DX LISTENING DIGEST 8-006, January 17, 2008 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 SHORTWAVE AIRINGS OF WORLD OF RADIO 1391 **flexible times Thu 0700 WRMI 9955** Thu 1530 WRMI 7385 Fri 0030 WBCQ 7415 Fri 0730 WRMI 9955** Fri 1200 WRMI 9955** Fri 2130 WWCR1 15825 [not expected 7465] Fri 2330 WBCQ 5110-CLSB Sat 0900 WRMI 9955 Sat 1730 WWCR3 12160 Sat 2230 WRMI 9955 Sun 0330 WWCR3 5070 Sun 0730 WWCR1 3215 Sun 0900 WRMI 9955 Sun 1200 WRMI 9955 Sun 1615 WRMI 7385 Mon 0400 WBCQ 9330-CLSB [irregular] Mon 0515 WBCQ 7415 [time varies] Mon 0930 WRMI 9955** Tue 1130 WRMI 9955** Tue 1630 WRMI 7385 Wed 0830 WRMI 9955** 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: http://www.worldofradio.com/audiomid.html or http://wor.worldofradio.org ** ABKHAZIA. GEORGIA. Apsua Radio (ID in Abkhazian) / Radio Respubliki Abkhazii (in Russian) is heard daily with sign-on at 0400 until fade- out at 0530 and at 1400 to sign-off anywhere bettween 1430/1515 on 1350 kHz. Russian daily 0430-0440, Saturdays and irregularly Sundays 1400-1415. All // SW 9495 and from 0430 on 9535 (Rumen Pankov, Bulgaria, 28 Dec, Jan BDXC-UK Communication via DXLD) ** ARMENIA. On 4810 kHz only Foreign Services there are, no more Home Service (Jan 10). (Rumen Pankov, Bulgaria, Jan 14, wwdxc BC-DX Jan 18 via DXLD) ** BENIN. TWR Africa Confirms Benin Start Up --- Greetings - This is probably old news, but just in case... On their website, TWR Africa is confirming that their Benin transmitter will begin regular operation on February 1, 2008. No schedule or frequencies were mentioned (Mel Hickman, Jan 17, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Yes, 1566 kHz, as in 8-005 (gh) COMMISSIONING AN AM TRANSMITTER: TWR BENIN The progress of the new African broadcast site has been followed by many. Missionary and national staff on site, TWR staff throughout Africa and the world, prayer and financial investors, broadcasters and the people of West Africa have waited with anticipation the switching on of the equipment that would broadcast the good news of the gospel to this region of Africa. As 2008 ushered into view, the anticipation built to its highest point. The commissioning of the TWR-Benin transmitter was to take place - after several years of preparation and hard work the transmitter was to be switched on for the first time Monday, 7 January: Tim Oakes (Nautel commissioning engineer) who would officially examine and then switch on the new 100 kW AM transmitter began his travel to Benin from Canada. Meanwhile, in Benin, the tuning system and feed line (the system that connects the transmitter to the antenna) showed problems. After 13 long hours, Paul Cox (TWR-Benin station engineer) discovered the problem to be a piece of test gear that was giving false readings. Also, the injector pump on a 3 kW station generator used to power lights and plugs in the transmitter building seized. Garth Kennedy (TWR-Benin station building manager) and his helper Lazaré spent that day and into the night working on this problem. By the following afternoon, they had the generator running again. Tuesday, 8 January: Tim spent the afternoon going through the transmitter to ensure that all was in order. He had hoped to power up the transmitter the following day so TWR could then start test transmissions. Paul, Garth and their teams had worked many long hours to reach this stage. Wednesday, 9 January: The transmission line was tested with the hi-pot, that had just arrived with Perry Beabout (volunteer HCJB engineer) in preparation for switching on the transmitter. This device tests for high voltage problems. It was discovered that, unfortunately, an insulator where the power comes through the wall at the antenna tuning hut was defective. Also, they found that incorrect hardware had been used in a tuning unit, and there were two bad connections on the feed line out to the antenna. The team worked until 11:00 p.m. to put temporary solutions in place, but replacement parts will be needed for a permanent solution. While the commissioning of the transmitter was being carried out, Perry tried to set up and align the VSAT (Internet via Satellite). The power supply for the equipment burnt up. A temporary solution had to be found and another power supply ordered. Thursday, 10 January: Today the transmitter was turned on, but without audio. Carrier power (the radio frequency) and the tuning could all be checked. The feed line and antenna appeared to be performing well, with the exception of the defective insulator. For the first time the main generators were being put through their paces, giving power to the transmitter and air conditioner units. The generators and air conditioners appeared to be performing well. However, there was a problem with the transmitter that Tim, the commissioning engineer, had never seen before. Tim and Paul worked until late into the night, isolating the problem and making a small modification to the transmitter to fix it. Another problem was a high level of RF (radio frequency) on the audio cable coming into the control room. The team had to work on this and made very significant headway in reducing it. Perry's temporary solution for the VSAT power supply that burned up is working and he is making steady progress. Friday, 11 January: The transmitter was powered up and audio is fed into it. All went well. However, due to the defective insulator, the test transmissions are only at 50 kW (half power) and 100% modulation. All systems seem to be working well, but there is some interference to the VSAT. As Tim, together with Abdoulaye Sangho, (TWR West Africa director) drove south through Benin from Parakou to Cotonou, they listened to the signal. They could still hear it all the way into the capital, a five hour drive (300 km) during daylight! The long years of anticipation and hard work are seeing excellent results. Time is now being spent on fixing the problems that have been detected during the past week, following which test transmissions will begin in anticipation of the official commencement of broadcasting on 1 February 2008. Please continue to pray for the team and Benin, the programme producers across West Africa and the co-ordinating team at the Africa Regional office as they prepare for the big day. Published 17 January 2008: http://www.twrafrica.org/0126.asp (via Dr Hansjörg Biener, DXLD) ** BULGARIA. For almost two years now, the second harmonic of R. Varna (2 x 774 kHz) is heard on 1548 kHz at times when Voice of Russia, TWR, CRI, etc. are not on the air via Moldova (Rumen Pankov, Sofia, Bulgaria, 28 Dec, Jan BDXC-UK Communication via DXLD) ** CANADA. CONCERTS ON DEMAND: Have you checked out Concerts on Demand, CBC Radio's amazing source for great live performances you can hear at your convenience? Here are just some of the concerts you can find there, plus some of the concerts that have just arrived or will arrive there over the next little while: Orchestral from Vancouver Sketches of Spain http://www.cbc.ca/radio2/singleConcert.html?20071219spain Alt. Country + Baroque Orchestra(?!) from Toronto Tafelmusik & Rock Plaza Central http://www.cbc.ca/radio2/singleConcert.html?20080103tafel Classical solo guitar from Regina Michael Strutt http://www.cbc.ca/radio2/singleConcert.html?20071230strut Traditional Indian Classical from Vancouver SaPaSa http://www.cbc.ca/radio2/singleConcert.html?20080106sapas Trad Jazz from Regina Jodi Proznick Quartet http://www.cbc.ca/radio2/singleConcert.html?20071230prozn Aretha Franklin Tribute from Toronto (mighty fine!) Dione Taylor - A Little Respect http://www.cbc.ca/radio2/singleConcert.html?20080101dione Soul from Vancouver (dance, dance, dance!) Soulstream 10th Anniversary http://www.cbc.ca/radio2/singleConcert.html?20071231souls Rock from Vancouver 5440 http://www.cbc.ca/radio2/singleConcert.html?20080104_5440 Blues from Montreal Ray Bonneville at La Sala Rossa http://www.cbc.ca/radio2/singleConcert.html?20080111raybo New Orleans voodoo from Fredricton Dr. John at the Harvest Jazz and Blues Festival http://www.cbc.ca/radio2/singleConcert.html?20080110djohn Folk from Ottawa Canadian Folk Music Awards http://www.cbc.ca/radio2/singleConcert.html?20071223cfmaw Ian Tamblyn at Acoustic Waves http://www.cbc.ca/radio2/singleConcert.html?20071228tambl Pop from Ottawa The Acorn http://www.cbc.ca/radio2/singleConcert.html?20071230acorn Country from Calgary Paul Brandt in Calgary http://www.cbc.ca/radio2/singleConcert.html?20071221paulb Singer/Songwriter from Edmonton Colleen Brown Live in Edmonton http://www.cbc.ca/radio2/singleConcert.html?20071221brown Concerts corresponding to broadcasts this week : (Canada Live, The Signal, Sunday Afternoon in Concert) Sat 12 Jan Oscar Peterson Tribute - Simply The Best http://www.cbc.ca/radio2/singleConcert.html?20080112oscar Sun 13 Jan (SAIC) Matt Haimovitz and Sara Laimon from "Bach and Beyond" http://www.cbc.ca/radio2/singleConcert.html?20080113matts (The Signal) Esprit Orchestra 25th Anniversary Concert http://www.cbc.ca/radio2/singleConcert.html?20071205espri Tues 15 Jan Eliana Cuevas http://www.cbc.ca/radio2/singleConcert.html?20080115elian Wed 16 Jan Gilles Apap & the Transylvanian Mountain Boys http://www.cbc.ca/radio2/singleConcert.html?20070820apapg Thomas Hellman http://www.cbc.ca/radio2/singleConcert.html?20080116hellm Fri 18 Jan Veda Hille http://www.cbc.ca/radio2/singleConcert.html?20071026hille You are currently signed up for CBC.ca's Hotsheets newsletter (CBC Hotsheet Jan 15 via DXLD) You may play any track, or all trax (gh) ** CANADA. CFBN-1280 (Toronto Airport TIS that tried to be a real station) is gone for good: Revocation of licence 1. The Greater Toronto Airports Authority has requested the revocation of its broadcasting licence for the English-language commercial radio programming undertaking CFBN Toronto. 2. The licensee indicated that the station is no longer in operation. Therefore, the licensee has requested that its licence be revoked. 3. Given the licensee’s request and pursuant to sections 9(1)(e) and 24 (1) of the Broadcasting Act, the Commission revokes the broadcasting licence issued to the Greater Toronto Airports Authority for the above-mentioned undertaking. 73, (Deane McIntyre VE6BPO, Jan 17, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Game over for 1280 CFBN Toronto --- In the end, CFBN, voice of the Greater Toronto Airport Authority, will be known as the station that didn't fly. . . http://www.crtc.gc.ca/archive/ENG/Decisions/2008/db2008-8.htm (Saul Chernos, Ont, IRCA via DXLD) ** CANADA. TUNE OUT; KINGSTON FREQUENCIES FALL SILENT AS 960, 1380 STOP BROADCASTING --- From the Kingston Whig Standard Jan 17/08 Forget about tuning to your AM dial - medium-wave radio is now dead in Kingston. Corus Entertainment stopped broadcasting on 960 AM on Tuesday, more than 65 years after it first hit local airwaves. To mark the occasion, music director Ray Bergstrom picked Roy Orbison's It's Over as the last golden oldie to play on the station that used to be known as Oldies 960. "No one seemed to notice," Bergstrom said yesterday in his rich radio voice. . . http://www.kingstonwhigstandard.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=861903&auth=Frank+Armstrong (via Andy Reid, Ont., dxldyg via DXLD) Gee, no skywave or out of town groundwave audible there?? (gh, DXLD) ** CANADA. CHLN 550 about to s/off? I believe I am hearing a 'loop' in French under WGR with the same music being repeated and mentions of 'FM'. This could/should be CHLN Trois Rivières QC about to sign off of AM [moved to FM 106.9]. Can anyone confirm? (Andy Reid, Ont., 0113 UT Jan 17, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CHAD. It was over 10 years ago, in October 1997, that 4904.5 was last logged in Communication by NVB and TKR. DX News in March 1998 reported that ``Although RNT N`djamena received a new final stage tube for their transmitter, they do not plan to reactivate 4904.5 on a permanent basis. The frequency wil only be used as a possible temporary replacement for 7120 [now 6165]`` (DX News, January 2008 BDXC-UK Communication via DXLD) ** CHINA. Re 8-005, ``TIBET``, 6090: = Golmud; is it really in Tibet? Close to the border not shown on my atlas. Now how is stress beneficial? (gh, ibid.) Hi Glenn, FYI - Mark heard the "Studio Classroom Worldwide" portion of "English Evening". Please see the article, along with audio streaming ("Today's Radio Program"), for the answer to your question, at: http://studioclassroom.com/sc/sc_article.php?article_id=01B08&volume=2008-01-01&zoot=08 Hi Mark - Am glad to finally see someone else hearing English Evening and reporting on their programming. I have enjoyed them for several years now. Keep up the good work! Click on "14" for audio streaming for the program Mark heard: http://studioclassroom.com/sc/sc_radio.php (Ron Monterey, CA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Sure enough, upon closer inspection of my trusty atlas, Geermu/Golmud appears to actually be in Qinghai province of China proper, not Tibet. Looking at the map in WRTH 2008, it would appear that Lhasa is the only shortwave transmitter site in Tibet proper. Best, (Mark Schiefelbein, MO, ibid.) ** CHINA [and non]. Beijing is jamming also 1600-1630 UT on [Moscow relay] 7335 kHz BBC in Uzbek (on Saturdays when 1630-1700 UT is in Russian, the jammer is not on the air); updating BC-DX 839. (Rumen Pankov, Bulgaria, Jan 14, wwdxc BC-DX Jan 18 via DXLD) \\ 1251 Dushanbe-TJK, 9495 Nakhon Sawan-THA, 9670 WOF-UK, 9685 Kranji-SNG (Wolfgang Büschel, ibid.) ** CUBA. The latest in the never-ending series of operational errors at RHC was another beneficial one, allowing us to hear R. Musical Nacional programming on SW, as has occasionally happened before at this time. But don`t expect it to happen exactly like this the next night, or ever again --- Jan 17 at 0640, RHC in English on 6000 talking about, what else? You know what --- was underlain by a coloratura soprano. This was not the case on 6060 which had RHC English only. Normally there is no significant co-channel QRM to 6000 at this hour, but the same mix was also on 6180, so that`s a red flag that the audio was not from another transmitter, but from the same transmitters in Cuba, with a mixture of audio feeds going into them, and consequently out of them. Sure enough, at 0659 on 6000, just as RHC was closing, I heard a Radio Musical Nacional ID; both cut off at 0700 as that frequency went off the air. But 6060, which had not had RMN before 0700, stayed on the air with nothing but RMN, at full modulation, with program as scheduled ``La Ópera``. Announcer spoke for some time, plugging other shows including Teatro de la Opera, but never giving the time, which would feature Thaïs. Then some classic recordings (originally 78s?) of a singer whose name I didn`t recognize or catch. This was still going at 0734. Meanwhile I checked 6180 again at 0718. RMN was also heard there, but now mixing with yet another Cuban domestic network, this one with talk, keywords ``mesa redonda``, ``poder popular``. 6180 had an additional SAH, probably Amazônia (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CUBA. As far as I know, the only English language audio streaming to the Internet is our RHC signal from 05 to 07 UT. It is streamed from http://rhc.cu Look for the loudspeaker illustration, click on it, and you should be able to hear the audio. At other times of the day it is broadcasting in Spanish and other languages, English is only from 05 to 07 UT (Arnie Coro, Jan 16, ODXA yg via DXLD) Arnie - please suggest to the webmaster that the schedule for this live audio be posted on the RHC website, even if all it shows is which station is on at which time. One reason for this is because some listeners (like me) use automated scheduling software that streams audio and captures it to my computer at a time of my request. Since I am normally not awake at 05 UT, this way I can listen to RHC whenever I want. It is good to know that RHC streams its audio, as this provides an alternative method to listen to RHC for those who do not own shortwave radios (the vast majority of the US / Canada population) or for times when propagation is not favorable. Best regards, (Richard Cuff / Allentown, PA USA, ibid.) On the air, Arnie has been mentioning the 05-07 English stream time for months (Glenn Hauser, DXLD) ** CUBA. Re 8-005: ``This is becoming such a mystery like that one of 1181(?). 73s. (Raúl Saavedra, Costa Rica, Jan 13, WORLD OF RADIO 1391, DX LISTENING DIGEST)`` Why do so many still claim this is a mystery? It's been reliably DFed to Cuba by independent sources, including me. Radio Martí is on 1180. Cuba has a long history of jamming not only on SW but also MW. I also still see reports, mostly from NRC-types, that it is a USB signal; it is not. Re: ``The newly identified Cubans this week`` --- Again, not "newly identified" -- well, maybe for him they are. And there are no true "Radio Cuba," "Radio Habana," "Radio Nacional Habana" etc. stations, maybe just those words used in context with discussion. And we down here have been reporting sporadic program flipping, especially overnights, for -- like – forever (Terry L. Krueger, Clearwater FL, Jan 17, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Terry, We really need you to put your own Cuban station list online. As for 1181, as Harry Helms reported last issue, I also find it absent at 0232 UT check Jan 18; gone for good? I assume his ``145 minutes`` was a typo (Glenn Hauser, OK, DXLD) ** EGYPT. EGIPTO. Saludos cordiales, hoy 17 de enero me llama mucho la atención no escuchar a las 2130 a Wide el Nile [sic] en 9250 kHz. Normalmente llega con bastante fuerza aquí en Valencia; desconozco desde qué hora está inactiva (José Miguel Romero, Spain, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Bueno JM, entonces ¿cuál sería la señal que yo estuve recibiendo este jueves antes de las 2200? Por vez primera escuché una débil transmisión con música árabe por 9250 y ya estaba yo todo bueno pensando que al fin recepcioné Radio Wide el Nile. ¿No la escuchaste después de las 2200? 73 (Raúl Saavedra, Costa Rica, ibid.) I hear it at 2230. 73, (Mauno Ritola, Finland, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Please note the more correct rendering of its name: Wadi el-Nil (gh) [earlier:] 9250, R. Vadi el Nil came in before 2230 with Arab music and time-pips at 2230 UT. Then ID by man in Arabic followed by beginning of a program called "Panorama ..." presented by woman. Perhaps news-program. SIO: 323 (Jan 9). (Zeljko Crncicl, Germany, touring in Quito-Ecuador, Jan 11, wwdxc BC-DX Jan 18 via DXLD) ** EGYPT. 6225, 1733 26/11, SIO 442, R Cairo, Turkish, horrible audio 6250.1, 1803 26/11, SIO 442, R Cairo, Arabic, horrible audio (Tim Bucknall, Cheshire, DX News, Jan BDXC-UK Communication via DXLD) ** FRANCE. [Re 7-004] FRANCE 24 STAFF PROTEST PLANS TO ELIMINATE FOREIGN-LANGUAGES PARIS (AP) -- Staff at France's year-old 24-hour international news channel expressed dismay Thursday over President Nicolas Sarkozy's proposal to kill off its programming in Arabic and English. France 24 -- a pet project of Sarkozy's predecessor, Jacques Chirac -- launched in December 2006 and offers simultaneous broadcasts in French, English and Arabic. The channel was designed to counter CNN International, BBC World and Al Jazeera, and the decision to offer English and Arabic newscasts was a sign of new pragmatism in a country known for protecting and promoting its language. At a news conference Tuesday, Sarkozy suggested that France 24 could be blended together with two other broadcasters, Radio France Internationale and TV5, into a single holding company. He also stunned many observers by saying that a French news channel should broadcast only in French. Because taxpayers fund the station, Sarkozy said, "I am not inclined to finance a channel that doesn't speak French." He suggested that the broadcaster use subtitles to reach foreign audiences instead. In a statement, France 24 union members said they "fully protest (Sarkozy's) plans of replacing France 24 with a French-speaking-only channel," saying it would be a step backward. Unions at the channel said they were not opposed to a consolidation with other French international media. But they said they opposed "the forsaking of the whole project as it was originally intended." "How does one measure the world influence of a country and its culture?" the statement asked. "Is it by counting the number of people who speak its language? Or is it by counting those interested in its views and cultural knowledge, irrespective of language?" The idea for the channel, discussed for more than a decade, gained resonance during the run-up to the Iraq invasion in 2003, when Chirac tried to slow the U.S. drive to war and some media in the United States and Britain mocked his efforts. France 24 broadcasts in Europe, the Middle East, Africa and on the United States' east coast. It is distributed by cable, satellite and DSL. The channel also has a Web site, and it says it has 4 million unique visitors every month.------ On the Net: http://www.france24.com (APws 01/10 1608 via Mike Cooper, WORLD OF RADIO 1391, DXLD) WHAT FRENCH-ONLY FRENCH INTERNATIONAL BROADCASTING WOULD BE UP AGAINST "In 1999, French was the 11th most common first language in the world, with 77 million first language speakers and another 51 million second language speakers, according to the Ethnologue Report. Even though French retains a flavour of old-world romanticism and is consequently the second most commonly-taught second language in the world (after English), Time magazine rather snidely declared in November that 'France today is a wilting power in the global cultural marketplace' and 'only a handful' of the autumn season's crop of 727 new novels 'will find a publisher outside France. Fewer than a dozen make it to the U.S. in a typical year, while about 30 per cent of all fiction sold in France is translated from English'." Rashmee Roshan Lall, The Times of India, 14 January 2008. See previous post about same subject. Posted: 15 Jan 2008 (kimandrewelliott.com via DXLD) ** GERMANY. 6265, 0810 18/11, SIO 222, Bible Voice Broadcasting via Jülich, mixing product of 5945 and 6105, English (Tim Bucknall, Cheshire, HF Logbook, Jan BDXC-UK Communication via DXLD) ** HAITI. Re 8-005, R. Magic, 1120: Spanish? In P-a-P? Really? (Terry L. Krueger, Clearwater FL, Jan 17, DX LISTENING DIGEST) I supposed it was possible if they have some audience in Cuba or DR (gh, DXLD) ** INDIA [and non]. Co-channel QRM noted on some of the AIR channels: 3945, AIR Gorakhpur India, Nepali Talk by OM in Nepali - Co-ch qrm by VOIROI in Urdu 0142 UTC 1/16/2008 4820, AIR Kolkata India, Hindi Classical Song OM Singer - Severe Co - ch QRM PBS Xizang 1704 UTC 1/15/2008 4820, AIR Kolkata India, Hindi Severe co-ch qrm PBS Xizang, China 0117 UTC 1/16/2008 4880, AIR Lucknow India, Hindi Classical Music - Severe co-ch qrm SW Radio Africa Eng 1707 UTC 1/15/2008 4920, AIR Chennai India, Hindi News YL Co-ch qrm by PBS Xizang 50 Kw 1732 UTC 1/15/2008 4920, AIR Chennai India, Tamil Talk by YL Co-ch PBS Xizang, Lhasa, China 0122 UTC 1/16/2008 (Alokesh Gupta, New Delhi, dx_india via DXLD) ** INDIA. Decades ago, I was a member of Indian DX Club International, led by Alok Dasgupta. To renew my subscription, I sent IRCs in an unregistered letter. It took time for me to understand it had been stolen, and I felt very bad. Only months ago, I tried to renew relations with All India Radio. Using the lengthy address given in Sincerely Yours, I sent AIR three fat letters containing only reports, and they never arrived. I then sent AIR an aerogramme complaining of mail theft. This was featured in Sincerely Yours, and the presenters were insulted, for they were proud of the integrity of the Indian postal system. I was promised a QSL, but never got one. I quit listening to AIR. I believe that every fat unregistered letter to AIR in New Delhi, which is in North India, is stolen. A thin letter with one IRC may squeak through. IRCs can be sent to any country in an unregistered letter, not without risk, but without breaking the law in your own country or in the recipient country. This is not true of cash (David Crystal, Israel, Chatterbox, January World DX Club Contact via DXLD) see NETHERLANDS ** INDONESIA. VOI Jakarta in English up to 2100 UT on 11784.95 kHz Jan 15th (Wolfgang Büschel, Germany, BC-DX Jan 18 via DXLD) ** INDONESIA. 4925: Both our morning 2300 and evening 1200 UT, 1400 RRI Jambi is very regular now. However the big surprising signal is 4790-RRI Fak Fak at 1200, 1300. Also regular 3325 and 3345. A few more heard. I need to update my SW Log (Victor Goonetilleke, Sri Lanka, 4S7VK, DXplorer Jan 14 via BC-DX Jan 18 via DXLD) ** INTERNATIONAL INTERNET. I tried to access County Sound Radio 1566 in Guildford U.K. over the Internet (a colleague there sent me the link when I told him that I'd DXed the station). Came up with the following: http://194.105.69.57:80/radio.asp?id=31 from the station name already some time ago. I haven't been listening their ID on 6335 kHz for some time. But I recall hearing them mention "Denge Kurdistana Iraka" earlier on 6335 and before that on 6340 kHz. Anyway, today 14 Jan they signed on couple of minutes before 1600 with music and then started English. So, English seems to be 1600-1700 roughly and then local language(s). Yesterday they signed off at 1900 UT. Alex seems to reply with standard e-mail to reports. I asked him the schedule of English programs but only received the same worded e-mail you did (Jari Savolainen, Finland, DXplorer Jan 14, ibid.) ** MALI. Good morning, just a short log: RTM, frequency change to 9635 as reported, Jan. 17th, *0800, good signal here, almost same strength as Nigeria 9690, just as it was years ago..., starting with frequency announcement [in French?] as 11960. 73 (Thorsten Hallmann, Münster, Central Europe, http://www.africalist.de.ms Jan 17, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** NETHERLANDS [non]. RNW TO TAILOR RADIO CONTENT FOR LOCAL STATIONS By Shalabh Radioandmusic.com (17 January 2:00 pm) http://www.radioandmusic.com/headlines/y2k8/jan/17jan/rnw.php MUMBAI: RNW (Radio Netherlands Worldwide), an independent multimedia company based in Holland, plans to create local content for Indian private FM stations customized to local preferences. RNW's Country Representative Amitabh Srivastava says, "First of all, we want to get a clear picture of what's needed in the Indian market. We do not want to impose our existing programming as-is on our potential partners. Instead we are looking for ways to come up with hybrid programming, shaped in close cooperation with our partners, containing interesting information from a more global ad Dutch perspective, complemented by material produced locally in India, thus combining the best of both worlds." RNW is present on shortwave (SW) and Worldspace, but the response is not encouraging, "Due to the increase in the number of FM stations in India, our shortwave audience is declining. Instead, we are now seeking partnerships with Indian radio stations. We think this is the right time since there are so many new radio stations starting up in India. RNW already has partnerships with 3000+ radio stations worldwide. We have a lot of experience in working through this model. We will be distinguishing ourselves by thinking globally, but acting locally" expounds Srivastava. It also plans to explore possibilities in other multimedia platforms like DTH, mobile and cable (via Alokesh Gupta, DXLD) ** NEW ZEALAND. HILLARY STATE FUNERAL: INTERNATIONAL LIVE COVERAGE Wednesday, 16 January 2008, 2:00 pm Press Release: Radio New Zealand MEDIA RELEASE [redundantly] Date: Wednesday 16 January 2008 for Immediate Release – 2 pages http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/CU0801/S00116.htm Radio New Zealand will provide extensive coverage of the state funeral for Sir Edmund Hillary from St. Mary’s Church in Auckland on Tuesday 22nd January. As the official radio broadcaster Radio New Zealand will ensure New Zealanders all over the world have the opportunity to be part of a very significant time of national reflection and commemoration. Radio New Zealand will broadcast the entire service live and will live-stream via the Radio New Zealand website http://www.radionz.co.nz for international audiences, allowing New Zealanders living or holidaying overseas to share this important occasion with their friends and families back home. People in the Pacific and parts of South East Asia listening on short wave will be able to tune in to Radio New Zealand International on the frequencies of 15720 kHz for the analogue service, and 17675 kHz for DRM. For those unable to listen to Radio New Zealand’s live coverage, a recording of the service will be available on the website to be replayed as audio-on-demand and as a podcast. Radio New Zealand coverage will begin from 6.00 am on Tuesday morning ( NZ time ) [1700 UT Monday Jan 21]. Morning Report and Nine to Noon will use respected senior broadcasters including Geoff Robinson and Jack Perkins and a team of news reporters in the lead up to live coverage of the funeral service which will commence at 10.30 am. The Radio New Zealand website is featuring several audio on demand programmes covering the life and times of Sir Edmund Hillary, including an obituary by Morning Report’s Geoff Robinson and two special documentaries produced by Jack Perkins for Radio New Zealand National. Everest And Beyond, a tribute to the extraordinary life and achievements of Sir Edmund Hillary was first broadcast on Friday 11th January and It’s One Thing To Climb A Mountain is a special three-part series tracing the late Sir Edmund Hillary’s extraordinary life from the conquest of Everest onwards. The programmes highlight the largely untold stories of those who were shoulder-to-shoulder with Sir Ed on his expeditions to remote corners of the world and during his humanitarian activities with Nepal’s Sherpa people. http://www.radionz.co.nz (via kimandrewelliott.com, Media Network blog, DXLD) ** OKLAHOMA. Someone on the PBS Newshour Jan 14 asserted that Michigan has more shoreline than any state except Alaska. This is an all-too- common misconception. In fact, Oklahoma has more shoreline than any other state [except AK?], as OK tourism agencies frequently assert. Finding an axual ranking of states by total length of shoreline is beyond googling, but I did find this unconfirmed entry at: http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20061013112244AAGN4y4 ``With 200 man-made lakes, Oklahoma has more man-made lakes than any other state and boasts over one million surface-acres of water and 2,000 more miles (3,200 km) of shoreline than the Atlantic and Gulf coasts combined. Lake Eufaula is the largest lake in the state, covering 102,000 surface acres (413 km²) of water.`` Strangely enough, several attempts to answer the question on this page put OK tied for dead last since it is ``landlocked``. Impress your friends with this knowledge, wager? (Glenn Hauser, Enid, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PAKISTAN. R. Pakistan, English news is scheduled at 1600-1615 on 4790, 4835, 5027, 6240, 7520, 11550 and 11570. On 8 Dec it was observed only on 4835; on 15 Dec only on 6240; 23 Dec on 6240 and 7520; 25 Dec only on new 6245 (Rumen Pankov, Bulgaria, Jan BDXC-UK Communication via DXLD) ** PAKISTAN. Re 8-005: The press reports appear to contain nothing concrete about installing new SW transmitters, so the reorganization of the language services seems to be another waste of effort (or a hit into the air, as we say in Swedish). (Olle Alm, Sweden, Jan 13, wwdxc BC-DX Jan 18 via DXLD) What I read was that two 100 kW were to be installed at Karachi by 2009. Unless the antennas have been dismantled, there should be a good selection to choose from at the previous site, if that's where they are destined for. API-3 is in a very poor state of repair, and I've been surprised that one of the two 250 kW hasn't been used instead. But the problem could be that antennas to use at full power for some areas are not available - India and Bangladesh for example (Gordon Brown, NWDXC, Jan 12, wwdxc BC-DX Jan 18 via DXLD) ** PERU. 4990, While looking for R. Ankash I heard a religious station on the frequency. Program consists of preaching and local music with Christian content. Station signed off after 0000 giving an ID as something like "Radio Mundial" or "R. Mundo). I was not able to get it clear. Then short piece of music and suddenly the station was gone. I suppose that this program replaced R. Ankash and uses the same facilities due to the similar style and music played. Also Peru was mentioned various times. Signal is fair after 2300. Will try again for an clear ID. This evening SIO 323 (Jan 6) [this is R. Manantial, as already discussed in DXLD --- gh] 6536, R. Difusora la voz del Rumbero (so is the ID I heard a couple of times) this evening with strongest signal so far. Heard between 2304 and 2328 with Andean music and short announcements by man. ID at 2328 giving also a time-check: "Son las seis veintiocho en todo territorio nacional..." SIO: 333 (Jan 10) (Zeljko Crncic, Germany, touring in Quito-Ecuador, Jan 11, wwdxc BC-DX Jan 18 via DXLD) ** POLAND. POLONIA RETIRARÁ LAS AYUDAS DE LA UE A LA XENÓFOBA RADIO MARÍA --- SIMÓN TECCO, CORRESPONSAL http://www.abc.es/20080111/internacional-europa/polonia-retirara-ayudas-xenofoba_200801110246.html LIUBLIANA. La ultracatólica, antisemita y antieuropea Radio María de Polonia, cabeza del imperio mediático polaco que dirige el sacerdote redentorista Tadeusz Rydzyk, se quedará sin los fondos europeos pretendidos. El nuevo Gobierno polaco, que dirige el liberal Donald Tusk, decidió reexaminar la concesión de una ayuda de 15,3 millones de euros solicitada por Radio María, con el apoyo del gobierno conservador anterior, para la ampliación de los programas de estudio de la escuela de periodismo que ya posee. Según Katarzyna Dziedzik, portavoz del al Ministerio para el Desarrollo Regional (éste administra los fondos europeos), la ministra de Ciencia y Formación, Bárbara Kudrycka, «recomendó suprimir la lista con treinta proyectos retenidos y realizar un concurso» en el cual sólo dos de ellos, que contaban con la aprobación de Bruselas, fueron seleccionados. Esto significa que el proyecto de Ridzyk queda excluido. En septiembre, la Comisión Europea rechazó la financiación de su proyecto. Su presidente, José Manuel Barroso, dijo entonces que el padre Rydzyk y su Radio Maria «son para Europa un venenoso símbolo de antisemitismo cada vez más agresivo» y que «tales proyectos no pueden obtener dotación de la UE». Rydzyk, que fundó la emisora en 1991, reaccionó afirmando que la decisión de la ministra polaca «recuerda los métodos totalitarios de un Gobierno de ocupación». «Contubernio judeomasón» Radio Maria Polonia, que cuenta con una audiencia de entre tres y cuatro millones de personas, incluye además un canal de televisión, un periódico y varias fundaciones. Su programación no se encuentra bajo el control de la Iglesia católica polaca, y se destaca por su intolerancia xenófoba, una cruzada antieuropeísta y contra «el contubernio judeomasón» que amenazaría a la nación polaca (via José Miguel Romero, Spain, dxldyg via DXLD) English version of this: NEW POLISH GOVERNMENT REVIEWS EU GRANT TO CATHOLIC ANTI-SEMITIC RADIO The new Polish Liberal government will reexamine the European Union grant awarded to a controversial Catholic radio station, the press reported. According to Polska newspaper, Poland’s Environment Minister, Maciej Nowicki, is making a critical review of a 15/3 million euro EU grant to Radio Maryja, known for its anti-Semitic and anti-European opinions. Nowicki reportedly hopes to find a reason to demand the radio station refund the entire amount. The station, cosseted by the previous conservative government of Jaroslaw Kaczynski, had been selected to receive the aid in order to develop its school of journalism. Polish Minister of Science, Barbara Kudrycka, has recommended to the ministry of the regional Development, which manages the European funds, to abolish the list of around thirty projects awarded and instead to organize a competition, a spokeswoman of the ministry said. Only two big projects exceeding each 50 million euro, for the universities of Warsaw and Gdansk, remain unchanged because they were already approved by the EU. Father Tadeusz Rydzyk, founder and manager of Radio Maryja, vigorously criticized the minister on the radio. “It is a behaviour which reminds of the totalitarian methods of a power of occupation,” the head of Radio Maryja, which claims more than three million regular listeners, said. “A minister responsible for the Polish youth does not act like this. Otherwise, he is irresponsible or, worse, he carries out perhaps orders from outside,” he added. (Source: European Jewish Press) Related stories [linked]: Polish right-wing radio station to get EU money Anti-EU Polish Catholic radio station seeks EU funds: report Poland’s Radio Maryja accused of anti-Semitism http://blogs.rnw.nl/medianetwork/new-polish-government-reviews-eu-grant-to-catholic-anti-semitic-radio (Media Network blog via DXLD) ** RUSSIA. Updating BC-DX 834, Mr. Pavel Mikhailov is not DX-Editor of program "DX Club" of Voice of Russia World Service in Russian anymore but the "machine gun voice" is of Mr. Vadim Alexeev who is also very known DX-er and he is the DX-Editor of that program. Pavel has own weekly electronic bulletin called "Mediacom Digest" with news and comments from all media in Russia (Rumen Pankov, Bulgaria, Jan 14, wwdxc BC-DX Jan 18 via DXLD) ** RUSSIA. 6247 & 6013, V. of Russia spurs // 6130, 1605 26/11, SIO 343 (Tim Bucknall, Cheshire, HF Logbook, Jan BDXC-UK Communication via DXLD) ** SAUDI ARABIA. A damaged transmitter with a very strong hum is used by Saudi Radio and can be heard from 03 to 06 hours on 15170 kHz. It was also monitored at 1130 hours on 11935 kHz, at 1205 hours on 17820 kHz and at 1550 hours on 15205 kHz (Rumen Pankov, Sofia, R. Bulgaria DX Jan 11 via DXLD) ** SPAIN. Onda Cero, Madrid, noted on 14 Dec around 2200 UT with fair reception on 4396. Also heard 15 Dec late afternoon. This after a tip from Derek Knight who heard the station on the evening of 13 Dec (Edwin Southwell, England, DX News, Jan BDXC-UK Communication via DXLD) Somewhat contradictory a different version of same: 4394.5, 2002 15/12, SIO 222, Onda Cero, Madrid via? Talk promos, Spanish; 4396.5, 1757 15/12, SIO 343, Onda Cero, Madrid via? OM/YL discussion, announcements, sports commentary Spanish (Edwin Southwell, England, Tropical Bands Logbook, ibid.) On 17 Dec I heard Cadena COPE, Madrid, on 4396.4 with news programming in Spanish // 999 kHz MW. Source of these intermittent SW relays of domestic services is not known, but there has been some speculation that it may be a Spanish military transmitter or sports commentaries for fishermen (Dave Kenny, DX News, Jan BDXC-UK Communication via DXLD) Same material reported differently: 4396.4, 2230 17/12, SIO 332, Cadena COPE, Madrid, Spanish talk, ID. Military Relay? Not heard next day (Dave Kenny, Tropical Bands Logbook, ibid.) ** SUDAN. Radio Peace, 4750 at 0444 in English, ID by male two times, Radio Peace. Talk by woman and switch off transmitter at 0448. Good signal. 73 (Ferdy HB9DSP - Sony CRF-V21, [Switzerland], Jan 17, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SWEDEN. VLF, 17.2 kHz, SAQ, Grimeton, Sweden, annual broadcast using the Alexanderson Alternator. 24/12 0742 tune-up with a few bursts of carrier and some V`s, followed by strings of IDs, ``VVV VVV VVV DE SAQ SAQ SAQ``. Into the CW message at 0800. More IDs, then another CW message at 0815. More IDs, then off at 0823; good The Buxton weather was kind to me this morning as it means a trip outside for best reception away from mains-borne QRM. I`ve made a `Mk 2` receiver which performs slightly better than Mk 1, even though it is still on experimental `T-Dec`, which is a bit worn and temperamental. Reception was good with a clear tone above the nautical station which was underneath, possibly around 19 to 20 kHz. Luckily this station was on a different bearing to SAQ, possibly Anthorn? So turning the ferrite rod minimised the QRM. There were plenty of static crashes in the background along with a nearby farmer`s electric fence, but a tweak of a couple of pots and trimmers brought SAQ up reasonably clear. The opportunities to tune up are not too frequent! At 0823 UT, after the second CW message, a string of IDs were being sent, when the signal strength slowly dropped along with the tone until it disappeared, so I assume the mighty generator was running down. I`d been in the field for nearly an hour by then and my hands were frozen, even though it was a relatively mild morning. It was worth it to hear the whole transmission. The next step is to make the receiver a bit more permanent on a bit of veroboard ready for the next broadcast, usually in the summer, when hopefully it will be warmer than today`s 3C! (Nick Rank, Buxton, Derbyshire, Jan BDXC-UK Communication via DXLD) ** TAIWAN. From the New Year, the postal address of R Taiwan International will be: RTI, --- Service, P O Box 123-199, Taipei 11 199, Taiwan, R.O.C. Twelve new QSL cards will be used in 2008y with rare birds on the cards (Rumen Pankov, Bulgaria, Jan BDXC-UK Communication via DXLD) ** TURKEY. METEOR ITEM UNCLEAR; SLOW DOWN --- Dear VOT: I often listen to your 1330 UT broadcast on 12035, which comes in fairly well here in Oklahoma, carrying on from its European target. Today January 11 I caught ``Did You Know That`` at 1417. It`s certainly a nice addition to your schedule, brief and interesting facts. Unfortunately, I was not recording, and your programming is not available on demand (is it?), so I only heard it once and have no way of rechecking it. Here is what I thought I heard: The second largest meteor crater in the world (after one in Alaska) is 3 km from the Iranian border and fell in 1982. A website address was given to be able to see it, but it was impossible to copy. Did you say Alaska really? The largest if not the best-known meteor crater is in Arizona, a completely different state. I have been there several times. Could such a large meteor have impacted in 1982 without everyone knowing about it? It should have been an earth-shaking event! I cite this uncertainty to point out that you are not communicating adequately. Speaking good English is not enough. You must SLOW DOWN. All your announcers speak too rapidly. Whenever a Turkish word or term or name is mentioned, you must not assume everyone outside Turkey (or rather, any non-Turkish speaker, and that is most of your audience) will recognize it immediately. It would not hurt even to spell out some names, as well as pronouncing them very slowly and distinctly, even repeat them. Shortwave requires this, and even when I listen to your live webcast instead, I often do not fully understand what is being said. Even your mailing address with Yenishehir, I am sure, would not be understood by a new listener who has not already seen it in printed references such as the World Radio TV Handbook. I`ll bet you have seen incredible misspellings of that on your incoming mail (whatever still reaches you in spite of that.) (I insert the h since I don`t have an s-cedilla). While I enjoy Turkish music very much, you could play a little bit less of it and take a little more time with the speech portions to make them more clearly understood. Since Did You Know That? is so brief, you could also easily post the entire text of these features on your website, so anyone may read exactly what was said, follow website links, etc. I would appreciate a reply clarifying the location of the meteor crater in Turkey and the other one mentioned; date, and web address to see it. You may also feel free to respond to this on your Letterbox, altho I would appreciate knowing in advance when this would be aired. Thanks, Glenn Hauser, Enid, Oklahoma, USA (Jan 11 to VOT, via DX LISTENING DIGEST) I listened to the Letterbox on Wed Jan 16 at 1955-2005 on webcast, but no sign of this letter. The guy instead was stumbling rapidly over reception reports with no real attempt at communication, and obviously with no preparation; some of them were not even in English (gh, DXLD) ** UGANDA. Radio Uganda was reported with news in English from 04 to 0425 hours on 4976 kHz. Most likely due to technical reasons the station often vanishes from the 60 meter band for long periods of time (Rumen Pankov, Sofia, R. Bulgaria DX Jan 11 via DXLD) ** U S A. VOA Border Crossings music program is heard at 1505-1600 M-F on 7125, 11765, 12150, 13735, 15580, 17715, 17895. Other listed frequencies and not confirmed in Bulgaria are: 4930, 6080, 9520, 9580, 9805, 9825, 9850, 11510, 13570, 13690, 15105, 15195, 15445 (Rumen Pankov, Sofia, Jan BDXC-UK Communication via DXLD) ** U S A. 11715, KJES, Jan 17 at 1417, off-key kid-choir with endless repetitions of hymn verse starting ``A correr`` and ending ``en la sangre de Jesús`` --- Yes, Spanish meaning ``Run. . . to the blood of Jesus``. Kept faking us out, is it about to end? Now? Now? But paused for English ``let me know if you can hear me`` ID at 1430, and shortly into usual call-and-response in English (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. 5050, Scriptures for America (via WWRB) --- I first noticed this during the 0000 hour on Jan 15, but didn't have time to stay with it. I checked again tonight at 2353, but they were not on yet. Checked back at 2358 and they were on with above program. WWRB ID at 0000, but the program was from 2005 with Pete Peters talking about how this was a new broadcast via WWCR 4. I don't recall Pete Peters of Scriptures for America being on WWRB before. I couldn't find any information on these broadcasts on either his site or WWRB's (Hans Johnson, FL, Jan 15-18, Cumbredx mailing list via DXLD) ** U S A. 5812, 0743 6 Dec, SIO 444, WEWN, ``It`s not mediocracy`` (Richard Thurlow, Ipswich, Suffolk, HF Logbook, Jan BDXC-UK Communication via DXLD) 5812? Could be 1) typo by reporter; 2) typo by editor; 3) typo by WEWN frequency puncher; 4) correct report zeroing in on one of its close-in spurs, or axual variation by WEWN (gh, DXLD) ** U S A [non]. 7160, 1948 7 Nov, SIO 333, WYFR Open Forum in English, via Taiwan? (Tim Bucknall, Cheshire, HF Logbook, Jan BDXC-UK Communication via DXLD) No, UAE. See first sexion below, to WEu (gh) ** U S A [non]. B-07 Schedule of WYFR Family Radio Relays. Part 1 of 2 West Europe 0500-0600 on 3955 SKN 250 kW / 106 deg German 1700-1800 on 3955 SKN 250 kW / 106 deg English 1800-1900 on 3955 WER 100 kW / non-dir German 1800-1900 on 5820 TAC 200 kW / 311 deg Polish 1800-1900 on 7240 SKN 250 kW / 102 deg English 1800-1900 on 7490 ERV 300 kW / 305 deg German 1800-1900 on 9785 SKN 300 kW / 110 deg English 1900-2000 on 5820 SAM 250 kW / 284 deg German 1900-2000 on 7160 DHA 250 kW / 330 deg English 1900-2100 on 7300 ARM 250 kW / 290 deg French 2000-2200 on 6240 KCH 500 kW / 309 deg English South Europe 1800-1900 on 6120 NAU 250 kW / 230 deg Spanish 1900-2000 on 6000 MSK 250 kW / 240 deg Italian 1900-2000 on 6120 NAU 250 kW / 230 deg Portuguese 1900-2000 on 7490 KCH 300 kW / 268 deg Spanish East Europe 1500-1700 on 9955 TNN 250 kW in Taiwan Russian 1700-1800 on 9595 WER 500 kW / 060 deg Russian 1800-1900 on 5970 WER 500 kW / 060 deg Russian 1700-1900 on 7435 TAC 200 kW / 311 deg Russian 1800-1900 on 6050 JUL 100 kW / 100 deg Romanian Middle East 1600-1700 on 9650 NAU 500 kW / 105 deg Persian 1600-1700 on 9830 NAU 500 kW / 130 deg Arabic 1600-1800 on 7485 SMF 250 kW / 131 deg Persian 1700-1800 on 6105 NAU 500 kW / 115 deg Persian 1700-1800 on 9435 WER 500 kW / 120 deg Arabic 1700-1800 on 9530 RMP 500 kW / 105 deg Arabic 1700-1900 on 9925 WER 100 kW / 105 deg Turkish 1800-1900 on 7345 SAM 250 kW / 188 deg Arabic 1800-1900 on 9520 WER 500 kW / 120 deg Arabic 1800-1900 on 9660 SKN 300 kW / 140 deg Arabic 1900-2000 on 5965 RMP 500 kW / 110 deg Arabic 1900-2000 on 6175 WER 500 kW / 120 deg Arabic 1900-2000 on 7345 SAM 250 kW / 188 deg English 2000-2100 on 5925 WER 100 kW / 120 deg Arabic South East Asia 1100-1200 on 11510 A-A 200 kW / 132 deg Tagalog 1100-1200 on 11550 TNN 250 kW in Taiwan Indonesian 1100-1300 on 11520 PAO 100 kW in Taiwan Tagalog 1100-1600 NF 6240 PAO 100 kW in Taiwan Chinese, ex 7250 1100-1600 on 9280 HUW 300 kW in Taiwan Chinese 1200-1300 on 7175 IRK 250 kW / 180 deg Vietnamese 1200-1300 on 7445 PAO 100 kW in Taiwan Vietnamese 1200-1300 on 7560 A-A 200 kW / 132 deg Vietnamese 1200-1300 on 9450 NVS 250 kW / 155 deg Indonesian 1200-1300 on 9485 IRK 500 kW / 180 deg Indonesian 1200-1300 on 11560 HUW 300 kW in Taiwan Burmese 1300-1400 on 7175 IRK 250 kW / 180 deg English 1300-1400 on 7560 A-A 200 kW / 132 deg English 1300-1400 on 9310 A-A 200 kW / 132 deg Burmese 1300-1400 on 9485 IRK 500 kW / 180 deg English 1300-1500 on 11520 PAO 100 kW in Taiwan English 1300-1500 on 11560 HUW 300 kW in Taiwan English 1400-1500 on 6225 DB 200 kW / 125 deg English 1400-1500 on 7560 A-A 500 kW / 121 deg English 1400-1500 on 9485 IRK 500 kW / 180 deg Vietnamese 1400-1500 on 15465 PAO 100 kW in Taiwan Vietnamese 1400-1600 on 7505 TAC 200 kW / 131 deg Bengali 2100-2200 on 7435 PAO 100 kW in Taiwan Chinese 2100-2400 on 9280 HUW 300 kW in Taiwan Chinese 2200-2400 NF 6230 PAO 100 kW in Taiwan Chinese, ex 7235 East Asia 0800-0900 on 11895 TAI 100 kW in Taiwan Korean 0900-1100 on 9460 IRK 250 kW / 110 deg English 1000-1100 on 7150 NVS 250 kW / 085 deg Japanese 1100-1200 on 9460 IRK 250 kW / 110 deg Korean 1100-1300 on 12150 A-A 500 kW / 094 deg Chinese 1100-1500 on 5995 P.K 250 kW / 244 deg Chinese 1100-1500 on 6115 IRK 100 kW / 110 deg Chinese 1100-1500 on 7165 P.K 250 kW / 263 deg Chinese 1200-1300 on 6005 K/A 250 kW / 213 deg Korean 1300-1500 on 7535 A-A 500 kW / 094 deg Chinese (DX Mix News, Bulgaria, Jan 14 via DXLD) Winter B-07 Schedule of WYFR Family Radio Relays. Part two of two South Asia 0000-0100 on 15195 TSH 300 kW in Taiwan Hindi 0100-0200 on 15195 TSH 300 kW in Taiwan English 1200-1300 on 5900 IRK 250 kW / 152 deg English 1230-1330 on 12010 DHA 250 kW / 085 deg Bengali 1300-1400 NF 11930 WER 500 kW / 090 deg English from Jan. 15, ex 13700 1300-1400 on 15770 WER 500 kW / 090 deg Marathi 1300-1500 on 13820 WER 500 kW / 075 deg Bengali 1400-1500 on 5900 SAM 250 kW / 117 deg Gujarati 1400-1500 on 5970 SAM 250 kW / 140 deg Kannada 1400-1500 on 6020 SAM 250 kW / 140 deg Telugu 1400-1500 on 7340 IRK 250 kW / 224 deg Nepali 1400-1500 on 7475 DB 100 kW / 137 deg Tamil 1400-1500 on 9355 KCH 300 kW / 110 deg Gujarati 1400-1500 on 9855 DHA 250 kW / 105 deg Marathi 1400-1500 on 11830 WER 500 kW / 090 deg Kannada 1400-1500 on 13840 WER 500 kW / 105 deg Pashto 1400-1500 on 15115 WER 500 kW / 090 deg Telugu 1400-1500 on 15520 DHA 250 kW / 090 deg Hindi 1400-1600 on 5920 TCH 250 kW / 240 deg English 1400-1600 on 7175 ARM 300 kW / 110 deg Urdu 1400-1600 NF 11930 WER 500 kW / 090 deg Hindi from Jan. 15, ex 13700 1400-1700 on 5865 DB 100 kW / 135 deg Hindi 1500-1600 on 5900 SAM 250 kW / 117 deg Punjabi 1500-1600 on 6280 TSH 300 kW in Taiwan English 1500-1600 on 7340 IRK 250 kW / 224 deg Marathi 1500-1600 on 9665 WER 500 kW / 075 deg Punjabi 1500-1600 on 9800 WER 500 kW / 085 deg Gujarati 1500-1600 on 11560 HUW 300 kW in Taiwan Hindi 1500-1600 on 11830 WER 500 kW / 075 deg Urdu 1500-1600 on 12015 DHA 250 kW / 090 deg English 1500-1600 on 15115 WER 500 kW / 090 deg Tamil 1600-1700 on 6070 ARM 300 kW / 110 deg Punjabi 1600-1700 on 6280 TSH 300 kW in Taiwan Hindi 1600-1700 on 7295 NVS 250 kW / 195 deg Urdu 1600-1700 on 9405 WER 500 kW / 090 deg Hindi 1600-1700 NF 9485*WER 500 kW / 075 deg Urdu from Jan. 15, ex 11830 1600-1800 on 11815 WER 500 kW / 075 deg Punjabi 1700-1800 on 9405 WER 500 kW / 090 deg Nepali 1700-1800 NF 9705 WER 500 kW / 075 deg Urdu, ex 11830 * strong co-ch Radio Liberty in Avari/Chechen/Cherkassi North Africa 1700-1800 on 11685 JUL 100 kW / 175 deg Arabic 1800-1900 on 9845 NAU 500 kW / 160 deg Arabic 1900-2000 on 9500 WER 500 kW / 150 deg Arabic 1900-2000 on 9685 DHA 250 kW / 285 deg French 2000-2100 on 9465 WER 500 kW / 150 deg Arabic 2100-2200 on 5970 WER 500 kW / 150 deg Arabic North West Africa 2000-2100 on 9670 WER 125 kW / 195 deg French 2200-2300 on 6010 WER 500 kW / 195 deg French West Africa 1900-2000 on 9695 WER 500 kW / 210 deg French 2000-2200 on 9610 WER 500 kW / 210 deg Arabic 2000-2200 on 15195 ASC 250 kW / 065 deg English 2030-2130 on 5965 RMP 500 kW / 180 deg French 2200-2300 on 5960 WER 500 kW / 210 deg Arabic West Central Africa 1900-2000 on 9770 WER 500 kW / 180 deg French 1900-2200 on 9480 NAU 500 kW / 180 deg English 2000-2100 on 9595 WER 500 kW / 180 deg French 2100-2200 on 7305 WER 500 kW / 180 deg French 2200-2300 on 7305 WER 500 kW / 180 deg English Central Africa 1600-1700 on 15260 MEY 250 kW / 330 deg Portuguese 1600-1700 on 15325 WER 500 kW / 165 deg English 1800-1900 on 11665 NAU 500 kW / 165 deg English 1830-1930 on 17660 ASC 250 kW / 085 deg French 2115-2315 on 11875 ASC 250 kW / 065 deg English East Africa 1500-1600 on 13660 WER 500 kW / 150 deg English 1600-1700 on 9590 MDC 250 kW / 320 deg Swahili 1600-1700 on 11845 WER 500 kW / 135 deg English 1600-1700 on 11635 WER 500 kW / 150 deg Amharic 1600-1900 on 9885 WER 500 kW / 135 deg English 1700-1800 on 6045 DHA 250 kW / 225 deg Amharic 1700-1800 on 11635 WER 500 kW / 150 deg Swahili 1800-1900 on 9770 WER 500 kW / 135 deg Amharic 1800-1900 on 11805 MDC 050 kW / 320 deg Swahili 1800-1900 on 9435 WER 500 kW / 150 deg English 1800-2000 on 7395 MDC 250 kW / 320 deg English 1900-2000 on 9660 MEY 250 kW / 019 deg Swahili 1900-2100 on 6020 MDC 050 kW / 255 deg English South Africa 0500-0600 on 9845 MDC 050 kW / 280 deg Portuguese 1600-1700 on 6000 MEY 100 kW / 076 deg Portuguese 1700-1800 on 21680 ASC 250 kW / 085 deg English 1900-2100 on 3230 MEY 100 kW / 005 deg English (DX Mix News, Bulgaria, Jan 17 via DXLD) ** U S A. Re: KATV Tower Collapse --- Boy, doesn't it seem like these things come down with alarming regularity? Looking at a list on Wikipedia, which I assume is less than complete, I count at least 29 TV/FM/AM tower collapses in the last 20 years in the U.S. Allowing for some that may have been missed on the list, I guess we can say that roughly two of these incidents on average can be expected on a yearly basis. Of those listed on Wikipedia, about half were weather-related, maybe 30% or so engineering failures, and the balance accident / sabotage / unknown. Not being an engineer, I don't know if this is an acceptable and expected failure rate, or whether more could be done to keep those sticks from falling. Maybe given the engineering challenges of maintaining something very thin, very heavy, and very tall in an upright position over many years through all kinds of weather, we should be amazed that more of them DON'T come tumbling down (Stan Jones, Orlando FL, Jan 17, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. COLORADO PUBLIC RADIO TO ACQUIRE 88.1 FM IN DENVER KVOD classical music and KCFR news will both air on FM http://www.cpr.org/index.php?option=content&task=view&id=246 January 16, 2008 (CENTENNIAL, Colo.) Colorado Public Radio (CPR) has announced plans to purchase 88.1 FM in Denver from EMF Broadcasting of Rocklin, CA. Upon Federal Communications Commission approval of the ownership transfer, CPR will provide KVOD classical music programming on 88.1 FM, and KCFR news and information on 90.1 FM. The change is expected to take effect this spring. The proposed purchase would mark the completion of CPR's seven-year quest to provide the greatest possible service by delivering both of its programming formats on FM in the metro area. The Colorado Public Radio board of directors is evaluating two different proposals for financing the transaction. Purchase price is $8.2 million. EMF Broadcasting currently simulcasts K-LOVE Christian programming on 88.1 FM and 91.1 FM. The 91.1 frequency will not be affected by the CPR transaction, and will continue to carry K-LOVE programming. CPR is represented in the transaction by Public Radio Capital, a Denver nonprofit organization that helps public radio stations nationwide plan, acquire and finance new channels. "CPR is very excited about this opportunity to serve the metro area with two FM stations," said CPR President Max Wycisk. "This will be good news for all our listeners, supporters, and the communities we serve. KCFR will be able to deliver national, international, and expanded state news to a wider audience on 90.1 FM, and KVOD will continue to serve classical music listeners with a clear FM signal on 88.1." Currently, KCFR's in-depth news is available on 1340 AM in Denver; KVOD classical music is carried on 90.1 FM. CPR is offering its 1340 AM frequency for sale. Wycisk explained that while both FM signals cover the metro area well, 90.1 reaches further and penetrates better than 88.1. "Based on community needs, CPR's board has made news and information our service priority, while maintaining our historical commitment to classical music," he said. "The planned new locations for KCFR and KVOD reflect that focus. We appreciate that people will have to change their listening habits, and we'll do everything we can to make it a smooth transition for them." About Colorado Public Radio Colorado Public Radio's statewide two-channel network reaches more than 85% of the state's population. About 350,000 people listen every week (source: Arbitron, Fall 2006/Spring 2007), and more than 90% of Colorado Public Radio's operating funds come from the private support of listeners, businesses and foundations. KCFR In-Depth News is currently heard on: 1340 AM in Denver, 1490 AM in Boulder, 1230 AM in Pueblo, 89.5 FM in Grand Junction, 88.3 FM in Montrose, and 88.3 FM in Craig, and online at http://www.kcfr.org KVOD Classical Music is currently heard on: 90.1 FM in Denver, 91.9 FM in Pueblo, 94.7 FM in Colorado Springs, 89.9 FM in Vail, 90.5 FM in Glenwood Springs, 103.3 FM along the Western Slope, and online at http://www.kvod.org KCFR News and KVOD Classical Music are now available on HD Radio in Denver, Boulder, and Vail. About Public Radio Capital Public Radio Capital’s (PRC) mission is to secure and expand the number of public radio stations in communities nationwide so that people have greater program choices. In its role to broaden the reach of public radio, PRC is the industry’s leading advisor in planning, acquiring and funding new public radio channels. Since its founding in 2001 and before this Denver acquisition, nonprofit PRC has completed over $130 million in transactions, providing public radio services for over 28 million people, as well as helped public broadcasters in many other cities prepare for expansion of service (via Artie Bigley, DXLD) A good outcome, I suppose, but my stomach turns that gospel huxters are in a position to make 8 megabux just so citizens can listen to the public radio they are entitled to, and should have had all along on the educational band instead of religion. BTW, how can Denver have an 88.1 FM with a channel 6 TV station too? Of course once KRMA closes analog 6 that won`t matter. FM Atlas shows KFDN 88.1 Lakewood is direxional with only 430 watts! Quite a watt- per-dollar value (Glenn Hauser, ex-Denver, DX LISTENING DIGEST) KFDN has 1200W/1054 feet, Non Directional. I also think the "gospel shucksters" have every right to make money, if they own a station that they want to sell and they have a buyer, they have every right. No one person is OWED any specific format on any over the air AM or FM signal. On the other hand, if you feel something is missing, go out and buy a signal yourself. Philadelphia has WPVI 6 and WPEB 88.1 as well (Paul B Walker, Jr, SC, ABDX via DXLD) ** U S A. WKDK 1240 KHZ NEWBERRY, SC DX TEST Date: Monday morning (late Sunday night), February 11, 2008. Time: Midnight - 12:30 a.m. Eastern Time (0500-0530 UTC). 1,000 watts non-directional pattern. The test, hosted by our own Powell E. Way III - W4OPW, will consist of phonetic voice IDs, Morse code, sweep tones and unique music. Powell will also take pre-paid telephone calls at (803) 276-2957. Reception reports may be sent to Powell E. Way III, WKDK Radio, P.O. Box 753, Newberry, SC 29108. The station will accept audio recordings on disk (.mp3 or .wav files), or cued up cassettes. E-mail reports to W4OPW [at] yahoo.com are OK but NO AUDIO FILES via e-mail due to bandwidth restrictions. NOTE: All requests for verifications must be accompanied by return postage in order to receive a reply. Our sincere thanks to Powell and the management at WKDK for agreeing to conduct this test (Jim Pogue - KH2AR @ comcast.net http://www.dxtests.info IRCA/NRC Joint BTC Coordinator, Jan 17, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** VIETNAM. I received, just yesterday, information from a friend of mine who went to visit the Radio Station in Hanoi last month. He tells me that the former street address of 58 Quan Su street is now just a large building construction site with the former building having been demolished & now just a large hole in the ground. The Voice of Vietnam's current premises is just a temporary arrangement until the new Voice of Vietnam Radio & TV centre building is finished at 58 Qwan {sic} Su Street. From my friend's feedback it might well be 2-3 years before this is achieved. Interesting that the VOV website still provides the old address, but I'm sure mail would be forwarded okay since information at 58 Quan Su Street provides the current VOV street address (and an artist's impression of the new building) (Ian Baxter, Australia, SW TXsite Jan 14 via BC-DX via DXLD) ** ZIMBABWE [non]. VOA Studio 7, partial schedule: 1700-1800 UT BOT 909, 4930, SAO 12080, IRA 15775, MRC 15775 1800-1830 UT BOT 909, SAO 12080, MRC 15775 (BC-DX Jan 18 via DXLD) Note that during the first hour, including English at 1730-1800 weekdays, two sites are shown for 15775 --- both Sri Lanka and Briech at same time to combat jamming? Or just one or the other? (gh, DXLD) UNIDENTIFIED. 4779.96, 1334-1410+ Jan 17. Spanish vocals, sounding like upbeat religious songs; M spoke at 1342 in English, I think - signal was not real strong but seemed English and maybe some Spanish, as well; another block of songs followed to 1358, then the M spoke again but signal had weakened further and was pretty much gone by 1410. The CODAR was there, too, of course, as well as a spotty ute. R. Cultural Coatán operates on this exact frequency but would be too late for them. Suspect XERTA based on format, three-song groupings, English/Spanish announcements, and fadeout time (John Wilkins, Wheat Ridge, Colorado. Drake R-8, 100-foot RW [random wire], Cumbredx mailing list via DXLD) Interesting theory, but I am not convinced 1410 is too late for Guatemala here in deep winter (gh, OK, DXLD) UNIDENTIFIED. Rapid pulsing, believed to be Chinese over-the-horizon radar, Jan 16 at 1430 was found at approx. 9135-9165, and 9400-9425, the latter interfering with R. Sweden in English on 9400, and Greece on 9420. I quickly scanned 6-9 and 10-11.7 MHz but did not hear it anywhere else (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. Just as I tuned in 15110, Jan 16 at 1447, hearing some Arabic dramatic talk and drumming, it vanished. Per skeds, this would be Kabd, R. Kuwait, supposed to run from 1315 until 1800, 500 kW at 100 degrees, Arabic until 1600, then Urdu. Maybe it`s unusual for it to be on, rather than off, since I don`t recall encountering it before (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ PUBLICATIONS ++++++++++++ WORLD RADIO TV HANDBOOK 2008 Here is Media Network`s review: http://www.radionetherlands.nl/features/media/wrth.html I would add some comments now on just one aspect: the US FM listings. WRTH tries to cover this without committing to anything comprehensive like Bruce Elving`s dormant FM Atlas & Station Directory. The 2008 edition, like 2007 tries something I find rather incomprehensible and of little real use: FM Stations by Major Metropolitan Areas First of all, as a non-inhabitant of an MMA, I feel rather ignored. But how were these areas selected? Oklahoma City doesn`t make it. How did Salt Lake City make the cut, but not some larger places? Stations in each MMA are listed by city of license after the central city. If they are suburbs, the COL is of little significance in real listening. But in some cases these extend far beyond the real MMA. How come Denver extends to Colorado Springs, and even Pueblo and Cañon City? But only the higher-powered stations are listed. It would have been more useful to show the stations in each MMA in frequency order. Stations are identified by call letters, which I would applaud, but call letters only, which I cannot in the practical world --- nothing about formats or slogans, which is what you need to `identify` an FM station these days (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) "ER TING BA FANG" BROADCAST BULLETIN, CHINA Hi Glenn, Re 8-005: Er Ting Ba Fang is a Chinese-language BCL/SWL bulletin published weekly on various websites including http://www.5bcl.com and http://www.bclsky.com The bulletin seems to be published anonymously, and I don't know who is behind it. The content consists of radio-related items, which mostly appear to be taken from English-language DX websites and mailing lists and Chinese press reports. It also includes Chinese radio nostalgia, especially old frequency and programme schedules. The name comes from a Chinese idiom, one version of which goes: "yan guan liu lu, er ting ba fang". A literal translation would be "eyes observing six roads, ears listening eight directions" - describing somebody carefully watching and listening to everything going on around them. Regards (Alan Davies, Indonesia, DX LISTENING DIGEST) http://www.5bcl.com/Article/Class3/Index.html This is the address for the forum (sub-forum actually) on which the bulletin is published from time to time. 73 de (Pentti Lintujärvi, Helsinki, Finland, Webmaster of 1000 Lakes DX Page http://www.geocities.com/Colosseum/Park/3232/dx.htm and http://www.dxlinks.info/ Jan 17, DX LISTENING DIGEST) In Chinese, but some of the linx lead to English material (gh, DXLD) CONVENTIONS & CONFERENCES +++++++++++++++++++++++++ CIBAR Re 8-002, SWEDEN: CYBAR is actually CIBAR -- from the Conference on International Broadcasting Audience Research. The entity began as a yearly conference, and is now additionally a consortium of the people in international broadcasting who do audience research. I used to attend CIBAR meetings regularly, when I was a more significant personage in the field. Wesbite: http://www.cibar.org Thanks for spotting that Radio Sweden report. 73 (Kim Elliott, DX LISTENING DIGEST) LANGUAGE LESSONS ++++++++++++++++ EBITDA Re 8-005, INDIA: ```No. This would be called "gross earnings". After all that folderol, it would be called "net earnings" (Clara Listensprechen, DX LISTENING DIGEST)`` Yes. It is a common term both in financial circles and corporate accounting (Terry L. Krueger, Clearwater FL, Jan 17, DX LISTENING DIGEST) WORLD OF HOROLOGY +++++++++++++++++ DOWNLOADABLE CALENDAR WALLPAPER A 2008y calendar for your computer can be downloaded from NHK Radio Japan [sic]. There is a different picture for each month of the year. ``NHK`s calendars featuring twelve prize-winning photographs from an annual photo contest. Beautiful scenes of the seasons are captured by the fresh gaze of amateur cameramen across Japan, and have long been treasured by our audiences.`` http://www.nhk.or.jp/rj/wall_e.html [so far, only January and February] KBS Radio Korea [sic] also provides a similar service but I have been unable to locate the 2008y one so far. Back in the UK, BBC Coventry & Warwickshire have one at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/coventry/content/articles/2007/12/27/calendar08_feature.shtml [also one month at a time, available on first of each month] (Chris Brand, Webwatch, Jan BDXC-UK Communication via DXLD) SHORTWAVE MUSIC +++++++++++++++ SHORTWAVE LIVES ON, AS MUSICAL EXPRESSION Radiohead's Johnny Greenwood's "'Popcorn Superhet Receiver' — its title taken from a shortwave radio catalog — is an exploration of 'white noise,' a form of electronic noise that embraces every audible frequency and can sound like hissing or static. In its purest form, all frequencies are heard at the same intensity, but Mr. Greenwood takes artistic license: even when the chords are at their densest, melodies emerge as the strings change pitches. ... 'Popcorn Superhet Receiver' will be performed by the Wordless Music Orchestra on Wednesday and Thursday evenings at the Church of St. Paul the Apostle, Columbus Avenue at 60th Street; wordlessmusic.org." .. . http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/16/arts/music/16word.html?_r=1&ref=music&oref=slogin (New York Times, 16 January 2008 via kimandrewelliott.com via DXLD) RADIO EQUIPMENT FORUM +++++++++++++++++++++ 57 CHANNELS (AND NOTHING ON) Lyrics By Bruce Springsteen I bought a bourgeois house in the Hollywood hills With a truckload of hundred thousand dollar bills Man came by to hook up my cable TV We settled in for the night my baby and me We switched 'round and 'round 'til half-past dawn There was fifty-seven channels and nothin' on Well now home entertainment was my baby's wish So I hopped into town for a satellite dish I tied it to the top of my Japanese car I came home and I pointed it out into the stars A message came back from the great beyond There's fifty-seven channels and nothin' on Well we might'a made some friends with some billionaires We might'a got all nice and friendly If we'd made it upstairs All I got was a note that said "Bye-bye John Our love is fifty-seven channels and nothin' on" So I bought a .44 magnum it was solid steel cast And in the blessed name of Elvis well I just let it blast 'Til my TV lay in pieces there at my feet And they busted me for disturbin' the almighty peace Judge said "What you got in your defense son?" "Fifty-seven channels and nothin' on" I can see by your eyes friend you're just about gone Fifty-seven channels and nothin' on... Fifty-seven channels and nothin' (via Keith Beesley, Jan 15, ABDX via DXLD) DIGITAL COMMUNICATIONS SOUND LIKE JAMMING Returning to regular broadcast band [sic] listening after a 30 year gap and noting the change with countries who were at "Radio War" now buying transmission time on each other`s transmitters sites, I thought large scale jamming was a thing of the past. (I miss the tractor production figures and table tennis championships on Radio Tirana !) Over the week end I noted what I thought were "old style" jammers on:- 6236, 6320, 6335, 6345, 6390, 6410, 6420, 6445, 6480, 6490 and 6500 kHz, for instance. Using a 70 ft. long wire and a Icom R-70 RX. Could some have been received "images" or recycled mixing locally (rusty nail effect) with the excessive TVI and PC QRM from neighbours? Other than Cuba and Eritrea/Ethiopia, what regular jamming does take place? Basis for an article from the learned among us? Regards from (Graham Bedwell, BDXC-UK via DXLD) What Graham is hearing around 6500, etc. is not jamming but a military (Nato?) digital communications network which transmits on literally hundreds of frequencies mostly in between the broadcast bands. It sounds a bit like old fashioned jamming. I seem to recall one of the UK sites for these transmissions was traced to Inksip NW of Preston, but there are doubtless others in the UK and overseas. They are a real pest, heard all over the SW bands - maybe more prolific than even jamming used to be. I've no idea what the purpose of these transmissions is (does anyone have any more info?) but perhaps they are the reason why the US was so determined to prevent any expansion of the HF broadcast bands at the 2007 World Radiocommunications Conference (Dave Kenny, England, ibid.) Hello All, If you have the free Google Earth, then take a look, enter Inksip, you can zoom down and easily find and identify the site mentioned by Dave, the towers and antenna layouts are clearly visible, at about 19:00 with respect to the village of Inksip (John E. Cleeve, ibid.) 19:00? Looks as if it could have been an airport at some time as you can make out the track of what appears to be a runway (Tony Boreham, ibid.) Wikepedia says that it is the former RNAS Inksip (HMS Nightjar) and now used for Defence comms (John Cleeve, ibid.) Hi Graham, these "jammer" signals you mention are in fact data transmissions using a mode called STANAG. Using Skysweeper to decode shows sync but the text is encrypted. Regards (Dave Towers, G8SZX Glenfield Leicester IO92jp, http://www.g8szx.mediumwaveradio.org ibid.) Graham, As Dave says, not everything on shortwave that sounds like jamming is jamming. The reverse is also true: the most prolific jamming operation at present is run by China, which uses Chinese instrumental music as a jamming signal, so it is often assumed to be innocent interference. The music has been dubbed "Firedrake" by DXers. Tune around SW at most times of day and it's likely that you'll soon hear some examples. Other countries that currently engage in jamming include Iran, North Korea and Zimbabwe, but none of these is on the same scale as China (Chris Greenway, ibid.) Axually the term `Firedrake` comes from a BBC Monitoring report originally about Uzbekistan. It is still not universally accepted, e.g. ``Firedragon`` instead, which ought to make more sense culturally, ``crash & bang``, etc., and amazingly, people keep discovering it and describing it in their own way, unaware of all the DX press about it that exists (Glenn Hauser, DXLD) DIGITAL BROADCASTING ++++++++++++++++++++ HD RADIO A TREMENDOUS HIT IN THE USA [?] ``More than 100 manufacturers produce today the receivers compatible with HD-Radio, and 51 models of cars will be equipped with such receivers in mass production in 2008. ``2280 HD Radio transmitters are on the air in the USA. One out of every 3 radio listeners in the U.S. is listening to an HD Radio station. One out of every 5 people is listening to a station with digital-only programming.`` (Andriy Karpiy, at a November DRM meeting in Ukraine, quoted on the current (22.12.07) Whole World on the Radio Dial, from RUI, full text at http://www.dxing.ru/content/view/662/1/ via DXLD) Maybe this guy meant there were 2280 HD radios sold in the USA cause I doubt one third of all listeners is listening to HD and I doubt that 20% of Americans are listening to HD and I doubt that there are 2280 stations sending an HD signal. I wonder where this Ukrainian got that idea he is espousing? I did get a laugh out of this if nothing else (Kevin Redding, ABDX via DXLD) Except for radio-interested people, I have never heard a single person talk about HD radio. I think there is zero interest among consumers. In their cars, perhaps they may be listening to it without realizing that it's HD (Dick W., ibid.) This led to a long thread of comments, ultimately wandering off the original topic; see the open archive of this and everything else in the ABDX yg: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ABDX/ (gh, DXLD) `NEAR FM QUALITY` DRM Re: ``I am quite sensitive to the clipping and compression artefacts that are so evident in low-bitrate audio files like podcasts. I would much rather listen to a shortwave broadcast with some whistles and fading than to listen to a highly compressed audio file.`` Make that: I would much rather listen to an AM transmission than to listen to the extremely data-reduced audio from a DRM transmission. And I'm not joking here, this low-bitrate stuff which pretends to deliver "near FM quality" by producing artificial highs, is almost unbearable for me, especially on speech which it turns into ugly cyber voices. How could it be different when 98 percent of the audio are thrown away and only 2 percent transmitted? Btw, often the term "compressed" in conjunction with audio is not used to refer to the use of a data-reduced format but instead to point out that dynamics compression has been applied to it (Kai Ludwig, Germany, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) DRM: see also NEW ZEALAND NTSC IN THE U.S./MEXICAN BORDER AREA AFTER FEBRUARY 2009 Q. CGC #823 indicated that some U.S. TV broadcasters along the U.S./Mexican border want to continue analog transmissions beyond the February 2009 DTV transition date. Of course, extending analog isn't an "FCC permitting" type of thing. The FCC has no authority to extend analog after the deadline, and I don't think Congress is likely to extend the deadline since they will want the next (they presume democrat) president to be able to spend the money . A. One CGC Communicator reader forwarded the text of a news item on this very subject. It reads in part as follows: "TV stations along the Texas-Mexico border may be exempt from shutting off their analog signals on Feb. 17, 2009 if a U.S. Senator from Texas gets her way. "Just before Christmas, Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Texas) introduced legislation to allow broadcasters within 50 miles of the Texas-Mexico border to continue broadcasting analog signals for up to five years if permitted by the FCC. The Digital Television Border Fix Act (S. 2507), cosponsored by Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.), addresses the unique challenges for U.S. citizens along the U.S.-Mexico border.... The legislation will ensure that Texans living along the border will not lose access to public safety communication message sent through television stations.... The legislation would most affect the Texas cities of Laredo, McAllen and El Paso." (CGC Communicator Jan 15 via Kevin Redding, ABDX via DXLD) PROPAGATION ++++++++++++ GEOMAGNETIC SUMMARY NOVEMBER 22 2007 THROUGH JANUARY 15 2008 Tabulated from email status daily. Date Flux A K Space Wx 11/22 69 12 1 no storms 23 70 8 3 no storms 24 70 12 1 no storms 25 71 9 3 no storms 26 71 12 2 no storms 27 72 10 1 no storms 28 71 5 0 no storms 29 71 3 2 no storms 11/30 71 3 1 no storms 12/ 1 72 2 0 no storms 2 72 2 x x 3 72 1 1 no storms 4 73 1 0 no storms 5 74 1 0 no storms 6 75 2 0 no storms 7 78 2 1 no storms 8 82 1 0 no storms 9 87 0 0 no storms 10 89 1 1 no storms 11 87 6 2 no storms 12 93 13 3 no storms 13 94 10 2 no storms 14 94 5 2 no storms 15 92 4 1 no storms 16 89 3 1 no storms 17 82 1 1 no storms 18 80 24 3 no storms 19 77 17 2 no storms 20 75 12 2 no storms 21 73 14 3 no storms 22 71 11 2 no storms 23 72 9 2 no storms 24 71 7 0 no storms 25 71 3 0 no storms 26 72 1 0 no storms 27 73 1 1 no storms 28 72 6 2 no storms 29 72 4 0 no storms 30 73 1 0 no storms 31 75 2 0 no storms 1/ 1 77 1 2 no storms 2 79 4 1 no storms 3 80 1 1 no storms 4 79 1 1 no storms 5 79 1 1 no storms 6 80 16 2 no storms 7 79 14 3 no storms 8 78 17 2 no storms 9 76 12 3 no storms 10 77 8 1 no storms 11 76 4 1 no storms 12 76 2 0 no storms 13 76 6 2 no storms 14 75 15 3 no storms 15 76 14 3 no storms (via Phil Bytheway, IRCA DX Monitor Jan 19 via DXLD) SOHO: THE NEW SOLAR CYCLE STARTS WITH A 'BANG' http://www.southgatearc.org/news/january2008/soho_solar_cycle.htm The European Space Agency (ESA) reports that the SOHO solar observation spacecraft witnessed the start of the new solar cycle. The appearance of a very special solar spot on the sun surface a few days ago, signalled to scientists around the world that a new solar cycle had begun. This solar spot also produced two solar blasts. Each solar cycle lasts an average of 11.1 years. The new solar cycle, called 'Cycle 24', started on 4 January this year, when SOHO observed an event scientists have been anticipating for about a year. A fairly small and, at first sight, inconspicuous sunspot on the Sun's northern hemisphere showed a reversed magnetic polarity compared to sunspots of previous years. A sunspot is an area of highly organised magnetic activity on the surface of the Sun. This sunspot convinced scientists that a new solar cycle had begun. Later that day, this finding was made official when the sunspot was catalogued by the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). SOHO was not only first in spotting this harbinger of the new solar cycle, it also observed two associated 'EIT waves', blast waves that spread out from active regions on the Sun like ripples from a pebble dropped into water. The new cycle started with a 'bang'! This is just the beginning, and scientists are now eagerly awaiting the activity to follow. Solar Cycle 24 is expected to build gradually, with the number of sunspots and solar storms reaching a maximum by 2011 or 2012, although intense solar activity can occur at any time. The Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) celebrated the twelfth anniversary of its launch on 2 December 2007. The satellite has witnessed the Sun change through almost a complete solar cycle, from quiet to stormy, and back. SOHO is a project of international collaboration between ESA and NASA. (Southgate ARC via Mike Terry, dxldyg via DXLD) ARLX002 LUNAR ECHO EXPERIMENT LOOKING FOR AMATEUR RADIO PARTICIPANTS ZCZC AX02 QST de W1AW Special Bulletin 2 ARLX002 From ARRL Headquarters, Newington CT January 17, 2008 To all radio amateurs The HF Active Auroral Research Program (HAARP) in Alaska and the Long Wavelength Array (LWA) in New Mexico are planning an additional lunar echo experiment for January 18-19 [sic] Interested radio amateurs are invited to participate in this experiment by listening for the lunar echoes and submitting reports. On January 19, listen on 6792.5 kHz at 0500-0600z, and on 7407.5 kHz at 0600-0700z. On January 20, listen on 6792.5 at 0630-0730z and on 7407.5 at 0730-0830z (depending on frequency occupancy at the time of operation, it may be necessary to adjust the frequency slightly). Based on previous experiments, investigators believe it should be possible to hear the lunar echoes with a standard communications receiver and a simple 40 meter dipole antenna. The format for the transmissions will follow a five second cycle beginning on the hour and repeating continuously. The HAARP transmitter will transmit for the first two seconds. The next three seconds will be quiet to listen for the lunar echo. Then HAARP will transmit again for two seconds, repeating the cycle for one hour. In the second hour, this five second repetitive cycle will be repeated at a different frequency. All transmissions from HAARP will be CW (no modulation). Depending on ionospheric conditions, it may or may not be possible to hear the HAARP transmission directly via skywave propagation. Since HAARP will not be using any modulation, set your receiver on to CW mode to hear HAARP and the lunar echo. Investigators are interested in receiving signal reports from radio amateurs who may be able to detect -- or not detect -- the lunar echo or the transmitted skywave pulse from HAARP. Submit reports via e-mail to mbreport @ haarp.alaska.edu and list your call sign and the type and location of your receiving equipment and antennas (ARRL mailing list via Mike Terry, DXLD) ?? Since this is a receive-only experiment, why are they just looking for hams? No transmitting equipment, license, or call sign should be needed. BTW, the Dentro-Cuban Jamming Command is unlikely to turn off 7405 transmitters before the usual Martí sign-off at 0700, but should we Ask Arnie? And we should ask HAARP, just how much power, or ERP is being used for this? (Glenn Hauser, DXLD) Glenn, Consider the source. ARRL is a ham radio organization. It was because of this narrow publicity that I decided to circulate the info in the SWL world. Of course they indicate they may shift frequency slightly to avoid others. I doubt Arnie would shut anything down as long as Martí was active. First we would have to get Kim A. Elliott to walk across the hall to get Martí turned off. Sounds too hard to me. 8-) Enjoy (Joe Buch, swprograms via DXLD) I consider the source to be HAARP --- why haven`t they put out a call to the SWL community directly? Anyhow, tnx to you and Mike for passing it on to us. Better yet, HAARP could have chosen a non-jammed area in the first place, if they were well-informed (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ###