DX LISTENING DIGEST 7-145, December 2, 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 1384 Mon 0400 WBCQ 9330-CLSB Mon 0515 WBCQ 7415 [time varies] Mon 0930 WRMI 9955 Tue 1130 WRMI 9955 Tue 1630 WRMI 7385 Wed 0830 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 DXLD YAHOOGROUP: Why wait for DXLD, which seems to be coming out less frequently? A lot more info, not all of it appearing in DXLD later, is posted at our yg without delay. When applying, please identify yourself with your real name and location. Those who do not, unless I recognize them, will be prompted once to do so and no action will be taken otherwise. Here`s where to sign up http://groups.yahoo.com/group/dxld/ ** AFGHANISTAN [and non]. RADIO FREE AFGHANISTAN HOLDS ITS FIRST SEMINAR ON MEDIA AND DEMOCRACY http://www.azadiradio.org/en/news/2007/11/498A999A-5B3F-4203-90A0-8C2BFCE19B26.ASP 28 November 2007 -- Radio Free Afghanistan (RFA) of RFE/RL held its first seminar in Kabul University on November 14. Radio Free Afghanistan and the Faculty of Journalism of Kabul University jointly sponsored the seminar, “Media and Democracy.” RFA Kabul Bureau organized 'Media and Democracy' seminar in Kabul. Kabul, 23Nov2007 (RFE/RL) A recent comprehensive survey of life in Afghanistan by Asia Foundation says that electronic media especially, radio still remains the main form of acquiring information. The survey puts RFA on the top of most popular radios. RFA does not only provide fair, accurate and balance information, but it is also committed in providing a platform for discussion in the establishment and development of democratic institutions in Afghanistan. “Media and democracy,” seminar was a way to provide an opportunity to people, especially to the professors and students of the school of Journalism to discuss the impact of free media and freedom of speech in a young democracy such as Afghanistan. The half-day seminar included speeches by well know journalists, writers and cadre of the faculty of journalism. Topics such as the role of international broadcasting in democracy, freedom of speech, the impact of press in developing democracy and relations between state and media were discussed. Participants played crucial part in providing heated debate on the current situation of media in Afghanistan. RFA Kabul Bureau organized 'Media and Democracy' seminar in Kabul. Kabul, 23Nov2007 (RFE/RL) RFA director, Akbar Ayazi talked about the mission of Radio Free Afghanistan and reaffirmed the commitment of RFA in the development of democratic institutions and free media in Afghanistan. The staff and students of the faculty of journalism expressed their gratitude to RFA for providing the opportunity for discussion. One student called the seminar “practical way of learning modern and free journalism.” The president of Kabul University, Abdul Rahman Ashraf thanked RFA for arranging the seminar and called for further close cooperation between Kabul University and RFA. He requested RFA to provide a video of daily news preparation and operation of FRE/RL to the faculty of journalism. He asked RFE/RL to provide opportunity for two of the students of faculty of journalism for a short-term fellowship. The seminar was widely covered by local and international media. RFA plans to hold such seminars in the future, focusing on issues related to nation building, reconstruction, human rights, rule of law and etc. (via Zacharias Liangas, Thessaloniki, Greece, DXLD) ** ALASKA. This is the link for my latest article at RADIOBLOG about the Arctic Circle Radio Station KBRW - Alaska. Este es mi enlace para mi último articulo en RADIOBLOG sobre la emisora de Círculo Polar Árctico KBRW-Alaska. el radioblog, entrada: http://www.natureduca.com/radioblog/?p=56 (Juan Franco Crespo, Spain, noticiasdx yg via DXLD) Very nice illustrated article, of course in Spanish (gh, DXLD) ** ALASKA. Shortly after 1400 [UT] this morning, ballad-type religious music and Christmas songs on 850 noted. No sign of Tacoma or Mexicali as usual early mornings. Checked 650 and found Rush Limbaugh under local talker KSTE. KENI? No sign of CISL. 650 and 850 faded up and down similarly. At 7 am local, the 850 signal faded up and a woman gave a clear KICY Nome ID, into talk by male. Very nice to hear this; third reception of KICY this season; first ever reception in many years of DXing was 9/19 at 0800 when KICY announced their pattern change to send the signal to Russia. Have they upgraded facilities or am I just lucky this year? (Rich Toebe, Vacaville CA, Sony ICF-2010, internal antenna, Dec 1, IRCA via DXLD) Rich, They rebuilt their antenna system over the summer, per a newsletter found on the KICY website http://www.kicy.org/call_letter/kicy0807.pdf They also have a bunch of photos of the new array going up http://www.kicy.org/photoalbum/Summer2007 (Bruce Portzer, WA, ibid.) Here if you loop north on 850, you get the sandwich effect from KMPH and KTRB. So the narrow setting with sync mode is pretty useful. Once 840 runs Joey Reynolds after midnight, it gets better. KOA is pretty strong anyway and mostly overcomes the hiss from KXNT's HD signal, when looping towards Denver. Haven't IDed 650 yet. Checked KENI's website but there's no schedule listed so I'm just guessing. We must have had a pipeline to Alaska... KHHO is often on the car radio when I drive into Sacramento in the mornings. KPAM is frequently even with KTRB (Rich Toebe, Vacaville CA, Dec 2, ibid.) ** AUSTRALIA. Picking a frequency --- Maybe best around 5900-5950 kHz. Any Ideas on the actual frequency we can use so that you can hear it? Can anyone suggest one? With 1 kW it will be a catch (Keith Ashton, Double V Shortwave Australia, Radio 2 Double V AM & ZFM Fairfield NSW Phone 02 9726 7841, Listen to Vale Vision Community Radio and TV Association Inc on http://www.radio2doublev.org Dec 1, dxing.info via DXLD) ** AUSTRALIA. My Nov 25 log on 4910 as VL8A Alice should have been VL8T Tennant Creek --- tho I did hear them ID as Alice, apparently being relayed. I never can remember which is which. The correxion was made subsequently in DXLD, but if you quote this log please be sure to make this correxion, now or at the next opportunity (Glenn Hauser, Dec 1, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BOLIVIA. 5996.31, Radio Loyola, Sucre, 1000 to 1030 with weak signal OM en español : murdered at 1030 by co channel 23 and 25 November (Robert Wilkner, Pómpano Beach FL, Japan Premium via DXLD) 5996.37, Radio Loyola, Sucre, 2315-2325, November 29, Spanish, National and regional news by male, reports, interviews, ID & announcement as: “....Radio Loyola....”, 24332 (Arnaldo Slaen, Argentina, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 5996.33, Radio Loyola, Sucre, 30/11. Poor signal; I hear some Spanish words and typical music for Bolivia, 2357 UT, QRM splatter 6000 kHz Cuba. Gr (Maurits van Driessche, Belgium, BDX via DXLD) ** BOLIVIA. 4716.66, Radio Yura, Yura, 0115-0139*, Dec 1, Spanish announcements, local Bolivian music. Closing announcements at 0138 & off. Fair reception. (Brian Alexander, PA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BRAZIL. 4925, Rádio Educação Rural, Tefé, AM, 2339-2345, November 25, Portuguese, religious program conduced by male. Several mentions of “Jesus”, 24332. 4935, Rádio Capixaba, Vitoria, ES, 2332-2336, November 25, Portuguese, announcement by male, identification, Christian songs, 24332 (Arnaldo Slaen, Argentina, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BRAZIL. 4885, 30/11 2020, R. Clube do Pará - Belém, talk OM buono (la più "temprana" ricezione del Brasile sui 60 metri di 35 anni di radioascolto!!) (Roberto Pavanello, Vercelli - Italia, bclnews.it yg via DXLD) ** BRUNEI. On the shortwave scene, Radio Brunei was once a highly sought-after prize. In 1964, a 10 kW transmitter was inaugurated at the mediumwave facility located at Berakas on the edge of their capital city. This unit carried a relay from the various mediumwave services and always on the fixed frequency, 4865 kHz, in the tropical 60 metre band. Five years later, another 10 kW shortwave transmitter was co-sited with the mediumwave transmitter at Tutong on the central coast. This second unit also carried a relay from the mediumwave programming that was produced in the main studios in the capital city and always on the fixed frequency 7215 kHz in the 41 metre international band. According to tabulated information extracted from the World Radio TV Handbook, the second shortwave transmitter was transferred from Tutong on the central coast and re-installed at Berakas near the capital city in 1977. However, both SW transmitters left the air, according to WRTH entries, in the year 1979. Some twenty years later, Radio Brunei made the statement that they did plan to return to the shortwave scene sometime, but, alas, that event has never been fulfilled (from a much longer article, Radio Broadcasting in Independent Borneo – Brunei, by DSWCI-3631 Dr. Adrian Peterson, Adventist World Radio, Nov-Dec DSWCI SW News via DXLD) ** CANADA [and non]. [continued from EGYPT] And, speaking of low modulation, I have noticed that, for the past couple of years, Radio Canada International has had what sounds to me like slightly reduced modulation. Have you noticed this? [Yes; that`s one way to prolong the life of worn-out tubes, and/or they can`t be modulated any better -gh] Also, WWV and CHU, try to understand them when reception is poor! beeps and tones audible, but, announcement sometimes buried. If anybody ought to use speech processing, these two station ought to. After all, they aren't playing music, just announcing time (Tim Hendel, Huntsville AL, Dec 1, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CANADA. The website we had for CISM now forwards to something completely different. Now it is: http://www.cism.umontreal.ca/ (Glenn Hauser, to Kevin Kelly, via DXLD) Thanks Glenn. Unfortunately on the new site the only streaming is in a flash-based player from which an ordinary streaming link can't be extracted -- a growing trend among commercial stations but uncommon among public and college stations -- CISM is only the second one of these in my database (the other being WCVE in Virginia). The main vendor of this kind of streaming is StreamTheWorld, located in Montreal, which may explain CISM's choice (Kevin Kelly, Bedford, Massachusetts, USA PublicRadioFan.com Dec 2, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CHINA. 12260, Firedrake music noted also today on Dec 1st, 8-10 UT slot. Fundamental, or 2 x 6130 ?? 73 wb (Wolfgang Büschel, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** COLOMBIA. 6010, 1/12 0450, Voz de Tu Conciencia - Bogotá, Spanish, predica, buono (Roberto Pavanello, Vercelli - Italia, bclnews.it yg via DXLD) Just as Julián Santiago Díez de Bonilla suspected, La Voz de tu Conciencia is still active on 6010 after 0400 UT, despite reports that it was deferring to Mexico`s Radio Mil at 04-13. Dec 2 at 0620 I started monitoring, and heard weak nondescript music, fast SAH from a second station. But which was which? Finally at 0706 there was a full ID for La Voz de tu Conciencia, Puerto Lleras, and timecheck for 2:05 am, then into sermon. By this time its signal was stronger and XEOI, if there, was completely overridden. See also MEXICO (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) I copied the above to Martin Stendal of LVC, and from his reply, it seems there was a misunderstanding about why they had been off the air, and now back on. They had been off for a few weeks trying to make antenna adjustments to accommodate XEOI, apparently without success, but their license requires them to run 24 hours, or face a severe fine! He then goes on to accuse me of siding with Julián, and favoring the armed rebels of Colombia! The original info about their being off the air at night, if not the correct reason for it, apparently came from Rafael Rodríguez, via Jeff White (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CUBA. 6000, RHC, 0700-0706, Dec 2, their Sunday program in Esperanto, scheduled for a half-hour. DXLD has continued to provide good information on this (DXLD 7-133 [INTERNATIONAL. Emisiones en Esperanto], etc.), but I wonder if Glenn, as a linguist, can tell us how this language is currently doing. Keeping the status quo or declining in popularity or what? Many years ago believe Esperanto was more prevalent on SW than today (Ron Howard, CA, Etón E1, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Ron, I`m really no expert on this, tho I once learned the basix of Esperanto, and if you know several other languages, it`s pretty easy to follow. My impression is that it is going nowhere as far as becoming a real international language, but there are still lots of Esperanto-enthusiasts. Strangely enough, as far as SW broadcasts, no one but Commies and Catholix use it now; pick Esperanto at: http://www.addx.de/cgi-bin/hfp.cgi Radio Polonia even gave up on it recently. Radio Havano Kubo, Esperanto confirmed UT Sunday Dec 2 at 0707 on 6000, which extends past 0700 on Sundays only. Also repeated Sunday at 1515 on 11760, report on some conference in Montrealo (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Glenn, yes the first transmission of Esperanto on RHC is definitely at 0700 UT Sunday on 6000 (not Monday as on my schedule). I set the timer last night and taped it. The 1500 UT transmission on 11760 is of course a repeat which I also checked today (Sun. Dec. 2). Both with excellent reception here. I assumed incorrectly that the first transmission was at 1500 and the last at 0700 Monday UT. Sorry for the error (Bernie O'Shea, Ont., DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CUBA. R. Rebelde, 5025, playing multiple versions of the song ``La última noche que pasé contigo``, Dec 2 at 1332. I only heard three, but there were several more per the back-announce. I enjoy such daring programming (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ECUADOR. 4814.99, Radio El Buen Pastor, Saraguro, 0205-0259*, Dec 1, Presumed. Spanish religious music. Local Ecuadorian music. Spanish announcements. Religious talk. Abrupt sign off. Poor to fair with CODAR QRM (Brian Alexander, PA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ECUADOR [non]. Glenn, some thoughts and questions for you, as always, feel free to reproduce these. Yesterday, Nov. 30, I tuned to Almahaba (not sure if this is correct word; didn't try to note it exactly) on 12025 [HCJB via Sackville] at about 2103. The language did not sound like Arabic to me, some Semitic sounding language, but, not Arabic. I am positive it is not Hebrew. Checked again today, hoping to be able to pick out a word, but could not. I wonder if this could be Aromaic; you may know, there is, even today, a small community of Aromaic speakers in Syria, and, I have never heard Aromaic, so, don't know what it sounds like. [Aramaic? J. Christ`s alleged native tongue -- gh] I don't think it is Somali, though not sure. I have never heard any of the Ethiopian languages, except Amharic, and am pretty sure it is not that. At 2115, they went into Arabic. I do not speak Arabic, but, like most DX-ers, I can pick out a few key words. I could not pick out any identification for the previous 15 minutes. However, an address was given, both in Arabic, and in French, curious, because the address is in Spain. Picking out the French PO Box and postal code, I went back to the unknown language, and, could discern that the numbers reminded me of Hebrew, though not spoken clearly enough for me to be sure. Another possibility, could it be one of the so-called "Berber" languages of Morocco or Algeria? I know these are not Semitic languages, and I don't know what they sound like. If you can find any internet resources which might tell us what this is, I'd be curious. Also, I thought I might write a letter to the address in Spain, not sure whether to write in Spanish or French, probably the former, and just maybe they'll answer. No e-mail address given (Tim Hendel, Huntsville AL, Dec 1, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** EGYPT. Speaking of low modulation, I've been wanting to vent about the following for a long long time, so, here goes! What about Radio Cairo!!! I calculated I've been listening to SW for between 45 and 50 years, and Radio Cairo has always had low modulation during all that time. Sometimes 6250, and other frequencies are so poorly modulated, even when carrier is fairly good, that I can't even tell if they are speaking English, or some other language. What a total waste of resources for the staff to be sitting there, reading scripts which no one can understand! Don't they ever ever monitor their signal in the target area? (Tim Hendel, Huntsville AL, Dec 1, DX LISTENING DIGEST) See also CANADA [and non] ** ETHIOPIA. 6110, Radio Fana, Addis Ababa, *0255-0315, Dec 1, Sign on with IS. Opening announcements at 0300 with Radio Fana IDs & into local Horn of Africa music. Good. Strong. Threshold signal on // 7210 (Brian Alexander, PA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ETHIOPIA [and non]. After the [usual? Fri 23/30] Friday break, DWL Amharic program was object of Ethiopian jamming again today Dec 1. No DWL program observed here on 4th channel 15660 kHz today Dec 1st. DWL Amharic noted on 11645-KIG, 15620-KIG, and 15640-IRA, till 1457 UT sign-off. Jammer station switched off at 1501:48 on 11645, and 1502:48 UT on 15640. 73 wb (Wolfgang Büschel, Germany, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) DWL Amharic Sunday 2 Dec 1400 UT 15660 Kigali 15640 Trincomalee 15620 Kigali 11645 Kigali No jamming heard on all. Note that 15620 is most likely from DWL Kigali, Rwanda (David Pringle-Wood, Zimbabwe, Dec 2, ibid.) Hi, it's fine to have reliable reports from another direction. Reception condition was very bad here in winterly southern Germany today Dec 2nd: Noted only 11645KIG and 15620KIG, nothing noted on 15640 from Trinco, and not even a carrier on 15660 either. It seem never jammed on Fridays. But heard jamming 100% on Saturday on 11645, 15620, and 15640. I noted some ute station interference of 2 WHISTLE tones on the lower side of 15620. Noted on RMS MP4 recordings, as well as yesterday at 14-15 UT on 15617.15 and 15618.19 kHz. 73 wolfy (Wolfgang Büschel, ibid.) ** ETHIOPIA [non]. SUDAFRICA, 17660, Radio Mustaqbal, 1221-1230, escuchada el 1 de diciembre en idioma vernácula a locutor y locutora con comentarios, música instrumental africana con cantos rítmicos, SINPO 35443 (José Miguel Romero, Spain, Sangean ATS 909, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) As in EiBi: 17660 1205-1235 126 CLA Radio Mustaqbal SO ETH /AFS 126 meaning Monday, Tuesday, Saturday like Dec 1 (gh, DXLD) ** FINLAND [and non]. FINLÂNDIA, 5980, 0231 01/12, Scandinavian Weekend, Virrat, YL/YL, talks, finlandês, 43343, RFP (Rubens Ferraz Pedroso, Bandeirantes - PR, Brasil, Sony ICF SW 7600G. Antena: LW de 12,75 metros, DX Clube PR yg via DXLD) ?? SWR were supposed to be on their other frequency 6170 at this hour, plus long before and after it, per this month`s publicity in DXLD 7- 144, tho admittedly subject to change without notice. Pulling this 100-watt station thru, despite 250 or 500 kW Morocco on 5980 is amazing! In fact, I don`t believe it. Morocco does not appear in all the listings, such as Aoki and HFCC but it is in EiBi, and we have discussed this anomaly here before. How could one mistake Arabic for Finnish?? If the time was off one hour, there would also be Budapest on 5980 at 01-02, and Hungarian is related to Finnish. BTW, I have no problem believing RFP`s incredible TE FM DX catches from Caribbean; another report abottom (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Rubens, você fica certo que fosse SWR? Segundo o esquema dezembro dêles, a freqüência das 22 até às 17 foi 6170 e não 5980. Seu sinal de 100 vátios contra 500,000 (ou 250,000?) desde Marrocos em 5980 das 00 às 05? O uso do RTM não se encontra em HFCC, nem Aoki, mas sim em EiBi e WRTH. Pode confundir o idoma árabe com o finlandês?? 73, (Guilherme Glenn Hauser, DXCLubePR yg via DXLD) Olá amigo. Não estou certo de ter ouvido a Scandinavian Weekend em 5980 kHz. O idioma em que a emissora transmitia me pareceu ser europeu e como só encontrei a Scandinavian Weekend no horário das 0200 horas UT com transmissão em idioma europeu (num dos arquivos que tenho), julguei ter ouvido ela. Na realidade tem outra nos 5980 kHz, às 0200 UT transmitindo em inglês, a RTM. Acontece que o idioma ouvido na ocasião não foi o inglês. Não devo ter ouvido a Scandinavian Weekend, pois, ela transmite com baixa potência. Vou tentar ouvi-la de novo para saber o que realmente eu ouvi. Tenho um aúdio da escuta que fiz dessa emissora. 73! (Rubens Ferraz Pedroso, Bandeirantes - Paraná, Brasil, ibid.) Bom, mas Marrocos não transmite em inglês, só arabe. 73 (Glenn, ibid.) Good for the effort of SWR, but how can they pretend to be heard on this side of the Atlantic after 2300 on 11690 while in frequency is occupied by the blowtorch DW Kigali's 250 kW, azimuth 265? They know what my suggestion would be without mention it. Little chance by now. I'll check later (Raúl Saavedra, Costa Rica, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Barely audible at 1100 UT on 11720. Lots of noise and deep fading. Can just make out the odd record and speech (Russ Cummings, Hull, East Yorkshire, England, Using an AOR 7030+, 60ft. long wire, Dec 1, BDXC- UK via DXLD) ** FRANCE. Re RFI 11675, 7-144: No, it isn't new - it's been heard here since the advent of B07. Some 'nifty' transmitter switching has to be done to accommodate the transmission so as not to cause over- laps. It MIGHT be the same transmitter that's used at 1400-1430 on 11665 for Russian. A bad choice of frequency due to Chinese jamming of assumed Taiwan. RFI is registered at 55deg for this so their big Alliss wouldn't need to be turned very far (Noel R. Green (NW England), dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GERMANY [and non]. Another CNN incident The online department of German ARD TV news posted a quite sardonic (and I think that's absolutely OK) item about CNN: http://www.tagesschau.de/ausland/cnn2.html And if you don't know yet this old classic (the rice bag or bicycle falling over in China is German saying): http://www.fatmuffinman.com/Ben/images/ricebag.jpg Another one I recently got tipped off: http://www.imcom-europe.army.mil/sites/installations/garrisons.asp What they are showing here are the 15 districts of the GDR (some sources say 14, depending on the author's point of view in regard to Berlin, but all significant differences from the rural GDR districts, other than those concerning military matters, were eliminated in the seventies, thus these discussions are a pointless continuation of Cold War battles), as they existed after the states of the GDR were eliminated in 1952 and before these states were revived in spring 1990. Makes me wonder how many of the US forces members and their relatives at Schweinfurt and Grafenwöhr ever dared to go north beyond Mellrichstadt, Coburg or Hof? Best regards, (Kai Ludwig, DDR [non], Dec 1, DX LISTENING DIGEST) CNN in bigger trouble in Chavezuela: http://www.kimandrewelliott.com/index.php?id=2819 (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INTERNATIONAL VACUUM. Announcement from WorldSpace http://www.worldspace.com:80/maintenance/index.html Service Update for customers located in the coverage area of the Northwest beam of our AfriStarTM satellite (Northwestern Africa and Europe). Dear WorldSpace Customer: In May of 2007, we informed you that your current subscription service on the AfriStarTM Northwest beam would no longer be available, effective 1 December 2007, due to testing in preparation for the start of our European mobile service. The European service requires extensive testing because it employs a new technology standard that was recently adopted by the European Union. This new standard will require WorldSpace to alter its core equipment technology in order for its receivers to be compliant. On 3 December 2007, we will indeed begin our testing and countries located in our Northwest beam coverage area will no longer be able to receive full service. As you know, we have not been taking any new orders for the past six or so months. However, now that our testing plan is more refined, WorldSpace is pleased to inform you that we are able to continue offering a variety of programming - free of charge and without encryption - to customers with existing 'legacy' radio receivers. These channels may still be used for testing from time-to-time so we cannot assure the quality or service and the 100% availability of the channel line-up nor can we state at this time how long we will be able to maintain the availability of these channels. Listed below are the channels that will temporarily remain available and free: AfriStar Northwest Beam Content Channels that Are REMAINING UPop Top 40 on 40 BBC World Service BBC Global News BFM Bloomberg Radio Caroline CNN International Esperance Europe 1 Fox Sports Radio Marine NPR RFI-1 RMC Info talkSPORT Virgin Radio UK WRN-1 WRN-2 Listed below are the channels that will be removed as-of December 1, 2007: Channels that Are Being REMOVED Channel Islam Bob Potion Up Country Riff Maestro Hop Voyager Orbit Rock WorldZone Flave Punchline Previw Jhankaar KL Radio Lamp FM RFM SGH DISSO FM Sunrise WorldSpace anticipates launching Europe's first mobile satellite digital radio and data service in late 2008 - first in Italy - using the Northwest beam of the AfriStar satellite. At the service's maturity, customers for the Italian service can expect to receive approximately 40 to 50 channels of programming. The reintroduction of the WorldSpace service in late-2008 will begin with Italy and will integrate the ETSI European standard into its satellite radio equipment as required. Only receivers that comply with this standard will be able to receive the WorldSpace service in Italy and other countries within the Northwest beam of the WorldSpace AfriStar satellite. Thank you for your interest in WorldSpace. Please check back periodically for further updates. November 28, 2007 (via Mike Terry, dxldyg via DXLD) The two WorldSpace satellites remain unique and intriguing assets. If its satellite radio service for Italy (where it is building terrestrial repeaters) draws customers, WorldSpace might see some much needed revenues. If not, could perhaps the business plan shift so that revenues are derived from broadcasters rather than listeners? The broadcasters would in turn distribute radios, perhaps on a subsidized basis, to their regional niche audiences. In such a scenario, the channels would probably be occupied by religious or political groups, as well as companies selling such things as gold, herbal medicines, etc. Posted: 29 Nov 2007 http://www.kimandrewelliott.com/index.php?id=2829 (Kim Andrew Elliott, via DXLD) ** ISRAEL. Re 7-144: Kai Ludwig Says: December 1st, 2007 at 9:07 pm Perhaps some background should be added here: All foreign-language programming from IBA is meant for domestic audiences now, with the exception of Persian which is the only remaining foreign service. And recently Bezeq, the Israelian telcom company which also runs the shortwave broadcasting transmitters, told that IBA has cancelled all shortwave transmissions, effective Jan 1st 2008. So don’t be surprised about this report not referring to the current situation in Ethiopia at all: It’s about domestic broadcasting only (Media Network blog via DXLD) ** KOREA NORTH [non]. KOREAN CLANDESTINES AND ABDUCTION ISSUE STATION B 07 sked Furusato no Kaze http://www.kantei.go.jp/jp/singi/rati/radio/radio_k.html 1600-1630 Japanese 9780 TWN Nippon no Kaze-Ilbone Baram 1700-1730 Korean 9820 TWN Siokaze-JSR http://senryaku-jouhou.jp/shiotsuu.html 1400-1430 Japanese/Korean/Chinese/English 5985 YAM/JPN 2030-2100 Japanese/Korean/Chinese/English 5965 YAM/JPN Radio Free Chosun-Jayu Joseon Bangson http://www.rfchosun.org/ 1200-1300 Korean 9950 RUS 1330-1400 Korean 9950 TWN Radio Free North Korea-Jayu Bukhan Bansong http://www.freenk.net/ 1000-1000 Korean 9730 TWN 2030-2130 Korean 9645 TWN Open Radio for North Korea-Yeollin Bukhan Bangsong http://www.nkradio.com/ 1100-1200 Korean 9930 KWHR (Mo-Fr) 1300-1400 Korean 9930 KWHR (Mo-Fr) Cornerstone Ministries International-Bukhan Seongyo Bangsong http://www.cornerstone.or.kr/public/index.asp?CurrentCatID=C19595796428513131&ChangeSetID=default 1300-1330 Korean 9940 TWN 2000-2030 Korean 9795 TWN de NDXC HQ (S. Hasegawa, NDXC, Dec 3, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** KURDISTAN [non]. 7540, 2/12 1710, Voice of Mesopotania - Maiac Kurdo ID e talk OM buono (Roberto Pavanello, Vercelli - Italia, bclnews.it yg via DXLD) ** LATVIA. 9290, Latvia Today, Ulbroka, 1533-1545, Dec 2, English program about local history. Local pop music. Poor. Very weak. Lost in local noise by 1545 (Brian Alexander, PA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** LIBERIA. 4759.97, ELWA, 0630-0705, Dec 2, US Christmas music. Gospel music. ID at 0657. English religious talk at 0700. Fair signal at 0630 but deteriorated to a weak level by 0705, and with the usual CODAR QRM (Brian Alexander, PA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) If they use 6070 in the local mornings, will collide with CVC Chile, but not CFRX! (Glenn Hauser, DXLD) ** MAURITANIA. I looked for Radio Mauritanie on 4845 kc this evening but have heard no trace of it. Normally I can hear a carrier by approximately 2000 UTC and recoverable audio by 2030 UTC during the winter season. My copy of the 2008 Passport to World Band Radio says it's active. Has anyone logged it as of late? 73, (Thomas F. Giella, KN4LF Retired Space Plasma Physicist Lakeland, FL, USA, Dec 1, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) That's the only regular from Africa I can receive here at local sunset (2300) on 60m. (rare exception is Burkina Faso 5030 after 2330). And you're right, it gave the impression that was off yesterday. The barely audible signal was from a domestic Brazilian. 73s (Raul Saavedra, Costa Rica, ibid.) ** MEXICO. Estimados amigos: me informa el buen amigo Jeff White quien a su vez fué notificado por Rafael Rodríguez de Colombia, que la emisora "La Voz de Tu Conciencia" está dejando de emitir en los 6010 kHz de las 0400 a las 1300 UT para evitar la interferencia que han causado desde hace casi cuatro años a XEOI Radio Mil. Al parecer se está fabricando en Canadá una antena direccional para "La Voz de Tu Conciencia" y con esto evitar la majadera interferencia que ha causado esta emisora colombiana a XEOI Radio Mil de México, con el entendible daño que ha causado. Sinceramente dudo de la honestida de la parte colombiana de "La Voz de Tu Conciencia", ya que, desde que les hicimos ver el daño que nos causaban, se pasaron estos años dando argumentos fútiles y prometiendo hacer cambios. Espero mucho más de la parte canadiense de esta emisora. La cual fué notificada en la última reunión de la HFCC sobre la "colisión" que causaba "La Voz de Tu Conciencia" en los 6010 kHz. Espero me ayuden informando si escuchan o no a esta emisora de las 0400 a las 1300 UT en los 6010 kHz. Espero sus informes y comentarios a: jusadiez @ hotmail.com 73´s (Julián Santiago Díez de Bonilla, DX LISTENING DIGEST; also via Roger Chambers, DXLD) Estaba para informar que esta mañana no hubo señal ninguna de XEOI a las 1415. ¿Está fuera del aire? 73, (Glenn to JSDB via DXLD) Está al aire; desconozco si a las 14 horas salió eventualmente del aire. Ojalá me puedas informar si aún se escucha LVTC de las 04 a las 13 UT. PD. XEXQ 6045 kHz con excelente señal en estos momentos. SINPO de 5; 21 UT, 73´s (Julián Santiago Díez de Bonilla, DF, Dec 1, DX LISTENING DIGEST) [Later:] Hola Glenn: te puedo decir que XEOI Radio Mil onda corta 6010 kHz no ha dejado de emitir ni siquiera un día; yo la monitoreo a todas las horas que puedo. Espero sea verdad que "La Voz de Tu Conciencia" deje de emitir de las 04 a las 13 UT, y mucho agradecería me informaras (Julián, ibid.) En cuanto a la información técnica de la antena de XEXQ, te diré que ayer mismo hablé con el Ing. Moreno quien a su vez me hizo saber que están haciendo pruebas con distintos tipos de antenas. Empezaron con una "V" invertida, luego con un dipolo horizontal y desde ayer están con una "V". Desean ver cuál les da mejor resultados, así como probar con cable y con alambre. Cada brazo de la antena mide 12 m. y utilizan por el momento alambre del número 10. Saludos y que tengas un buen fin de semana, 73´s (Julián Santiago, ibid.) LV de tu Conciencia, Colombia, is reported to have ceased using 6010 between 0400 and 1300 UT, in deference to Mexico`s Radio Mil [but not exactly so: see COLOMBIA]. Julian Santiago Diez de Bonilla, jusadiez @ hotmail.com on behalf of XEOI, would like reports confirming whether this is the case during those hours. I seldom hear XEOI at all any more, but he assures me it is currently active (Glenn Hauser, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Radio Mil, XEOI, 6010, weak but audible Sunday Dec 2 at 1316 with ``Viva la Música Mexicana`` show of YL songs; earlier gave phone number in the cabina, taking requests? No co-channel QRM at this hour, but COLOMBIA [q.v.] would have faded out anyway. There was some splatter from 6020 or 6000, not sure which. By 1350 XEOI was even weaker as the sun ascended. I think it must be running very low power; now eclipsed by allegedly 250-watt XEXQ on 6045, much stronger at 1324 check with classical music (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MEXICO. 1570 XERF La Poderosa - XERF ‘La Poderosa’, located in the border city of Ciudad Acuña, is by far the most regularly heard Mexican radio station here in Southern Norway. Even so, ‘La Poderosa’ is not a regular catch, and the only chance of catching their signal on 1570 kHz is in the late winter mornings. After a couple of tries, I received a friendly e-mail from Heberto Pérez Espín, Gerente, at the station. ‘La Poderosa’ lives up to their name and transmits with a power of 100 kilowatts targetting Mexicans living in the USA ‘without respect to their migrational status’, as Heberto Pérez Espín puts it. According to their home page, XERF ‘La Poderosa’ covers all of Mexico as well as Texas, New Mexico, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Arizona, Colorado and Kansas (Arild’s Radio Blog) November 29, 2007 (via DXing the Finnish Way blog via DXLD) ** MOLDOVA. With all the attention Radio PMR is getting, let us not forget the real Radio Moldova International, which unfortunately is not on the radio any more, but supposedly webcasting. Notice the webpages are unabashedly framed in Romanian, unlike PMR`s. About English: http://www.trm.md/index.php?add=8 Radio Moldova International (RMI) is the external service of “Teleradio-Moldova” Company. Set up in 1992, RMI is aimed to inform directly the foreigners about the current political, economic, social and cultural events from the Republic of Moldova. RMI has been broadcasting through Internet from Monday to Friday 2.5 hours in English, French, Spanish, Romanian and Russian. The address in Internet is: http://www.trm.md/radio which says The email is: moldova-international @ mail.md The schedule of RMI programs (GMT) 11. 00 - 11. 30 - Spanish 11. 30 - 12. 00 - Romanian 12. 00 - 12. 30 - English 19. 00 - 19. 30 - Russian 19. 30 - 20. 00 - French Some beats of the RMI programs: Monday - A Review of the main events; Society Today Tuesday - Political Flash; People and identities Wednesday - Moldova and the World; World of Culture Thursday - Business Update; Environmental issues This leads to a listen live page http://www.trm.md/index.php?add=2 which in turn linx to http://212.56.194.229:8000/rmi.m3u but not working at 0130 UT check Dec 2. Apparently you have to be listening only at 1200 UT for English. Why not availablize it ondemand instead of for only 30 minutes a few days a week? Someone please check if it is currently working then; not on Sat/Sun (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) see also PRIDNESTROVYE ** MOLDOVA. Radio Moldova has moved from 1494 to 1485 kHz. Heard November 23 from 2120 UTC and again November 25 from 1720 UT with "Radio Moldova Actualitatsi" - news, weather and sports. Probably this is to avoid QRM from the Russian High Power Station at Krasnyy Bor near Petersburg carrying VOR programmes on 1494 kHz (Ullmar Qvick (25/11-2007), Sweden, mediumwave.info via DXLD) ** MONGOLIA. 7260, Mongolian R 2nd program, Ulaanbaatar, 0838-0855, Nov 05 and 13, news in English and ID: "This is the news bulletin of the Voice of Mongolia in English on the Blue Sky Radio. We are on the air on Tuesday and Thursday", comments in Russian by female voice about corruption in various Mongolian political parties, month of Mongolian-Russian friendship, performance of Russian/Soviet songs on Mongolian stages, etc. 34433. At 0855 returned to the frequency, but Russian announcer has already passed the mike to Mongolian speaker (Dmitri Mezin, Kazan, Russia and Mauno Ritola in DXplorer, DSWCI DX Window Nov 28 via DXLD) ** NEPAL. 5005: I have checked this frequency several times and did not hear anything, although I have not monitored it systematically, I will do now. Propagation cannot be the problem, since I can hear most AIR stations from the north of India, also I think I hear Bhutan on 49mB (Gerhard Werdin, Ratingen, Germany on holidays in Chiang Mai, Northern Thailand, DSWCI DX Window Nov 28 via DXLD) ** OKLAHOMA. LICENSE RENEWALS GRANTED: 1430 KALV OK Alva FINES: $7,000 to KALV-1430 Alva, Oklahoma for failure to file their renewal application in a timely manner and subsequent unauthorized operation (Bill Hale, AM Switch, NRC DX News Dec 10 via DXLD) We monitored them a few weeks ago on the air despite being a deleted station (gh, Enid) ** PALAU. NEW RELIGIOUS STATION? On the 01.12.2007 I heard a religious station broadcast in English from 1000 UT on the frequency of 15725 till sign off at 1100 UT. It ID itself as APRIL CHOW RADIO by a female and also provide address in Hong Kong for listener to write in. Reception is as SIO 353 here in Malaysia. Any idea where do it transmit from ?? [Later:] After further monitoring done on this evening, it's been ID that this April Chow Radio transmission come from PALAU via T8BZ Gospel Radio. The postal address given is April Chow Radio, Central Post Office P. O. Box 6804, HONG KONG (Peter Ng, Malaysia, Dec 2, dxing.info via DXLD) ** PERU. Peru is moving ahead. That is what all economic indicators are telling us. An increasing number of broadcasting stations can be found online, and Radio Libertad de Junín is one of them. When I traveled to Junín in 1974 I was suffering from a bit of ``soroche``, and sleeping at 4,000 m above sea level was not easy. Junín did not seem a particularly prosperous place either. However, the station manager, Mauro Chaccha G., was very friendly, providing me with a tape of what was aired during my visit, a few vinyl records and brochures from the area, in addition to the beautiful pennant I had received two years earlier. My report was the very first one they had received from abroad. In 1974, internet was yet to be invented. Now, 33 years later, I am enjoying Radio Libertad de Junín not on my receiver but on my computer and with an unparalleled sound quality. Not one single buffering break in two hours. On one of the huaynos they played there was a superimposed greeting for a Peruvian in Colorado Springs and yet another one, for a Peruvian in New York. Wow, things really must have changed a lot, I thought. But when hearing the plug for “el naturista y consejero espiritual, Vicente de los Milagros”, a magician who will cure all sorts of disease and trouble by means of herbs and spiritualism, I realize that the inner core of the Peruvian “serrano”, just as his language and his music, remains essentially unchanged (Henrik Klemetz, Sweden, Dec 1, dxing.info via DXLD) ** PERU. 3172.36, R Municipal, Panao, 0015-0045, Nov 20, return after many days off (Robert Wilkner, Pompano Beach, Florida, U.S.A., DSWCI DX Window Nov 28 via DXLD) ** PRIDNESTROVYE. Clearly the Radio PMR transmitter is in PMR. They are very anti-Moldovan and separatist, pro-Russian. I can't believe that the Moldovan government would allow such transmissions to emanate from their territory! (Walt Salmaniw, BC, Dec 1, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Yes, I was wondering how someone got the impression they were anti- Russian. Guess Radio PMR needs to work a bit on the clarity of their comments (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Walt, Programming I heard from Radio PMR was very anti Russian. 73, (Kraig, KG4LAC, Krist, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Now that`s very surprising to me, from what I know of the political situation in the area. For the longest time, I believe that they wanted to join the Russian Federation! There are also Russian "peacekeepers" on the territory as well. Perhaps there's been a change in the political climate (Walt Salmaniw, BC, ibid.) These addresses were mentioned here earlier: The usual address is: radiopmr @ inbox.ru (the Radio PMR mailbox). An alternative address is: irpmr @ mail.ru (the English Service mailbox). 73, (Mauno Ritola, Finland, Dec 1, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) see also MOLDOVA; KURDISTAN [non] ** RUSSIA. My 7535 kHz PUZZLE is a spurious. 7535, In past weeks -- since B-07 season started --, an UNID location broadcast of VOR English service puzzled me in 1800-1900 UT slot. Just checked WWDXC's ALL English Broadcast pdf. File, and discovered two Moscow relays in English, on a different place arrangement in ALL VOR schedule B07. Two outlets of Moscow Lesnoy -- 7105 and 7320 kHz - produce an unwanted spurious signal some 215 kHz away on 7535 kHz in B-07 season. Didn't check 6890 kHz yet, the symmetrical counterpart on lower side. Similar intermodulation at Lesnoy occured in A-07, when Amateur radio band suffered a spur on 7050 kHz then. to Mar2 frMarch3 English 1800-1900 7320 7320 Moscow 250 Europe English 1800-1900 7105 7105 Moscow 250 Europe (Wolfgang Büschel, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SOMALIA. MOGADISHU MAYOR SPURNS RADIO PLEAS TO RESUME BROADCASTS http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5hrJuo8pR81hMIeMZoPjR1SLCYT7Q MOGADISHU (AFP) - The mayor of Mogadishu on Saturday spurned pleas by three radio stations to resume broadcasting, a fortnight after they were pulled off air for allegedly fanning insurgency, radio managers said. The Somali authorities mid-November ordered Radio Simba, Radio Banadir and Radio Shabelle to halt operations in the volatile seaside capital. In order to resume business, the radios must sign a decree by mayor Mohamed Omar Habeb which bans the reporting of "military operations" without permission, interviewing "government opponents" and covering the refugee exodus from the capital. Radio managers said Habeb rejected their attempt to reverse the order during a meeting Saturday. "The mayor insisted his decision must be implemented. (The) radio stations are still silent and I am afraid other stations might also go silent if they don't sign the document," Shabelle chief Muktar Mohamed told AFP. "We could not sign a statement that paralyses the independence of the media." "We are losing hope day by day," added Radio Simba head Abdullahi Atosh. The mayor said that six other radio stations and one television channel also refusing to sign the decree would shortly be pulled off air. Media watchdogs have roundly condemned Habeb for the decree that piles pressure on media in a country ranked as the second-deadliest worldwide for journalists. Meanwhile, new Somali Prime Minister Nur Hassan Hussein conceded in an interview with Kenyan television that he faced a challenge in forming a government to represent a broad array of the country's feuding clans. The 69-year-old was sworn in on November 24 to replace Ali Mohamed Gedi, who resigned after a long-running power struggle with President Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed. Hussein told Nation TV that naming a new cabinet was posing a challenge because he had to follow a fragile formula of appointing ministers from four major clans and one minor one, according to the constitution. Bloody clan conflict and power struggles that erupted after the 1991 ouster of dictator Mohamed Siad Barre have scuppered numerous initiatives to restore national stability (via Zacharias Liangas, Greece, DXLD) ** SPAIN. See UNIDENTIFIED 4395 ** TAIWAN. 15375, 27 Nov, 0900-, Fu Hsing BC, Kuanyin. Readable signal at last (Mauno Ritola, Finland, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) What a lucky 10 kW station. Per Aoki, has the frequency to itself until 1100 when RFA and Chicom jamming come on: 15375 Fu Hsing BS 2300-0100 1234567 Chinese 10 TWN FHBS b07//9410 15375 Fu Hsing BS 0400-0600 1234567 Chinese 10 TWN FHBS b07 15375 Fu Hsing BS 0800-1000 1234567 Chinese 10 TWN FHBS b07 15375 Fu Hsing BS 1100-1300 1234567 Chinese 10 TWN FHBS b07 15375*R.FREE ASIA 1100-1200 1234567 Tibetan 500 75 Dhabbaya UAE 15375*R.FREE ASIA 1200-1229 1234567 Tibetan(Amdo) 500 75 Dhabbaya UAE 15375*R.FREE ASIA 1229-1300 1234567 Tibetan(Khams) 500 75 Dhabbaya UAE 05414E2411 IBB/RFA b07 And here`s their other frequency, but which has a lot more QRM, from China and BBC: 9410 Fu Hsing BS 0400-0600 1234567 Chinese 10 TWN FHBS b07 9410 Fu Hsing BS 0800-1000 1234567 Chinese 10 TWN FHBS b07 9410 Fu Hsing BS 1100-1300 1234567 Chinese 10 TWN FHBS b07 9410 Fu Hsing BS 2300-0100 1234567 Chinese 10 TWN FHBS b07//15375 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** TRINIDAD & TOBAGO. BBC LAUNCHES ITS FIRST 24-HOUR FM RELAY IN TRINIDAD Date: 26.11.2007 Listeners in Trinidad and Tobago can enjoy for the first time the BBC's internationally-famous radio programmes 24-hours a day, seven days a week with the launch of BBC 98.7 FM. Audiences across both islands now have access to a wider mixture of BBC programmes including some tailored specifically for the Caribbean. Debbie Ransome, Head of BBC Caribbean, said: "This is our third 24- hour BBC radio station in the Caribbean and our first in Trinidad and Tobago. I am delighted that more of our listeners can hear, for the first time, the full range of BBC programmes in FM quality." Audiences can enjoy programmes tailored specifically for the region, including BBC Caribbean's flagship programme Caribbean Report broadcast three times a day. With its mix of news from the region and across the world it has attracted top decision-makers including prime ministers and opposition leaders. The morning edition of Caribbean Report can be heard at 07.05 local time [1105 UT also on SW], the lunchtime edition at 12.00 and the evening edition at 17.15 local time. [2115 UT = also on 11675 via Greenville] Sports Caribbean at 07.10 local time is compiled by BBC World Service Sports. It provides timely on-the-spot reports from BBC commentators at major sporting events in the Caribbean and across the world including cricket test matches and English Premier League football. Caribbean Magazine at 07.15 local time reflects the blend of cultural influences in the Caribbean and its diaspora. Audiences across the world can also listen to audio of their favourite programmes and stay across key issues affecting the Caribbean at http://bbccaribbean.com Other BBC programmes available on BBC 98.7 FM include Newshour, which is 60 minutes of news and analysis of the day's top stories from the BBC's most experienced correspondents; Outlook, which brings human interest stories from across the globe; and World, Have Your Say, the daily multimedia interactive phone-in programme encouraging people across the world to debate global and local topics. They can also question experts and leading international figures in the news. BBC programmes can also be heard on two BBC FM relays in the Caribbean, BBC 89.1 FM in Antigua and BBC 104 FM in Jamaica (BBC World Service Publicity via DXLD) Another trans-equatorial DX target! Attention, Paraná; see PROPAGATION (gh) ** U K. BBC MEMORYSHARE: JAMMING THE GERMANS --- Jonathan Marks writes in the Broadcast & Podcasts Gadgets blog: The 75th anniversary of BBC WS has started some very interesting recollections - including how the BBC was prepared to jam its own network in the event of a Nazi invasion of Britain. http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/memoryshare/worldservice/A28549795 (December 1st, 2007 - 18:21 UTC by Andy, Media Network blog via DXLD) ** U K. OFCOM ANNOUNCE OLYMPIC RADIO SPECTRUM CONSULTATION Ofcom today set out its approach to planning the use of radio spectrum for the London 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games. Hopefully it will be possible to use the Olympics as a launch pad for new technologies such as 60 GHz video transmission and it is good to see that Ofcom is consulting on this issue. Spectrum planning for the London 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games http://www.ofcom.org.uk/consult/condocs/spectrum2012/ Consultation document http://www.ofcom.org.uk/consult/condocs/spectrum2012/condoc.pdf How to respond to the consultation http://www.ofcom.org.uk/consult/condocs/spectrum2012/howtorespond/ 60 GHz could be used for home video distribution http://www.southgatearc.org/news/june2007/sibeam.htm Samsung, Sony back SiBeam at 60 GHz http://eetimes.eu/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=193500509 Industry coverts Amateur Radio THz allocations http://www.southgatearc.org/news/october2007/ultrawideband_under_the_gun.htm WirelessHD - 60 GHz http://www.wirelesshd.org/ 73 (Trevor M5AKA, monitoringmonthly yg via DXLD) ** U S A. Oh Lord, I have an enormous problem --- WYFR Anomaly. Sunday, December 2, 2007, 0409, 6915 am. WYFR Family Radio has invaded the pirate band with a completely incomprehensible, all f*ked up transmission. The echo on their feed renders the transmission incomprehensible, humorous and scary all at the same time. At 0416, this is starting to sound like the Voice of Satan. s30 and still f*ked up at 0454. Argh! At 0524 check, the echo is gone, but a boring staid scripture reading remains with an overwhelming signal (Larry Will, Mount Airy, Maryland, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Hi Larry, Dec 2, still heard on 6915, with slight echo, but readable, from 0616-0634, with Spanish religious programming and music, strong signal (Ron Howard, CA, Etón E1, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) WYFR is having some strange problem with double audio, like echoes of about the same strength. Not long/short path in this case, I am quite sure. Dec 2 at 0623 the WYFR (not RTI) Cantonese to WNAm transmission on 5985 exhibited this, and also at 1349 on 13695, WYFR Mandarin to NAm. This anomaly was first reported by Larry Will in Maryland, December 2, at 0409-0416 on new 6915; when I checked 6915 at 0615 I heard no echo, but Ron Howard in California still did, tho not so bad (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 6915 NF? WYFR, 0705-0720+, Dec 2, English religious programming. Odd 1 or 2 second echo or reverb effect. Very strong. Good audio but terrible echo effect. New frequency? Punch-up error? Why this weird echo? WYFR not heard on listed 6875 so perhaps a frequency change. Heard // 7455, 9985 - all with echo. Also heard in Spanish on 7520 & 6000 with echo (Brian Alexander, PA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) WYFR NF 6915 was already reported in 7-144, minus echo (gh, DXLD) ** U S A. PUBLIC RADIO HOLIDAY SPECIALS 2007-2008 WWFM [UT -5] [12/1 - 1/3 ] http://www.wwfm.org/program_holiday.shtml WHYY [UT -5] [12/5 -12/31] http://www.whyy.org/91FM/specials.html WAMC [UT -5] [12/4 - 1/1 ] http://www.wamc.org/whatsnew.html#gal WAER [UT -5] [12/4 -12/31] http://www.waer.org/holiday2007b.html WUOT [UT -5] [12/5 -12/24] http://www.wuot.org/h/programming/holidays2007.html WKSU [UT -5] [12/4 - 1/1 ] http://www.wksu.org/features/holidayschedule2007/ WPRm [UT -6] [12/12 -1/1 ] http://www.wpr.org/music/special/holiday2007.cfm KUNI [UT -6] [12/23- 1/1 ] http://www.kuniradio.org/xmasprogramming.html KRCU [UT -6] [12/4 -12/31] http://www.semo.edu/sepr/news/index_16115.htm KWGS/KWTU [UT-6] [12/5-1/1] http://www.kwgs.org/holiday.html [not stereo] KCSC [UT -6] [12/20-12/25] http://www.kcscfm.com/programs/programs_special.asp KMUW [UT -6] [12/5 -12/26] http://www.kmuw.org/SpecialPrograms.html KBYU [UT -7] [12/4 -12/25] http://classical89.org/specials/ KVPR [UT -8] [12/2 -12/31] http://www.kvpr.org/pdf/holiday_specials.pdf NWPR [UT -8] [12/8 - 1/1 ] http://www.kwsu.org/KWSU_NWPR/Holidays/Holiday.aspx More to be added; check http://www.worldofradio.com/calendar.html#holiday 73, (Glenn Hauser, Dec 1, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) WXXI [UT -5] [12/1 - 1/1 ] http://wxxi.org/holiday/index.html Yrs. truly will be hosting our news programming on the mornings of 12/24 and 12/25, from 5-10 AM and 6-10 AM, respectively. s (Scott Fybush, Rochester, ABDX via DXLD) During my career as an announcer, I was often the only Jewish person at the station where I was working, so I ended up on the air every single Xmas and every single Easter for about 13 years (Donna Halper, ibid.) Amen to that! I don't mind doing it, either; it's quite peaceful up there with nobody else at the station save for whoever's filling in down the hall on the FM, and the lone TV master control operator downstairs. (And I get done with work with plenty of time left for a nap before the traditional movie-and-Chinese-food later in the day!) s (Scott Fybush, ibid.) ** U S A. CONNOISSEUR CLASSICS -- ONLINE RADIO SERVICE AVAILABLE TO LOCAL LISTENERS [Tidewater VA] By DAVID NICHOLSON | 757-247-4794 10:35 AM EST, November 29, 2007 http://www.dailypress.com/features/dp-now-radiofeature-1129,0,4779611.story WHRO public broadcasting station is launching "Connoisseur Classics," a new online radio service for classical music listeners beginning Dec. 1. Programmed by WHRO announcer Raymond Jones, "Connoisseur Classics" will offer programming not readily available from other classical outlets. It will explore music from the Middle Ages to the 21st Century and will feature works rarely performed on mainstream radio and online media outlets. These works will include full-length, obscure operas; out-of-print recordings; and works by lesser-known composers. " 'Connoisseur Classics' will present alternative classical music designed for the more sophisticated and adventurous listener," says WHRO-FM Program Director Dwight Davis, "It promises to be an exciting adventure, and through online technology, we're looking forward to attracting listeners from all over the world." The stream is available to online listeners by going to www.whro.org and clicking on the "Connoisseur Classics" link. Connoisseur Classics joins WHRO's growing family of online radio programs, which includes "The 1920s Radio Network," radioNtenna and the WHRO Radio Reading Service. Connoisseur Classics will present the music of the Yuletide season during the month of December and begin programming classical music on Jan. 1 (via Kevin Redding, Nov 29, ABDX via DXLD) What a terrible way to launch it, with everyone already running Xmas music into the ground (gh, DXLD) ** U S A. WVKO format change --- Group: WVKO, 1580, Columbus, has apparently given up its efforts to steal WXOL's audience. Heard them yesterday in English announcing format change to progressive talk. Will carry Big Ed from noon to 3, then move to Gas America. Don't know how they think they'll do any better with this format than Clear Channel did with it on 1230 (David Faulkner, Dec 1, IRCA via DXLD) WVKO-AM SWITCHING TO LIBERAL TALK FORMAT Friday, November 30, 2007 4:31 AM By Tim Feran THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH http://www.columbusdispatch.com/live/content/life/stories/2007/11/30/2_WVKO_TALK.ART_ART_11-30-07_D7_JP8KGO7.html?sid=101 Progressive talk radio will return Monday to the Columbus airwaves. WVKO (1580 AM), which returned from bankruptcy a few months ago and has been airing Spanish-language content, will switch to a format featuring liberal talkers Bill Press, Stephanie Miller and Ed Schultz -- barring last-minute engineering issues. The format is similar to what the former WTPG aired before switching to conservative talk under the call letters WYTS (1230 AM), said WVKO General Manager Gary Richards. The new WVKO lineup includes Press from 6 to 9 a.m., Miller from 9 to noon and Schultz from noon to 3 p.m. [EST = UT -5] Plans for the rest of the day remain tentative but probably will include Air America's Randi Rhodes and Rachel Maddow, and replays of The Lionel Show, Richards said. "We're also doing a lot of local sports, although I'm not at liberty as yet to say what we'll have," he said. "We're going to do a lot of news and local talk, too. Our studios are a block from the Statehouse. I'm always surprised there isn't more political talk on the radio locally." WVKO-AM went off the air in May 2006 after the investment firm D.B. Zwirn Special Opportunities Fund took possession in a bankruptcy auction. It returned to the air in July, broadcasting a Spanish format with sister station WVKO (103.1 FM). WVKO-FM will keep that format. The AM station -- a voice in the black community for 40 years before its bankruptcy -- moves to a format that struggled in its previous incarnation but was loved by its listeners. When WTPG dropped progressive talk in January, fans gathered more than 1,000 names on a petition to keep the programming in place, to no avail. Richards hopes those listeners tune in the new WVKO-AM. "Especially with AM stations, you're kind of limited in what you can do," he said. "Music is a losing proposition on AM, and we had to find a niche, and we think there is one in political talk -- especially with 'something big' (the 2008 election) going on next year." (via Artie Bigley, OH, DXLD) All you need to know about WVKO: http://ltradio.blogspot.com/2007/11/all-you-need-to-know-about-wvko.html (via Bigley, DXLD) Above blog has a handy schedule of liberal talk radio shows and live audio linx: http://ltradio.blogspot.com (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) This public release says there will be a welcome back party for Stephanie Miller: http://www.nonstopradio.com/ (Artie Bigley, DXLD) That site promotes progressive talk radio in all markets, not just Columbus (gh) And another blog on liberal talk radio: http://www.talkingradio.blogspot.com/ (via Bigley, DXLD) ** U S A. Hi All, Looks like KVNS 1700 [Brownsville TX] has changed format from Spanish to English 60's and 70's Oldies now. I just tuned across the channel and noted oldies, absent is the usually Spanish. Not sure when to change took place. The slogan I heard was "It's classic Rock n Roll for the work day, Oldies Radio 1700 KVNS". Thanks (James Niven, Cedar Creek, Texas, Dec 2, IRCA et al. via DXLD) ** U S A. IBOC on KOA, WWWT: see DIGITAL BROADCASTING ** U S A. MAJOR CHANGES TO LPFM RULES AND TRANSLATOR PROCEDURES The FCC today announced some major changes to the LPFM rules and FM translator processing procedures. I'm not going to have time to absorb these for a day or two. (but I'll bet you'll find them discussed to death elsewhere!) The highlights from a quick scan: - Out of the thousands of applications for new FM translators that are still pending, the Commission will only process ten from each applicant. With the recent NCE-FM window they processed the ten with the earliest filing numbers (the ten that were filed first, though it's possible all of them were filed in a matter of minutes, since they were all filed over the Internet). I would presume the same process will be used here. - Only Congress can lift the restriction on use of 3rd-adjacent channels for LPFM. The FCC will ask Congress to do so. (you can expect intense lobbying by the NAB to keep these restrictions in place; the lifting of 3rd-adjacent restrictions is not a done deal. This is strictly a lobbying thing, not a right-vs.-left thing, so I don't think the change in control of Congress will have any effect on what happens.) - LPFMs will be partially protected from interference from technical upgrades by full-power stations. - In some circumstances, when LPFMs are "bumped" by full-power stations, the full-power station will be required to cover the LPFM's expenses in moving to a new site/frequency. They also established new public-service and access requirements for commercial TV. I would imagine the short-term result of these changes will be fewer LPFMs disappearing after full-power upgrades. In the longer term it will allow a modest increase in the number of LPFMs operating (once another LPFM filing window can be opened/processed) and an increase, but far more modest than expected, in the number of FM translators operating. There's probably more meat on these bones for LPFM, for translators, and for TV. Keep your eyes open (Doug Smith W9WI, Pleasant View, TN EM66, Nov 28, WTFDA via DXLD) NAB RESPONDS TO FCC LPFM ANNOUNCEMENT http://www.fmqb.com/Article.asp?id=522253 (via Artie Bigley, DXLD) ** U S A. SHOCKED LENO STAFFERS FIRED AS STRIKE DRAGS ON By Paul Bond Fri Nov 30, 8:47 PM PST A couple of days after the Writers Guild of America strike began November 5, the star of "The Tonight Show With Jay Leno" told some 80 of his idled staffers that they need not worry about their finances. Leno was so adamant about paychecks being safe, many didn't bother looking for new jobs even though NBC was forecasting layoffs. So it came as quite a shock Friday when the entire staff was told that they were not only out of a job but also that they weren't guaranteed of being rehired once "The Tonight Show" returns. . . http://tv.yahoo.com/the-tonight-show-with-jay-leno/show/34238/news/urn:newsml:tv.reuters.com:20071201:leno_dc__ER:17355;_ylt=Ao0Q_oPeR1YSCog8WLDi8rTiv9EF (Reuters via yahoo via DXLD) ** VENEZUELA. There have been zero requests to forward the anti-Chávez powerpoint presentation someone sent us, but it did provoke yet another pro-Chávez rant by Adán González, so in fairness if anyone would like to see that, ask for it to be forwarded, upon this fateful day for the future of Venezuela (Glenn Hauser, Dec 2, DX LISTENING DIGEST) See also GERMANY [and non] CNN ** ZANZIBAR. 11735, Radio Tanzania-Zanzibar, 1759-1820, Dec 1, Swahili talk. Afro-pop, Afro-rap music. Fair. No English news today. I have heard English on previous Saturdays, but not today (Brian Alexander, PA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ZIMBABWE [non]. Radio Voice of the People (clandestine) on 11610 from 1700 to 1800 UT, Sunday, Dec.2. Very strong signal in vernacular then English after about 1735. In spite of signal strength, English difficult to understand. Frequencies and times announced; I think they said 11610 also from 0400 to 0500 UT (which is listed as such on Eibi website). (Bernie O'Shea, Ottawa, Ontario, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Yes, both the 04 and 17 broadcasts are now on 11610, 265 degrees from Madagascar, per RNW sked (gh, DXLD) UNIDENTIFIED. 1/12 0700 UT - 3880 kHz (R7), US religious station. What's? Segnale sufficiente-buono, Aoki/EiBi not listed (SWL I1- 0799GE, Luca Botto Fiora, Rapallo (Genova), Italy, G.C. 09E13 - 44N21, playdx yg via DXLD) Well, of course not. No US broadcast station would be authorized to transmit in the 80m hamband. I think some AM-mode US hams hang out around this frequency, however, mistaken for preacher? Or maybe an Irish or other pirate? (Glenn Hauser, DXLD) UNIDENTIFIED. Anybody knows something about this? 4395, 12/01, Spanish, 0703-0715, male and female talks, 22222. 73's (Lúcio Otávio Bobrowiec, Embu SP, Brasil (23 33 S, 46 51 W), Sony ICF SW40, dipole 18m, 32m, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Lúcio: 4395 AM, Relay de Radio Nacional de España, reportada el 1 de Dic a las 1700 UT desde Sacañet en Castellón; en principio pensé que se trataba de un armónico, fuertemente interferida por estación utilitaria. 73 (José Miguel Romero, Spain, ibid.) Hola: La misma frecuencia utilizada por aquella extraña emisión de Onda Cero, el 14 de octubre. Emisión que cesó de manera repentina y de la que [¿no?] logramos averiguar mucho. En días posteriores en dicha frecuencia escuché tráfico de una estación costera. Cordialmente (Tomás Méndez, Spain, ibid.) ESPAÑA, 4395, Radio Nacional de España, 1535-1540, escuchada el 1 de diciembre en español a locutora con programa y cuña de identificación, fuerte interferencia de estación utilitaria. En principio no le di mucha importancia a esta escucha, ya que pensé se trataba de algún armónico o de alguna emisión fantasma, de las muchas que suelo captar con la Sangean si tengo puesta la antena de hílo, pero me ha llamado la atención el log desde Brasil de Lúcio Otávio, que también la captó. Desconozco la procedencia de esta emisión; hoy 2 de diciembre también he notado a las 1708 que estaba la emisión en la misma frecuencia, pero a nivel de ruido, muy difícil intentar comprender nada, SINPO 22332 (José Miguel Romero, Valencia, Spain, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. 11785, re 7-144: The Saudi transmitter is irregularly heard on about 11785, and appeared to be operating normally when last logged. My guess is that the 'big buzz' comes from Indonesia. I wrote about it some weeks ago when it was particularly bad - so bad, that understanding the programme content wasn't easy. Repairs must have been carried out as the noise ceased, but the fault has probably returned (Noel Green, England, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. I checked WHRA, 11785, only English at 1930. I will check each day, and, if I hear this unknown language, I'll take a crack at IDing it, though I doubt I have any linguistic ability beyond what you have (Tim Hendel, Huntsville AL, Dec 1, DX LISTENING DIGEST) I heard this only Thu Nov 22 at 1939, and have not managed to check it again, even on Thu Nov 29 (gh, DXLD) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ PUBLICATIONS ++++++++++++ WORLD RADIO TV HANDBOOK 2008 Available 5 December - order your copy now! We are delighted to announce the publication of the 2008 edition of WRTH. Visit our website at http://www.wrth.com to find out more and to order a copy. I hope you enjoy using this new edition. Nicholas Hardyman, Publisher Our mailing address is: WRTH Publications Ltd 8 King Edward Street Oxford, OXON OX1 4HL Our telephone: +44 (0)1865 514405 (Via Alokesh Gupta, dx_india yg via DXLD) BJÖRN MALM`S LEGACY LATIN AMERICAN DX PAGES La benéfica e infatigable labor del amigo Björn en pro del diexismo latinoamericano la podemos recordar en cualquier momento gracias a dos páginas espejo de su web, http://malm.hard-core-dx.com/ y http://www-bclnews.it/malm/ R.I.P. (Henrik Klemetz, Sweden, condiglist yg via DXLD) TRANS-PACIFIC MW DX SOUNDS AS HEARD IN JAPAN http://home.u01.itscom.net/hiroo-n/DXSounds/TransPacific.htm (via DXLD) Hiroo Nakagawa also has shots of all his equipment, quite impressive, and a nice QSL gallery (gh) MONITORING REMINDERS CALENDAR Since I listen to both SW and netcasts, I see no reason to segregate them, so I have a frequently-updated master schedule of all the good stuff on SW and the web, in my opinion. But you`ll have to deal with UT. Period. And it`s deliberately sparse between 07 and 12 UT --- http://www.worldofradio.com/calendar.html A special list of public radio holiday special pages has just been added: http://www.worldofradio.com/calendar.html#holiday 73, (Glenn Hauser, ABDX via DXLD) As under U S A LANGUAGE LESSONS ++++++++++++++++ NEW RADIO TERMS The list in the latest DXLD is incomplete. Lord only knows where this originated, but there are more from the fertile minds of M.A.R.E. DXpeditioners: Aerialstrangulation (noun); Catching oneself on an antenna or lead-in. Altapredictafadification (noun); The predictable fading of weak stations at the top of the hour. Assapainification (noun); An affliction caused by DXing for 4 or more hours. Automatopoeia (noun); The sounds made by Car Talk callers trying to reproduce noises their cars make. Capacitance (noun); The amount your bladder will hold while DXing. Chatenuator (noun); The person who tells the one whose always talking during DX sessions to "Shut Up!" Dahditerference (noun); Those pesky beacons when trying to listen to LWBC stations. Depeche Mode (noun); Obsolete transmission mode for annoying rock music. Dethronification (noun); A rare phenomena wherein a DXer is quietly doing his thing, and his chair suddenly explodes. It's one of the more exciting things that can happen at a DXpedition. Related to Exsagification. Dially Parton (noun); The largest knob on your radio. Disaerialation (noun); The sharp dropoff in signal strength due to your antenna becoming disconnected. DXhaling (noun); What you do after holding your breath for 3 minutes at the top of the hour hoping to ID that weak station. Exsagification (noun); The relatively common phenomena wherein a DXers aluminum lawn chair slowly collapses, trappping the DXer in a semi- fetal position. Related to dethronification. Fadenapper (noun); A person who nods off while DXing. Finger Mortis (noun); Digital stiffness accompanying excessive dial twisting and button pushing. Folgerized (adj.); The condition of your log book after spilling coffee on it. Frankenceiver (noun); A radio composed of parts from many different radios (related to the frankenputer). Geneology (noun); Dr. Gene's philosophical waxings. Grayline Disorder (noun); A psychiatric disorder that causes people to listen to India on the radio, eat mysterious pork products, and BS constantly. It is found more often in men than women, altho' the latter have been known to suffer intensely from it. It is unknown if such women have gender identity problems. Both male and female victims have been mistaken for lawyers, Canadians, terrorists, communists, libertarians, politicians, engineers and whatever else, except ballet dancers. There is no known cure for this sorry disease. Illumigonging (noun); Bumping one's head into a lantern at a DXpedition. Imagineering (noun); Synonym for list logging. Knobulation (noun); Adding accessories to an expensive receiver, so that you'll have more buttons to push and dials to twist. Knobulated (adj) Having undergone knobulation. Knobfuscation (noun); Confusion as to which dial to turn or button to push to improve reception. Phonication (noun); The act of plugging in your head phones. Phonus Interruptus (noun); What occurs when you slide your chair away from your receiver and the headphone cord has become entangled in the chair, a you get hit in a sensitive spot with the sling-shotting banana plug. Repestation (noun); Reporting the same stations over, and over, and over... Schizocopiosis (noun); Confused state of mind developed while trying to copy one station under another one. Statictician (noun); A person who enters hearing any odd sound in his logbook, or a person who can copy ARQTOR without a decoder. Texas Holdem (noun); What Lone Star DXers with full bladders do while Tristan da Cunha is on (Harold Frodge, MI, DX LISTENING DIGEST) MUSEA +++++ MARCONI EXHIBITION IN CHELMSFORD - ESSEX A modern art exhibition about Marconi is talking place in Chelmsford in the new year. Artist Elaine Tribly is working with 11 others to get the project off the ground. The first ever art exhibition, inspired by the radio pioneer Marconi, will open in Chelmsford in January. http://www.bbc.co.uk/essex/content/articles/2007/11/26/marconi_exhibition_feature.shtml (via Steve Whitt, MWC via DXLD) DIGITAL BROADCASTING ++++++++++++++++++++ DRM TO INVADE TROPICAL BANDS [no DRM mentions above in this issue] For Immediate Release: November 27th, 2007 Contact: Fanny Podworny, DRM, pressoffice@drm.org Telephone number: +49 228 429 3105 DRM is Approved by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) For “Tropical Band” Shortwave Broadcasting Geneva, Switzerland – The ITU is the United Nations organization for coordination of the use of the radio spectrum. Every 4 years it conducts a thorough review and modification of the regulations for the use of the radio spectrum, including broadcasting use. Since 2002 Digital Radio Mondiale's (Drm) system has been endorsed by the ITU for broadcasting over the world in the long-wave, medium-wave and short-wave frequencies, with the exception of the "tropical zone" bands. The tropical zone bands are the frequencies near the lower end of the shortwave spectrum that are reserved for domestic (national) broadcasting. It includes countries located roughly in latitudes between 30 degrees North and South like Indonesia, India, Pakistan, Iran, Egypt, Congo, South Africa, Mexico, Brazil, and many others countries are concerned. At the last World Radiocommunicaton Conference (WRC) of the ITU in Geneva, the conference officially approved Drm system in the broadcasting bands between 3200 and 5900 kHz for domestic coverage in the "tropical zone" countries. This major regulatory achievement opens up a huge market for the benefit of the citizens from this part of the world. The Drm Consortium is very pleased with this outcome that “ the recognition of the Drm system is now totally worldwide for all digital radio applications of various types around the world in the traditional broadcasting bands below 30 MHz – long-wave, medium-wave and short-wave” said Dr. H. Donald Messer, DRM representative at WRC. Moreover, the Drm Consortium has developed an adaptation of its system to the VHF bands I and II (the "old TV" and "FM" bands, respectively). It is currently being field tested and is in the final part of the standardization process. When completed in the near future, the Drm system will be available for worldwide use in all the terrestrial broadcasting bands up to and including the "FM" band. Coverage can range from less than 100 square kilometers using very low power levels, to well over 1,000,000 square kilometers using powers approaching 100 kW (DRM press release via DXLD) Stands clear that hi-jacking of the major SW bands by the ITU beast wasn't enough. It's now Tropical Bands Time! Sad reality: SW listeners are a thing of the past - at least for the ITU, otherwise they won't express this lack of respect - and we DXers don't count for them. You know what I really think of all this (maybe someone posted before): DRM is not the salvation of short wave listening. Not necessarily because there are no DRM capable receivers yet in the market, even after more then two years testings started. It's simply because even older people like me (or you) fell in love with the Internet. If DRM transmissions succeed, will be simply among us the same people that won't give up easily looking at our old tracks, traveling upon this technology, but not without a sense of nostalgia. 73s (Raúl Saavedra, Costa Rica, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) This is an interesting development. Reception of DRM often is problematic in the long-distance circuits of the international shortwave broadcast bands above 5900 kHz. The tropical bands are generally used for domestic or regional short-haul circuits. DRM will probably prove more reliable over such distances and on such frequencies. And DRM could provide a "poor man's FM" for listeners in remote areas of some countries. The segments involved are the 90-meter tropical broadcast band, 3200-3400 kHz, and the 60-meter band, 4750- 4995 kHz. The 120-meter band, 2300-2498 kHz, was not mentioned, perhaps it falls just under the high-frequency (HF) range, 3-30 MHz. But DRM would be useful in this band, as well. Posted: 30 Nov 2007 (Kim Andrew Elliott, kimandrewelliott.com via DXLD) DTV ARTICLE: A PORTABLE TV PROBLEM Hello All, I found this article in a Palm Beach, Florida newspaper and decided to forward it to the group. It brings up one glaring problem with the ATSC DTV standard - it won't work unless the receiver is sitting still. The back of the box for my Insignia portable carries a warning about this in English, French and Spanish: "For best reception, TV should be stationary. Pour une reception optimale, le televiseur doit etre fixe. Para la mejor recepcion, el televisor tiene que estar estacionario." Summary of article: In hurricane country, the locals are apprised of the DTV transition, with the proviso portable DTVs are expensive and hard to find, plus they must be stationary to work. The writer advises going back to that old standby in an emergency --- a transistor radio. http://www.palmbeachpost.com/localnews/content/local_news/epaper/2007/11/22/1122digitaltv.html (via Curtis Sadowski, IL, WTFDA via DXLD) I am monitoring DTV (mostly 18 miles from any transmitters) through an indoor antenna, yet on windy days I still get many dropouts. The only explanation is that the transmitting towers that extend 1300 feet into the more windy air are shaking in the wind. If a moving transmitter antenna can break up DTV, I am sure a moving receiving antenna will also. I first noticed this with my RCA STB and now on a Samsung HDTV. (Allan Dunn, K1UCY, WTFDA via DXLD) And not really much different from someone using rabbit ears on an analog TV getting the same results. But I don't know if the issue is the transmitting antenna moving, the receive antenna moving (presuming an outdoor antenna ) or, and more probably IMO this is the action of the wind blowing the trees and leaves around near the receiver location (Russ Edmunds, Blue Bell, PA, ibid.) The break up of the picture is more likely due to the movement of trees between the transmitter and the receiving antenna. The resulting reflected signals which are reaching your indoor antenna are causing the breakup of the digital signal. I have found that DTV signals require a more stable (less reflected) signal than analog signals do. I have a lot of trees between my house and the local signals about 17 miles to my north. If the trees are wet or covered with snow or ice and there is more wind, I do see more ghosting on some of the analog channels, but I have to use the antenna up in the attic to get a stable DTV signal on the same station's digitals. The higher antenna gets less of the reflected signals on the analog channels also. This is especially true on the UHF digitals which are more prone to reflection in those circumstances (Bob Seaman, Hazleton, PA, ibid.) I had thought of that, but in the winter when there are no leaves on the trees, thus much less surface to reflect off, I have the identical problem. It does not appear to be a seasonal problem. Let me tell you of what I observed on the FM band some years ago. On very windy days, my favorite FM station (also 18 miles away on a very high stick) would have dropouts like you get with a poorly soldered wire connection. What was happening was the receiving antenna of the 900 MHz studio-transmitter link which is very directional was being blown such that its pattern intermittently was outside of the beam of the transmitting antenna three miles away and much lower in altitude. In my case I have the problem with no leaves and no ice if it is windy. I would assume the direct signal is also stronger such that the AGC of the receiver can handle it. Whether it is reflections or phase shifts due to transmitting or receiving antennas moving, it appears to me that portable DTV sets in a mobile environment are not practical. And that is what this thread is about. Thanks for your insight (Allan Dunn, K1UCY, ibid.) Since many (but not all) DTV signals have now been relocated into the UHF band, could the wind itself play havoc with the transmitted shorter wavelengths? I know that this does not seem reasonable, but could it be? My gut is that the "sweet spot" between the swaying transmission tower and the possibly swaying receiving antenna has moved, albeit very little (Dave Hascall, ibid.) Hi Dave, I don't think the wind could do it, other than causing the antennas, both receiving and transmitting, to go out of phase. Atmospheric moisture would be far more likely to have a part in signal degradation. All summer long here at Paxton I had trouble receiving WCIA-DT during the day, which I figure was due to the humidity in the air. All in all, ATSC seems to be a VERY fragile system for useful signal delivery. I understand that there is a Japanese DTV system that is much more robust that works well in mobile situations. I'm thinking that not too many years down the road, ATSC will be superseded by it, or something like it (Curtis Sadowski, IL, ibid.) I know it was a stretch but I know that shorter wavelengths can penetrate more easily through concrete and steel, so I'm at a loss as to the dropouts. Yeah, I think that the sweet spot between the rx and tx antennas is critical. I thought that DTV was supposed to be less prone to multipath but I guess not. Or was that HD radio on FM handled multipath better? (Dave Hascall, ibid.) Hi Dave, I think DTV was supposed to handle it better, at least in being un-ghostable. That brings to mind something I hadn't thought of- ATSC signals being unreadable due to multipath reflections, you know like off aircraft or even large trucks. Being in Paxton, where the only aircraft seen (other than distant contrails) is a small autogyro, aircraft didn't come right to mind. Away from the cities, people seldom think of airplanes, except perhaps for small one-engined craft. My daughter Emily didn't see her first jet until she was five. We were visiting my mother in suburban Chicago when a large passenger jet flew over. Emily quite shakenly asked what it was. She'd never seen one before then, and didn't know any planes existed other than small Cessnas and Pipers she'd seen in Central Illinois. Back to the point, perhaps some of you near airports have experience in how large aircraft affect ATSC signals (Curtis Sadowski, Paxton, Illinois, ibid.) Is it the wind or the atmospheric condition that is present as well? I have heard people complain about wind causing distortion on UHF, but I have never experienced that. It is hard to believe that regular UHF antennas are so directional that a few inches of sway would make a difference (Mike Glass, Indianapolis, ibid.) Let's call Mythbusters! (David Hascall, ibid.) A comment about UHF reception in an analog mode: I have a 17" B/W older Zenith TV that is in the basement. It has a UHF circular antenna attached to the back of the set. On windy days, at least one of the UHF channels fades in & out as the wind blows. The set and antenna are stationary. This seems to be a quirk of UHF signals in that they seem to be very 'picky'. I do not have line of sight to the transmitters, as they are about 13 miles distant. Years ago, while installing UHF antennas, a height distance of only 6 to 12 inches could make a real difference: I suspect UHF DTV has the same attributes (John Ebeling, Bloomington, MN, ibid.) The "fading" problem is not with ATSC primarily, it is with UHF. UHF wave fronts are short enough to be affected by small objects, up to and including foliage. In 1954 or so while my family lived in Lafayette, California it was common local practice (Orinda, Lafayette, Walnut Creek areas) for UHF antenna installers to place two separate aerials. The "fog rolling in through the Golden Gate" rolling across the bay and up to the foothills dividing Orinda from Oakland caused massive height shifts in where UHF signals were propagated. When the air was clear, the normal -at VHF antenna height- for then channels 4, 5 and 7 was also proper for UHF. But when the fog rolled, occluding the bay between SF and Oakland, the signals dropped to near ground level. Viewers were simply told "Fog antenna" and "clear antenna" and provided with a switch. Translate that to your local area and weather. (Bob Cooper in NZ, ibid.) HDTV RAIN FADE Using Hauppauge USB HDTV tuner with my PC and standard Radio Shack VHF/UHF antenna on roof, I'm able to watch/sample HDTV without spending a lot of money on an HDTV set. This is OK for me. Usually I get local Washington DC, Arlington VA, Baltimore MD and Annapolis MD HDTV stations without dropouts or lockups. Recently, during a light rain all Baltimore MD, Annapolis MD and some of the Washington DC HDTV stations were gone. I can only conclude there is a problem with digital reception when it is raining. I'm not writing about a downpour. I'm writing about a light rain. I know satellite TV suffers from rain fade. Seems, HDTV also suffers the same fate. I don't believe I've read about HDTV rain fade anywhere. Anyone else? 73, (Kraig, KG4LAC, Manassas, VA, Krist, Nov 28, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) I definitely see a "rain fade" effect on HDTV channels here in Saint Louis, MO. I recently needed to replace my dead bedroom TV so I bought a small (19") LCD Magnavox HDTV with built-in DVD, and I normally get HD DTV signals on the major network stations here, plus 4 different ones on PBS, using only an unamplified rabbit-ear type antenna. But rain plays havoc with these signals. I have been told that an amplified antenna will help prevent this, and also allow me to receive some other DTV signals that I do not get now but which I see are supposed to be on the air here. I have to get to some big-box store and get one. The rain-fade will sometimes completely blank out reception but other times will cause the DTV signal to be broken up into a pixelated mess of an image, with the audio sometimes continuing and most times cut out. It makes trying to enjoy program content pretty difficult. I predict that this effect will cause more uproar amongst the general viewing public than the actual "conversion to DTV" itself; when people buy a new set, see the good picture, and then suddenly discover that the reliability is so poor that they cannot simply watch the thing like they've been doing for decades, even after spending hundreds of $ for new equipment, they'll be blaming the local broadcasters. The other thing is that when the signal that you HAD seen before is blank, you don't know where the problem is. I have called a local broadcaster and it took the people in the office hours to find out from the engineering department if they were actually on the air in their DTV channel. (At that time, they WERE off, and told me that they were running with unusually low power during a local heat wave. Interesting, to have a system that limits public contact and broadcast capability during a time of local disaster or at least difficulty -- one would think that reaching the public during such periods is a priority, part of the public-service rationale for a broadcasting license! When analog disappears, this augurs ill...) I'd like to see other responses from people using off-the-air DTV receivers. 73, (Will Martin, St Louis MO, Nov 28, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Will, I always suspected HDTV was a scam similar to DRM or IBOC. Everyone currently wanting a TV probably has 3 or 4. Hmm... how will we sell more TVs and make more money. I know! Convince the government to switch current TV channels (not happening as much as initial HDTV proposals) then sell the analog channels thereby making the government plenty of money. Geez... how many time have we all heard this proposal? Lots. When as the government or the people actually benefited from these actions? Probably never. IMO, paying hundreds or thousands of dollars for TV is crazy. There is nothing I personally need to watch in high def. The nightly news is currently OK. Shows on PBS are currently OK. Why do I personally need HDTV? So someone can profit when I purchase a new receiver. Such BS. 73, (Kraig, KG4LAC Krist, ibid.) Yes, here in Tasmania we have the same problem with both Standard and High Definition but not with analog. It does depend on the amount dripping from the sky. A drizzle is no problem but fortunately I am LOS from the senders on Mount Barrow. Yet parts of this city are hilly and whilst digital TV is ghost-free, when it rains some areas get no signal. From my experience, standard definition TV(SDTV) as per our standards here in Australia is superior to analog but to pay another 1k or more for HDTV is not on either as the majority of programming is SDTV quality. Also HDTV does not seem to run 24/7 unlike SDTV. It is also funny because HDTV programs do not have any commercials but a blank screen. Apparently ads haven't been made in HDTV format yet. Here in my retirement village, they do have several plasma TV's in lounges for clients and yes the picture quality, particularly on live broadcasts is a little better than SDTV. One station endlessly plays promos and not the same material as on SDTV. Digital TV is ghost-free unlike analog. We have put up for 40 years with ghosty pictures. My city is hilly and there are also some dead spots which meant that translators had to be installed. However the takeup of digital TV is this city and region is over 70% or higher. Analog is scheduled to be phased out from 2008-2010. Also one thing I have noticed and it is rather annoying is that digital TV "live" is actually slower than analog, particularly on sports programs. Radio commentaries are often between 2 to 7 seconds ahead of the live action. For instance a radio commentary of a cricket test will tell you that a batsmen is out before the ball has even been bowled. Anybody seen digital TV pictures yet via sporadic E? Or via tropo ducting? At least with analog you saw a picture but with digital it is all or nothing (Robin L. Harwood, VK7RH, Norwood, Tasmania, AUSTRALIA, ibid.) This is progress? O yes, some North American TVDXers have been quite successful in DXing DTV by tropo, racking up hundreds of stations by now, I think. It`s been much more difficult by sporadic E but a few identifiable catches have been made. I am unabashedly fond of analog DX TV signals with snow, fading and interference, showing the dynamism of the `spheres. Here`s one nice collexion of analog Es, tho he has real problems aiming the camera: http://s201.photobucket.com/albums/aa155/jrost626/Tv%20E%20Skip/?start=all (Glenn Hauser, OK, DXLD) "HD RADIO: SHAME ON YOU" Mark Ramsey en fuego: http://www.hear2.com/2007/11/hd-radio-shame.html If you wanted to find the original Radio & Records article Mark references, it's titled "HD2.1" and is in their archives under the date 11/24. One interesting tidbit in it is that the HD Radio Alliance claims 500K HD receivers were sold in 2006 and that 1-1.5 million will be sold this year. Is there anyone out there stupid enough to believe those figures? (Harry Helms, W5HLH, Smithville, TX EL19, http://harryhelmsblog.blogspot.com/ Nov 28, ABDX via DXLD) This week’s big news on the IBOC front is that KOA 850 Denver has its turned off, first noted by John Wilkins on 11/24. Says John: “This week we feature 840 and 860 (loggings), for obvious reasons-- no new ones yet on those frequencies but I’m trying!” Wayne Heinen also notes KOA’s IBOC downtime: “As I write this KOA 850’s IBOC has not been heard since I noticed it Sunday 11/25. Maybe the 50 kW blowtorches are getting some complaints that may make everyone think twice about IBOC on the AM band both night and hopefully day.” This is now the third straight week that we have reported on the IBOC situation in Denver, all with news of IBOC downtime. John gives us the latest update as of 11/30: “850, 630, and 1220 continue to be IBOC- less, so the total now is 11 stations locally with IBOC, seven of which run it all night.” John is currently checking on the status of KGNU 1390’s IBOC, formerly daytime only but lately heard very early in the morning, to see if they have gone to 24-hour use (Bill Dvorak, WI, DDXD West, NRC DX News Dec 10 via DXLD) I noticed for the first time today in a long time that WWWT 1500 (and its predecessors) has IBOC at night. Now 1490 and 1510 are wiped out even with careful tuning of the antenna (Bill Harms, Elkridge, Maryland, 2251 UT Dec 2, dxldyg via DXLD) RADIO EQUIPMENT FORUM +++++++++++++++++++++ NEW TROPICAL ANTENNA We are working on a new tropical band antenna which will aid in reaching into the most remote areas of a country. Pray with us for guidance (GALCOM prayer bulletin for Feb 29, 2008, via DXLD) Don`t forget DON MOMAN`S ANTENNAS For comparison with big broadcasting sites, here's Don Moman's radio amateur site, also well visible on Google Earth: 112 49 49.6 W 53 44 31.3 N (Mauno Ritola, Finland, shortwavesites yg via DXLD) Alberta PROPAGATION +++++++++++ "IT SEEMS TO US: ABSOLUTE ZERO" ARRL By David Sumner, K1ZZ December 1, 2007 "Sunspot-wise, we seem to be stuck in a trough between Solar Cycles 23 and 24. Lately the W1AW propagation bulletins have been reporting zero sunspots, day after day. The level of solar activity was low throughout 2006 and 2007 and is not expected to begin to pick up until around March 2008 -- months later than earlier predictions." Full article at http://www.arrl.org/news/features/2007/12/01/1/?nc=1 (via Mike Terry, dxldyg via DXLD) PROPAGATION AND WORLD OF RADIO Re 7-144: Will, No sudden ionospheric disturbance (SID) or a geomagnetic storm occurred. Depending on your location in relation to the KAIJ and WBCQ transmitter sites any number of things could have happened. This being a change in the critical frequency of the E and/or F layer, ionization changes in the D and E layers or even Sporadic E. (Es). 31 meter propagation distance wise is usually short in summer and long in winter and the KAIJ and WBCQ signals could be skipping over you. 73, (Thomas F. Giella, KN4LF Retired Space Plasma Physicist Lakeland, FL, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) I'm about 100 miles from KAIJ and can usually hear 9480 during the day and 5755 at night (I never heard them on 13815 from here). I haven't heard either channel lately (Jerry Lenamon, Waco TX, ibid.) A PREOCCUPATION WITH PACIFIC CARRIERS --- By Ray Moore Dismal transpacific conditions continue with high A index and expanded auroral oval. Only two carriers audible on the 32 channels I scan daily. 1575 (presumably Thailand) and 1098 Majuro fair carriers. Don't let this discourage you as 1575 can pop in when least expected. Many may wonder re my preoccupation with carriers. When you are after stations approaching 10,000 miles away which may only produce audio a couple of times a season or once a season or once in a lifetime - the rule is, if the station is there and you aren't you ain't going to log it. Actually hearing carriers is not a waste of time. While you can't count them as receptions, you can gain a lot of information about the station. With a balanced and calibrated loop you can pretty much tell which station is producing it. For example, Far East and DU stations are separated by approx 90 degrees. If you DF 774 kHz at 330 it is JOUB Japan. More often it will be 250 , 3LO Australia. Many carriers will have an SAH from a secondary station. With your loop you can null the SAH and have a good idea re the other station. Also by counting the seconds between the SAH peaks you can determine the exact frequency difference between the two stations. I use the R8 for scanning the channels. It is in the CW position offset by 400 Hz with the AVC off. The "passband offset" control selects either USB or LSB. When the carrier is strong enough to listen to, I switch to the homebrew receiver in the exalted carrier position. One other benefit to reporting carriers, it may induce DXers with better antenna systems or locations to give TPs a try (Ray Moore, Ft Myers FL, NRC IDXD Dec 10 via DXLD) MORE LONG-HAUL TRANS-EQUATORIAL FM DX, CARIBBEAN TO SOUTHERN BRASIL SAINT VINCENT & THE GRENADINES 96.7, 0005 26/11 Nice Radio, Kingstown, mx caribenha, OM, EE 35233 96.7, 0008 27/11 Nice Radio, Kingstown, mx caribenha, OM, EE 45333 96.7, 0009 28/11 Nice Radio, OM/OM, talks sobre futebol, menção à Garrincha e Beckenbauer, EE 45444 99.9, 0028 28/11 WE FM, Kingstown, OM/YL, anúncios, EE 43343 103.7, 0036 28/11 Hitz FM, Kingstown, mx caribenha, OM, EE 45243 GUADELOUPE 97.0, 0104 26/11 RFO (R. Guadeloupe), Basse-Terre, OM, nxs, FF 15231 97.0, 0011 28/11 RFO (R. Guadeloupe), Basse-Terre, OM, nxs, FF 45333 102.6, 0034 28/11 NRJ Antilles, Basse-Terre, mx pop, FF 44233 MARTINIQUE 94.0, 0010 27/11 RFO (R. Martinique), Trinité, OM, nxs, FF 35233 94.0, 0010 28/11 RFO (R. Martinique), Trinité, OM, nxs, FF 35333 94.3, 0030 28/11 RFO (R. Martinique), Morne-Rouge, mx, FF // 94.0 MHz 45333 ANTIGUA & BARBUDA 91.9, 0031 28/11 Hitz FM, Saint John's, mx caribenha, OM/YL, EE 45333 UNID 92.7, 0056 28/11 Unid, mx caribenha, OM, EE 45333 [could be JAMAICA] 99.3, 0146 28/11 Unid, mx, idioma?? 35233 (Rubens Ferraz Pedroso, Bandeirantes - PR, Sony ICF SW 7600G, LW de 12 m, DX Clube PR yg via DXLD) The equinoxial `season` for this should be over (gh) ###