 e --- First, the US Congress basically shut down all VoA’s Spanish-language programming into Latin America. Now they scramble for a new service. Go figure! Is it going to be Radio Bolívar or Free Venezuela? (Media Network blog via DXLD) ?? VOA Spanish to LAm amounts to two sesquihours a day, still: http://www.voanews.com/english/about/frequenciesAtoZ_s.cfm And part of it in the morning is for the Andes, which includes Venezuela. One could not expect Mack to know that (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Venezuelan Information Minister Willian Lara: "This constitutes an escalation in the media campaign that Bush has unleashed against the Venezuelan revolution. Truth is winning and will keep winning this battle. Imperial lies against Venezuela will be defeated." http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601086&sid=aWIagrBQRIVg&refer=latin_america (Bloomberg, 22 June 2007. Posted: 23 Jun 2007, kimandrewelliott.com via DXLD) ** VENEZUELA. HISTORIAS DE RADIO >> PARA ESTE SABADO Bienvenidos a "Historias de Radio", un programa donde el pasado y el presente de la radio se dan la mano. Una idea y producción de Daniel Camporini. Realizado, íntegramente, en el estudio de diexismo y comunicación, Munro, Buenos Aires, Argentina. El programa de esta semana está dedicado a "La Radio en Venezuela", en él tendremos la oportunidad de conocer más sobre la historia de la radiodifusión de este país. Desde la ciudad de Barcelona, en el Estado Anzoátegui, Venezuela, nuestro amigo José Elías Díaz Gómez, enlazará con el programa para contarnos los pormenores del origen de la radiodifusión venezolana. No se pierdan las históricas grabaciones que complementan este espacio, amenizado con música de Venezuela. Para cualquier comentario sobre el programa se pueden dirigir a: diexismoarg @ yahoo.com.ar Pueden escucharlo, a partir del sábado, en la página de Programas DX: http://es.geocities.com/programas_dx/historiasderadio.htm Cordiales 73 (José Bueno, Spain, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** VENEZUELA. 4939.7, 0000-0210 14/19-06, R. Amazonas, Puerto Ayacucho, (presumed), back on this frequency. Spanish LA pop songs, 22232, heterodyne from AIR Guwahati. AP-DNK (Anker Petersen, Skovlunde, Denmark, AOR AR7030PLUS with 28 metres of longwire, via Dario Monferini, playdx yg via DXLD) 4939.70, R. Amazonas, Pt Ayacucho, 22/6 0016 UT, Cont. Sp. songs with Male, no QRM, poor but fair 22222. Rx NRD 545, antennes kaz +lw100m. +ala1530 option mfj1026 + RF systems wa-50 preampl (Maurits van Driessche, Belgium, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** WESTERN SAHARA [non]. 6300, 2310-2335, CLANDESTINE, 19-06, RASD, Rabouni. Arabic talks instead of Spanish, 45434, AP-DNK (Anker Petersen, Skovlunde, Denmark, AOR AR7030PLUS with 28 metres of longwire, via Dario Monferini, playdx yg via DXLD) ** ZIMBABWE. 4828, 2110-0230, 15/16/19-06 Voice of Zimbabwe. Vernacular non-stop Afropops, 34444, AP-DNK (Anker Petersen, Skovlunde, Denmark, AOR AR7030PLUS with 28 metres of longwire, via Dario Monferini, playdx yg via DXLD) 3396, June 20th, 2000+ normal programming, fair signal, 4828 still music-only, good signal at that time (Thorsten Hallmann, Münster, Germany, June 21, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. Saludos cordiales, llevo dos días escuchando en la banda de MW una extraña señal muy potente, en forma de sierra que incluso anula las emisoras más potentes. En los dos últimos días circulando por Valencia y zonas de los alrededores en unos puntos muy específicos me encuentro con esta señal; no es la típica interferencia cuando nos acercamos a tendidos eléctricos. Es curioso, ya que ocurre en las cercanías de sitios emblemáticos de la ciudad, ¿contramedidas por temas de terrorismo?. Ummm, no me extrañaría, perdón, pero boy a omitir los sitios donde ocurre esto. 73 (José Miguel Romero, Spain, June 21, condig list via DXLD) Pero ¿en qué frecuencias? ¿No hay pruebas DRM en 1269? 73, (Glenn Hauser, ibid.) Oye José Miguel, ¿no será por culpa del PLC, power line communication? (José Elías Díaz Gómez, Venezuela, ibid.) No creo; te adjunto mensaje de contestación a Glenn Hauser al respecto en Condiglist: Saludos cordiales Glenn, esa extraña señal la capté en 1179 y 1296, frecuencias de SER Valencia y Cope Valencia respectivamente. Esa señal no se parecía a la señal en DRM que se escucha en onda corta; he intentado buscar un simil para explicarlo. Lo único que se me ocurre es que es parecido al sonido que se produce cuando intentamos cortar una pieza de contrachapado o de metacrilato con un sierra eléctrica y la pieza no está bien sujeta; se produce un vibración y golpea sobre la superficie, muy molesto y peligroso por cierto. Hoy he pasado dos veces por la misma zona, a las 0840 UT y a las 1213; no había señal alguna. Concretamente se trata de la Feria de Muestras de Valencia, una de las más grandes de Europa. Hace unos años construyeron un paso subterráneo, de unos 300 metros; a una parte está la Feria y en la otra la zona de aparcamientos. He pasado decenas de veces y cuando se está escuchando una emisora en onda media al pasar por el subterráneo casi se pierde la señal, pero aún así se llega a escuchar la emisora. Estos dos días en concreto es señal muy fuerte y anulaba cualquier señal. Bien, cabe clarificar que hace unos días la banda terrorista ETA anunció el final de la tregua permanente y en Valencia se activó el "Dispositivo especial de seguridad antiterrorista", ya que se está celebrando la fase final de la Copa de América de vela. En varios medios de comunicación locales se han hecho eco de las denominadas "Barridos de frecuencia", un dispositivo de seguridad que anula cualquier dispositivo que funcione por radio o por teléfono; yo no he tenido ocasión de saber cuáles son sus efectos, pero por lo que comentan, anulan cualquier dispositivo. En fin, no me extrañaría nada que esa señal fuera fruto de algún barrido de frecuencia, bien para proteger algo en concreto en un momento determinado, o bién de pruebas para ver su eficacia. 73 (José Miguel Romero, Spain, ibid.) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ UNSOLICITED TESTIMONIALS ++++++++++++++++++++++++ Summer solstice contribution enclosed (Gerald T. Pollard, NC, check in the mail to Glenn Hauser, P O Box 1684, Enid OK 73702) MUSEA +++++ DX PROGRAM AUDIO ARCHIVE Off-air recordings are made of "DX'ers Unlimited", and are posted in mp3 format at http://www.rfprograms.com Many other radio hobby programmes also provide mp3 files of their shows to this particular site and to tell you the truth I don't know who operates it. However I think it's an excellent example of the kind of collaboration we can have in the hobby. 73 (Bob VE3SRE Chandler, http://www.ve3sre. com ODXA via DXLD) Including WORLD OF RADIO. This obviously replaces the ``pirates week`` site http://www.piratedxer.com/dxprograms.htm which went dormant last October. Sure would be nice if the proprietor or someone had told us about this earlier. This isn`t the first time he has stopped cold and changed URL without any forwarding link or publicity. Except for off-air DXUL, archived for months back, apparently only has one latest studio-quality show of: This Week in Amateur Radio, Allan Weiner Worldwide, WORLD OF RADIO, Amateur Radio Newsline, Media: Minutes, International Radio Report, Media Geek, DX Partyline, DXing with Cumbre. BTW, this came up because there has been a big dustup in the ODXA group with Arnie Coro being accused of plagiarism and him over- reacting to it, leaving in a huff. We`re not going to get into that here, except to point out that a few weeks ago in DXLD we caught him copying propagation info from ARRL without attribution (gh, DXLD) EL MUSEO VIRTUAL DE COMUNICACIONES: http://www.eurocommuseum.com/ Cordiales 73' (José Bueno, Córdoba, España, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) MEMOIR ++++++ TO CATCH A LONG DISTANCE RADIO STATION --- By George J. Poppin All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means without the prior written consent of the publisher. [used by permission in DXLD] "Rags, bottles, sacks," droned out the raspy voice of the junk man as his horse clomped along Rhode Island street pulling a wagon load of recently purchased usable merchandise from the people who lived atop Potrero Hill, Baghdad­By-The-Bay, San Francisco, California, "Rags, bottles, sacks!" I anxiously waited for the junk man for he might have copper wire or a condenser, which I needed to build my crystal radio set. An old pair of earphones would do, even an insulator for my aerial, which would bring in radio signals as they traveled through ether waves of the sky. It was 1932! What thrilling, curious and exciting moments were on hand as I completed building my aerial atop of our flat at 980 De Haro Street. Nephew John Seminoff, the talented genius who read "Wonder Stories" and talked about Mars and walking on the Moon was on hand. There wasn't a great deal to the crystal radio set, which was constructed on a piece of pine board. Some copper wire, metal terminals, copper wire wrapped around a core, a rotating condenser as we called it, a crystal lodged in a holder, a ground wire, a tickler copper wire which touched the crystal for power as electricity nor batteries were needed. The set was connected to the aerial, earphones were attached, the tickler wire found the strongest power spot, I turned the dial of the condenser and WOW, I heard radio station KPO about five miles downtown whose transmitter was atop a tall building. That began my experiences in catching long distance radio stations. Our nation was in a severe economic depression. People were out of work, soup kitchens abounded and a nickel was hard to get. You were rich if you had a quarter of a dollar. We didn't take the streetcar; we walked. As often as possible we walked to junkyards, Salvation Army stores and scrounged through piles of old battery radios for vacuum tubes, A­B-C and D batteries and parts for our contemplated battery radio set. I found an old battery-operated radio with earphones. It wasn't too big and it had "peanut" vacuum tubes, a power tube and several other tubes that went with the set. I managed an "A" battery, which lit the filament of the tube, a "B" battery which made the electrons flow from the plate to the grid of the tube (or visa-versa) and other batteries, which enhanced the power of the operation of the radio. It had a metal pointer dial for selecting radio stations. After connecting the maze of bare copper wire from A battery to B battery and a wire from A to B and C batteries, the whole set up looked like a tangled mess of crossed bare copper wires. Don't touch! A miracle was about to happen! And the miracle did happen. Under good radio atmospheric conditions I was able to catch the pioneer radio station KQW in San Jose, California; KRE in Berkeley; KTRB in Modesto; KFBK in Sacramento and it was rarity to catch KNX in Los Angeles. My earphones suppressed the howls and roars of the static and only my ears were able to take the brunt of noise in catching a long distance radio station. I took sheer delight and pleasure to tell my radio buddies of my radio catches for the night. While attending Daniel Webster Junior High School in 1932, we had a General Science teacher by the name of Mr. Radke. What a consoling friend who listened to my tales of woe of trying to understand how a sound could travel many miles and could be heard without the use of wire. We had a chapter on ELECTRICITY and on one occasion in class he connected a battery radio set and explained in plain terms the various functions of the aerial, batteries, ground wire, and basics of the radio operation. What a pal! For now I had someone to go to with my questions about radio. On some afternoons I sold the Ladies Home Journal and Saturday Evening Post magazines on a door-to-door basis. My salary was 42 cents per hour after school operation. Some of the money was saved for a tube radio set. ELECTRICITY magazine offered many diagrams for building radios and I read radio articles extensively. Then came the day and I delved into the intricacies of building a radio set. What a contraption! It took the skill of an artist to maneuver the huge soldering iron. The soldering iron was about one foot long. It had a wooden handle and a one-half inch rod, which held the huge, monstrous, and octagonal chuck of brass, which was filed down to a point of melting solder. It had to be heated on a natural gas burner until it seemed to glow. Efforts to get that hot soldering iron in between radio parts and copper wire to melt a piece of solder for a solid connection was an inborn talent. That soldering iron will forever be my nightmare. Go to pier 54 and throw the dumb thing overboard. In the early days of my listening to catch a long distance radio station, I incorporated the use of our upright piece of furniture, which was a Philco electric radio. It stood in our living room and an outdoor aerial was attached to it to get the better audio reception. Many hours were spent dialing that beauty. Long after the family went to bed I would close the living room door, turn on the set and catch distant radio stations amid the roar and howling static which had to be turned down for I did not have earphones. No daylight time and the best time for distant stations was after 8 pm on the west coast. Many east coast stations went off the air around 9 pm and only the more powerful radio stations remained to be heard. The dial was turned very slowly and you caught a strong station, listened to it and then came the fade of the radio signal. You stayed with that station even though the audio was the chug, chug of a fading signal until the strong audio came back again. At last I got an ID. I heard KSL Salt Lake City. Unbelievable! That far away? I listened further and heard KOA, Denver. That was enough tuning in for that night. My family was able to sleep and dear Dad was proud of my accomplishments. What news I had to tell my friends the next day! I caught Salt Lake City and Denver, Colorado in one night! On another night behind the upright Philco, I caught the Canadian station CFCN in Calgary, Alberta. They were playing cowboy music --- violins, guitars, and vocals. I heard cowboy music and songs at their best. Remember, I walked right in, turned right around and walked right out again. That radio catch was a thrill I will never forget. My knowledge of radio propagation conditions was limited. I never saw a bit of literature pertaining to it. We knew that nightfall meant sky conditions, which usually enhanced the reception of distant AM radio stations. Rainy nights supposedly improved the strength of radio signals. I had seen a verification card, which asked for "weather conditions in your area." Not a thing was mentioned about the ionosphere and its various layers. Maybe I wasn't at the right place to obtain such information. Occasionally we saw biplanes droning in the sky and supposedly they were weather planes, which told us about weather conditions but not a thing about radio propagation. I did not know about radio station WWV and I don't think it was in operation during the golden years of yesteryear. We listened to the radio for distant stations, caught them and recorded that fact in our memory. Someone told me that I could write to KSL and CFCN and get a card stating that I heard those stations. I did not know the procedures to follow or the person to write to. That ended my little knowledge of QSL cards during those years. There always had been some confusion about defining shortwave radio. We heard amateur radio "ham" operators droning out there CQ! CQ! Calling CQ! Incessantly and heard the conversation between the two ham operators. To catch audio from a shortwave radio station from another country was not be obtained for a few years to come. Thus when shortwave radio was mentioned in those days, people associated shortwave with the ham operators or the sparkies who communicated via dots and dashes. I did not have a shortwave radio, but I heard a lot about them. I was an AM listener to distant radio stations. The radio sets during the early 1930's with which I associated were AM radios. They ranged from small tabletops to huge pieces of furniture with a lot of vacuum tubes. The more tubes the better. My uncle was building a super heterodyne radio and we marveled at his ability to do so. We heard of persons who built such powerful radios that they caught overseas stations. Unimaginable! Some did build such sets but I had never seen one. In my world of radio, my chance to catch those shortwave stations would come in later years. I was amazed that I was able to catch radio stations WGN in Chicago, KDKA in Pittsburgh, WCAU in Philadelphia. WLW was a good catch. The highlight of my distant radio stations encounters was WBT Charlotte, brought goose pimples to my skin! I was able to hear across the United States of America and that to me was the catch of a lifetime. A few years went by and we bought an upright radio whose dial showed "shortwave." One night, I came home and dialed the shortwave spectrum of that radio. With a bit of fine-tuning, I could hear a voice in the Russian language. I understood the Russian language and before long I heard the words identifying the Russian station as Khabarovsk in the far eastern part of Siberia. Fantastic! I awakened my father and he came over to listen. The ID practically floored Dad. I was now a shortwave listener. Years went by. I graduated from Commerce High School and I attended Santa Clara University on a football scholarship. The Jesuits were of great help to me in all ways and I enjoyed playing football for Coach Lawrence Timothy "Buck" Shaw. As an officer in Field Artillery with the 66th Black Panther Division, I had many occasions to be fascinated by the shortwave radios, which were used by the US Army. That was the first real experience for me with shortwave radios. After the war in Europe, I came home from Berlin to my wife, Dottie, and I pursued a secondary school teaching credential via GI Bill of Rights. I did not have time for radio until the 1970's. I purchased a Sony shortwave radio from the Emporium Dry Goods store. What a job it was to try and catch a shortwave radio station. The radio had several bands with different frequencies that were not shown in their exact numerical value. I would have to split hairs and get out the slide rule to determine a frequency. 21740 kHz was caught on 21532 7/8 kHz. 11620 showed as 11052 and so on. What a maze of fractions and decimals. I accepted the fact that the frequency, which I caught, was correct as indicated on the frequency schedule of a radio station. When submitting my logs for publication in the various radio clubs' bulletins, I would get back static from some of the old timers who would call `em on the exact frequency and tell me that I was off by a decimal point or two on the frequency and that I was reporting a wrong frequency. To top it off, they would show and tell me in print in various radio bulletins. The North American Shortwave Association was established in 1961. I joined it some years later and am enjoying the friendship and unity of a wonderful and special group of people of everyday life. . . shortwave listeners. I purchased my FRG-7 radio set and in a few years my filing cabinets were bulging at the seams with literature and QSL cards from radio stations in many parts of the world. Radio Netherlands continues to send me their frequency schedules. Corresponding with SWLers is fun. Programs of the radio stations are educational and I love the music. I became a technical monitor for several leading world band radio broadcasters and continue in that capacity today. I continue to read a lot about world band radio. DXing according to NASWA by Ed Shaw is recommended for the beginning SWLer. About 1975, Larry Magne asked me to be one of his technical monitors for he was the frequency coordinator in the USA for Kol Israel and needed a monitor on the west coast of the USA. There began a long lasting and cordial friendship with Larry, which lasts to this day. He is a true friend who came to my rescue many times. He and his wife, Jane, have been at our home for dinner. Pietr Martins and May of Radio RSA, visited our home as did Tuvan Keenan and Bella of Kol Israel. Zhang "Jenny" Qingnian was a frequent visitor to our home. Miss Giusy Moretti of Radiotelevisione Italiana was a recent visitor. Today, I can pick up the telephone and dial Ankara, Turkey and talk to their engineers. I have had the occasion to talk with Daniel Bochent of Télédiffusion de France. Andy Clark and Jon Luckins of BBC World Service heard my voice in London. I couldn't do these things in 1932. I think that I am helping people to try and understand one another via radio. It is not that expensive to try and accomplish that feat. With regular reporting of monitoring logs to Radio Beijing (China Radio International) came a two week, all expenses paid vacation for Dottie and me to China where Miss Fan Fuguang was our personal guide. In 1989, Dottie and I were flying on our way to Ankara, Turkey for a ten-day visit with our friends at TRT and the Voice of Turkey. We had visited Radio Moscow and Radio Kiev in 1976. Here it is April 1996 and my Song ICF 2010 continues to be a marvel. Catching a radio station is like touch dialing a telephone number. I must mention my beautiful monitoring post in San Francisco, Baghdad by the Bay. As I sit at my school, solid oak teacher's desk, I see Twin Peaks to the left of me, the cross atop Mt. Davidson in front of me. On the other side of the room I view the beautiful and calm Pacific Ocean. A clear unobstructed shot in all directions. Many miles from many lands but I can contact many of those lands by the mere pressing in a frequency number on my Sony 2010. Now that is living! I shall always be a listener to distant radio stations (George J. Poppin, CA, sent to us in June 2007, DX LISTENING DIGEST) CONVENTIONS & CONFERENCES +++++++++++++++++++++++++ The 2007 IRCA/DecalcoMania convention will be held in Salt Lake City UT on August 24-26, 2007 at the Airport Days Inn, 1900 West North Temple, SLC UT 84116. Telephone (801) 539- 8538. Request the IRCA convention discount rate of $50 per night. Registration fee is $25 (not including Saturday banquet) and is payable to: Mike Sanburn, PO Box 1256, Bellflower CA 90707-1256, USA. Hotel website is: http://www.the.daysinn.com/saltlakecity06838 Trip rewards site: http://www.triprewards.com Tourism site: http://www.utah.travel [sic] Delta airlines web: http://www.delta.com Visit Salt Lake brought to you by the Salt Lake Convention & Visitors Bureau http://www.uptilt.com/ct.html?rtr=on&s=2px,rsg1,5c6,3fkh,8669,8sxv,98cg (IRCA Soft DX Monitor June 23 via DXLD) DX-PEDITIONS ++++++++++++ EASTER ISLAND MW DX-PEDITION John Bryant`s March DX-pedition report has finally been posted June 12 on a freely accessible website, including final log list by continent, country: http://www.dxing.info/dxpeditions/easter_island_2007.dx and it is illustrated (Glenn Hauser, June 21, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Video DX-FM al Garraf 02-06-07 Hola a tots, aquí va un vídeo gravat durant la trobada DX-FM al Garraf amb Dario Monferini, a veure si aviat fem una altra sortida per allà: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0CE4KpOKobA Espero que us agradi!!! salutacions!! (Jordi Brunet & Dario Monferini, June 21, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Clip under 6 minutes of Dario in his usual uniform sitting in car logging stations as far away as Crete, Greece, Italy, Sardinia, Romania, from a high coastal location south of Barcelona (gh, DXLD) PROPAGATION +++++++++++ OUTLOOK FROM PRAGUE Solar-activity forecast for the period Jun 22 - 28, 2007 Activity level: predominantly very low Radio flux (10.7 cm): a fluctuation in the range 66-80 f.u. Flares: weak (0-10/day) Relative sunspot number: in the range 0-40 Astronomical Institute, Solar Dept., Ondrejov, Czech Republic e-mail: sunwatch(at)asu.cas.cz (RWC Prague) _________________________________________________________________ Geomagnetic activity forecast for the period Jun 22 to Jun 28, 2007 quiet: Jun 24, 25, 27 and 28 quiet to unsettled: Jun 26 unsettled: Jun 23 unsettled to active: Jun 22 active: 0 minor storm: 0 major storm: 0 severe storm: 0 Geomagnetic activity summary: geomagnetic field was quiet on Jun 15 and from 17 to 20, quiet to unsettled on Jun16, unsettled on Jun 14. RWC Prague, Geophysical Institute Prague, Geomagnetic Dept, Czech Republic e-mail: geom(at)ig.cas.cz Geomagnetic activity forecast for the period of one solar rotation unsettled to active: Jun 22-23, 30, Jul 1, (4-6,) 10-11, (12, 14,) 15 active to disturbed: Jun 22(-23), 30, Jul 1, 10-11 quiet: Jun 24-27, (28-29,) Jul 2-3, 7-8, (9,) 13, (16-17) Survey: quiet on Jun 20 mostly quiet on Jun 18-19 quiet to unsettled Jun 15-17 quiet to active Jun 13 unsettled to active Jun 14 Notice: Days in brackets refer to a lower probability of possible solar activity enhancements depending on previous developments on the sun. F. K. Janda, OK1HH, Czech Propagation Interested Group e-mail: franta.janda(at)quick.cz (via DXLD) I haven`t heard much worth mentioning lately; solar flux has been bottomed out (?) at 65 for the last few days; without embargo, one still can hear mid-night solstitial openings on 17 MHz (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Viz.: :Product: Geophysical Alert Message wwv.txt :Issued: 2007 Jun 23 1800 UTC # Prepared by the US Dept. of Commerce, NOAA, Space Environment Center # # Geophysical Alert Message # Solar-terrestrial indices for 22 June follow. Solar flux 65 and mid-latitude A-index 17. The mid-latitude K-index at 1800 UTC on 23 June was 2 (16 nT). No space weather storms were observed for the past 24 hours. No space weather storms are expected for the next 24 hours. Thank you for using the Product Subscription Service (SEC via DXLD)###