DX LISTENING DIGEST 8-019, February 12, 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 2008 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
AIRINGS OF WORLD OF RADIO 1395, SHORTWAVE AND OTHERWISE
Thu 0630 WRMI 9955
Thu 0904 World FM, Tawa, Wellington, New Zealand 88.5
Thu 1530 WRMI 7385
Thu 2200 World FM, Tawa, Wellington, New Zealand 88.5
Thu 2300 WRMI 9955 [NEW]
Fri 0030 WBCQ 7415
Fri 0100 WTND-LP 106.3 Macomb IL
Fri 0200 ACBRadio Mainstream
Fri 0400 ACBRadio Mainstream
Fri 0600 ACBRadio Mainstream
Fri 0800 ACBRadio Mainstream
Fri 0900 WRMI 9955
Fri 1000 ACBRadio Mainstream
Fri 1200 ACBRadio Mainstream
Fri 1400 ACBRadio Mainstream
Fri 1600 ACBRadio Mainstream
Fri 1800 ACBRadio Mainstream
Fri 2000 ACBRadio Mainstream
Fri 2005 World FM, Tawa, Wellington, New Zealand 88.5
Fri 2100 RFPI
Fri 2130 WWCR1 15825
Fri 2200 ACBRadio Mainstream
Fri 2300 PJR [NEW]
Fri 2330 WBCQ 5110-CUSB
Sat 0000 ACBRadio Mainstream
Sat 0100 RFPI
Sat 0500 VoiceCorps Reading Service, WOSU-FM subcarrier, cable
Sat 0500 RFPI
Sat 0900 RFPI
Sat 0900 WRN to Eu, Au, NZ, WorldSpace AfriStar, AsiaStar
Sat 0900 WRMI 9955
Sat 1000 WNQM Nashville TN 1300
Sat 1100 WPKN Bridgeport CT 89.5 & WPKM Montauk LINY 88.7
Sat 1300 RFPI
Sat 1700 RFPI
Sat 1730 WWCR3 12160
Sat 1832 WRN1 to North America also WLIO-TV Lima OH SAP
[+Sirius Satellite Radio 140 subject to pre-emption]
Sat 1832 World FM, Tawa, Wellington, New Zealand 88.5 [from WRN]
Sat 1900 PJR [NEW]
Sun 0104 World FM, Tawa, Wellington, New Zealand 88.5
Sun 0330 WWCR3 5070
Sun 0730 WWCR1 3215
Sun 0900 WRMI 9955
Sun 0932 WRN to North America, also WLIO-TV Lima OH SAP
[including Sirius Satellite Radio channel 140]
Sun 0932 KSFC Spokane WA 91.9
Sun 0932 WXPR Rhinelander WI 91.7 91.9 100.9
Sun 0932 KXOT Puget Sound WA 91.7
Sun 1400 KRFP-LP Moscow ID 92.5
Sun 1615 WRMI 7385
Sun 1832 WRN1 to North America also WLIO-TV Lima OH SAP
[+Sirius Satellite Radio 140 subject to pre-emption]
Sun 1832 World FM, Tawa, Wellington, New Zealand 88.5 [from WRN]
Mon 0400 WBCQ 9330-CLSB [irregular]
Mon 0515 WBCQ 7415 [time varies]
Mon 1900 RFPI
Mon 2300 RFPI
Tue 0300 RFPI
Tue 0700 RFPI
Tue 1100 RFPI
Tue 1200 WRMI 9955
Tue 1500 RFPI
Tue 1630 WRMI 7385
Wed 1100 PJR [NEW]
Wed 1230 WRMI 9955
Thu 0000 WBCQ 17495-CLSB [unconfirmed]
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
** ANTARCTICA [and non]. AAW. The Antarctic Activity Week (AAW) is
quickly approaching (February 18-24th). There are several special
event stations already on the air along with special "IPY" callsigns
and other special world-wide callsigns to celebrate the 2008 Antarctic
event and the International Polar Year "IPY". On the WAP Web site you
can get the whole list of participants to the 5th Edition of AAW by
clicking on the appropriate window marked "Antarctic Activity Week",
at: http://www.waponline.it Also remember, working the many WAP
stations qualifies for several different kind of awards. For details
check "WAP Awards" banner on the left side of the WAP home page
(Ohio/Penn DX Bulletin No. 845, February 11, 2008, via Dave Raycroft,
ODXA yg via DXLD)
Axually, many if not all of these stations are outside Antarctica, but
with an interest in the Continent.
?? ``Quickly approaching``??? No it isn`t: it is approaching at a
*constant* rate of one day per day, one hour per hour, etc. Those who
use this expression have totally lost their objectivity or just aren`t
thinking. Speaking non-relativistically, of course, time may only
*seem* to be accelerating, in a very subjective way. What they really
mean is that the time is drawing near, but it is not approaching any
more *quickly* than it was a year ago! (Glenn Hauser, DXLD)
** BENIN. 1566, TWR, Parakou, 1831-1932, 09 Feb, Vernacular, talks &
music; 54444, QRM from the tiny G [UK] stations which despite their
very small power are the only regular ones on the channel, sometimes
even at mid day, propagation allowing, that is.
5025, ORTB, Parakou, 1532-..., 09 Feb, Vernacular, talks; 25342;
audible around noon too (Carlos Gonçalves, Portugal, Feb 12, DX
LISTENING DIGEST)
** BENIN. Received today by e-mail a very nice, full-data QSL-card in
.pdf format from TWR Benin. Reported their test 22 Jan on 1566. The
announced e-mail address 1566 at twr.org is also mentioned in the card
(Jari Savolainen, Kuusankoski, Finland, Feb 11, dxldyg via DX
LISTENING DIGEST)
** BRAZIL. Re 8-018: Rádio Cultura is now on the air broadcasting both
analog and digital (HD Radio) in São Paulo. Although Cultura has a
much better coverage now, Panamericana still has a better signal
strength. Regards, (Marcelo Cacheiro, Brasil, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** BRAZIL. 9565. R. Tupi, Curitiba PR, 2235-2245, 09 Feb, pathetic
live show presenting miraculous healings like on 12 Jan at the same
time, all with brief translation into Castilian; I think the presenter
is the one & only David Miranda; 34433 (Carlos Gonçalves, Portugal,
Feb 12, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** BULGARIA. New QSLs: HAM RADIO: LZ50DX, 14 MHz, glossy logo folder
card from Radio Bulgaria Special Event station commemorating 50 years
of their DX program. Card pictures Radio Bulgaria staff on inside and
photo of the station's rotatable antenna array on the back. Received
in 18 days for an e-mail report to R. Bulgaria's DX Editor Dimiter
Petrov/ LZ1AF (J D Stephens, AL, USA, Feb 11, HCDX via DXLD)
This is interesting! I reported Radio Bulgaria's special transmission
Nov 11th on 15700 kHz, both via e-mail and snail mail. I haven't heard
anything from them since that! Are there other HCDX-ers waiting for a
reply? Was the Event Station an amateur radio event? 73 from (Björn
Fransson, Sweden, ibid.)
** BURKINA FASO. 7230, R. Burkina, Ouagadougou, 1131-1315, 09 Feb,
French, talks on water resources, news at noon; 45444; fluttery &
weaker at 1 PM (Carlos Gonçalves, Portugal, Feb 12, DX LISTENING
DIGEST)
** CANADA. CBC Radio in upside-down land --- For the last hour (or
less) Radio One (On the air, internet and Satellite) has been playing
non-stop French programming and organ music suited to the Hockey
arena. All very strange. Someone flipped the wrong switch. Just
checking the homepage for some updates (Colin Newell, Victoria,
British Columbia, Canada, 0013 UT Feb 11, IRCA via DXLD) Colin, I had
noticed that CBU was all French a while ago and I thought it sounded
odd. 73, (Patrick Martin, OR, ibid.)
** CANADA. CBC's "Age Of Persuasion" available on-demand --- When we
first discussed this program, the CBC hadn't made a decision regarding
the feasibility of a "listen again" capability. Good news - all
editions to date can be listened to on-demand. A download option is
not provided, but software packages such as Replay AV enable one to
capture and save the audio. See http://www.cbc.ca/ageofpersuasion/
(Richard Cuff / Allentown, PA USA, swprograms via DXLD)
** CANADA. CBC Records/Les disques SRC Wins First Grammy Award
OTTAWA, Feb. 11 /CNW Telbec/ - Yesterday in Los Angeles, a piece of
CBC/Radio-Canada history was written as CBC Records/Les disques SRC
received its first-ever Grammy Award at the 50th Annual Grammy Awards
Celebration. The winning album - BARBER, KORNGOLD, WALTON (Violin
Concertos) - features the extraordinary violinist James Ehnes and the
Vancouver Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Bramwell Tovey.
The award came in the category of Best Instrumental Soloist
Performance with Orchestra, and conductor Bramwell Tovey was in
attendance at the Grammys to personally accept it on behalf of James,
the Orchestra and CBC/Radio-Canada. . .
http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/February2008/11/c8968.html
(via Kim Elliott, DXLD)
** CHAD. 4905, tuned in 0609-0615 Feb. 9. Man in Arabic talk,
newslike, to 0611, then local song. Talk again at 0615. First time
noted in Arabic here. Weak to fair, QRN (Victor C. Jaar, Quebec.
Galaxy R530, longwire, NASWA Flashsheet via DXLD)
4905, RD. Natle. Tchadienne, Grevia, was noted silent on 08, 09 & 10
Feb, i.e. at least during my own evening observations, then observed
2112-2124*, 11 Feb, French, talks, national anthem; 55444. I did try
this one on the daytime frequency of 6165, but no signal was detected.
4905 ditto, 0714-f/out 0740 (f/out time would be later if observed on
the SW coast), 12 Feb, French, talks about the country's situation;
25332 (Carlos Gonçalves, Portugal, Feb 12, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** CHINA. January 1, 2008 log: 19640, 0822, CPBS, Xi`an, Chinese,
Domestic Service 2, 150 kW, H2, 2 x 9820. Music program and // 9820
which was weaker, only on Thu-Tue. Chinese female announcer 0825,
peaked on 19640, 4x4; checked H3, 29460 and only had S3 Carrier.
January 25 2008 log: 15005, 0746, Chinese Spur, 5x6, with Chinese male
announcer; few of these popping up in the lower part of the band, off
and on, have a hard time pinning any of these down. 15 MHz is packed
with many powerful Chinese transmitters. 73 (Dave, Adelaide, South
Australia, Vitek, SWL Call VK5001SWL, Grid PF95ga, 35 Degrees South
138 Degrees East, Icom R75 and G5RV North/South, harmonics yg via
DXLD)
** COCOS ISLAND. TI9, (Update/QSL Route Change). The international
team of operators are now active as TI9KK (not TI9K as first
announced). Activity will last until February 14th. Operations will be
on all modes and bands including 60 meters and EME, with 6 stations on
the air. It was announced last week (by DH8WR/EA2CRX, DJ7JC and
OE9AMJ) that the QSL Manager was changed for this operation. The new
QSL Manager is EA1DR. However, beware that the TI9 Web site still
states EA2CRX, but QRZ.com does have the correct QSL info. There will
be E-mail requests for Bureau QSLs. However, Bureau QSLs will be sent
via the Bureau later. For more details and updates, visit the TI9 Web
page at: http://www.ti9.eu.com (Ohio/Penn DX Bulletin No. 845,
February 11, 2008, via Dave Raycroft, ODXA yg via DXLD)
3794.5-USB, TI9KK, 0642, 10 Feb. DXpedition heard with fair signal
working European hams with usual barrage of W/K folks not helping much
(Dan Sheedy, CA, R75/EF102040, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) I
sought this about 24h later, but no luck; just some ordinary QSOs
ongoing; rest period or QSY at TI9? (gh, DXLD)
** COLOMBIA. Pregunta para mis amigos de Colombia. Saludos cordiales
queridos colegas diexistas. Espero se encuentren todos muy bien.
Desde hace ya bastante tiempo, he notado que en Colombia actualmente
hay dos poderosas cadenas radiales que luchan a brazo partido por
lograr la mayor audiencia, esas cadenas son: Caracaol y RCN.
Siempre había pensado que Caracol era mejor que RCN , pero con los
cambios que han sufrido las comunicaciones a nivel mundial, he podido
observar como la cadena RCN, ha penetrado ahora mucho mas que
Caracaol, incluso los noticieros de RCN me parecen que son mas
difundido por otros medios que los de Caracol.
Mi pregunta es la siguiente: Queridos amigos colombianos, ¿cual cadena
radial colombiana es actualmente la de mayor importancia en Colombia,
RCN o Caracol, cual informa mas rapido y cual es mas agil ?
Por cierto acabo de ver por RCN la información donde se anuncia la
captura de un alto jefe militar del ELN encargado de las operaciones
de Radio Patria Libre, el sobrenombre de este jefe guerrillero
atrapado por las fuerzas del gobierno colombiano es Dumar. Atte: (José
Elías Díaz Gómez, condiglist yg via DXLD)
** CONGO DR [non]. 9635, R. Okapi (via Meyerton) 0428-0515 10 Feb.
Quite good at tune-in with hi-life/W African pop, news, phone
interviews, reports in French, and frequent "Okapi" drop-in jingles
(Dan Sheedy, CA, R75/EF102040, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** CUBA. 5025, R. Rebelde, Bauta, 1010-f/out 1230, 09 Feb, the usual
proigram "Haciendo Radio", with info, news, chat & music; 35444
(Carlos Gonçalves, Portugal, Feb 12, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** CUBA. Good AM and Tropical Bands Propagation this Monday evening
Hi amigos: Listening on the AM broadcast band with several radios
starting a little before local sunset, I noticed very good DX
conditions this Monday. Later, at around 7 PM local time, 00 UT, I
spent some time listening to Radio Rebelde´s 50 kiloWatt transmitter
on 5025 kHz, and also notice a much higher than normal signal that was
coming it via skywave. Seems like the many consecutive days of zero
sunspots have sent the ionospheric absorption index to a very low
value. At the moment that the very thin D layer vanished, the AM
broadcast band opened up on the North to South path very abruptly,
with stations located to the West of my almost 83 degrees West
longitude location starting to come even when at their location it was
still daytime. So, we may see similar propagation conditions later
this evening and especially starting from about an hour before your
local sunrise.
You may want to give a try to Radio Progreso National Network from
Cuba on the following frequencies...
640 kHz from Havana 50 kW
730 kHz from the Isle of Youth 10 Kw
750 kHz from Palmira, Cienfuegos province, central Cuba 10 Kw
880 kHz from Pinar del Rio 12.5 kW
890 kHz from Ciego de Ávila province 50 Kw
900 kHz from Holguín province 25 kW
All are using omnidirectional single tower antenna systems with 120
quarter wave radials. Maybe you may be lucky and pick up my own
Science, Technology and the Environment segment of the morning show
that goes on the air just after 0640 AM local time, 1140 UT. 73 and DX
(Arnie Coro, CO2KK, Host of DXers Unlimited radio hobby program, Radio
Havana Cuba, UT Feb 12, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** CUBA. Some time ago an American broadcast band DXer wrote to me
asking about Radio Reloj, the 24 hours voice only news and information
service of the Cuban Institute of Radio and Television, the Cuban
broadcasting organization. Amigo Chuck from Utah told me in his e-mail
that he could pick up several of the RADIO RELOJ´S relay stations, and
that he wanted to know which one was the main station in Havana.
Well, amigo Chuck, RADIO RELOJ was founded in 1947 and it will soon be
61 years old. Its main station transmitter is on 950 kiloHertz and it
runs 10 kiloWatts to a very efficient antenna system. The fact that
RADIO RELOJ broadcasts on CW Morse Code its station ID with the
letters R R, make it a very easy to verify station when you are trying
to pick up DX on the AM broadcast band. The one kiloHertz tone with
the audio keying of the letters RR is capable of drilling right
through the worst interference conditions, and makes you sure that the
station you are picking up is certainly RADIO RELOJ.
By the way Radio Reloj is a national network that also has some
transmitters on the FM broadcast band. Here in Havana, the frequency
used is 101.5 megaHertz and the transmitter power is about 10
kiloWatts effective radiated power. So when the upcoming Sporadic E
skip season starts sometime in late April, if you hear Radio Reloj on
101.5, you can be sure that it is the City of Havana transmitter!!!
The 24 hours of Radio Reloj´s programming is news and information in
the voice of two announcers. You can hear two men´s voices, two
women´s voices or in some cases a man and a woman reading the news at
a speed of about 130 to 150 words per minute in very articulate
Spanish. Radio Reloj´s Sunday programming is also voice only, but the
words per minute is reduced to about 120 words per minute and each
news item is read totally by one of the announcers. The weekend
program is called ¨Revista Semanal¨ or weekly magazine, and it shares
the air time with news bulletins at the top of the hour and the half
hour. And before leaving this topic let me add that the Radio Reloj
station management does QSL. You can send your QSL requests to Radio
Reloj, 23 no 258 and M street Vedado, Havana, Cuba; again, Radio
Reloj, 23 no 258 and M Street Vedado, spelled Victor Echo Delta Alpha
Delta Oscar, Havana, Cuba (Arnie Coro, CO2KK, RHC DXers Unlimited Feb
12, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** EGYPT. Re DXLD 8-019: UT Feb 11 checked again for R. Cairo in 48
mb, which frequency in use? No signal audible on 6225, and only a very
weak signal on 6290, presumably Cairo back to where it is scheduled.
As for 6225, it is in EiBi schedule for Cairo at 16-18 in Turkish 18-
19 in Russian; but in Aoki at 16-19 Turkish, 19-20 Russian. They do
not agree either on the sites. EiBi says both are via Abis, while Aoki
says Turkish is Abis, and Russian Abu Zaabal. Anyhow, this partially
explains how RC could appear on 6225 by mistake at a later hour. And
see DXLD 8-006, where 6225 was reported last November at 1733 in
Turkish with ``horrible audio`` (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING
DIGEST)
** EQUATORIAL GUINEA. 6250, R. Nacional, Malabo, Carrier already on at
0455 5 Feb. *0457-0459 Instrumental NA (short version. I've already
heard it go on for nearly 5 minutes). Nonstop LA dance music 0459-
0506. 0506 M with short ID "R. Nacional de Malabo". Music briefly
then live M "Señoras y señores, buenos días -- R. Malabo." and
continuous music with more voice-overs. 0509 different M. A lot of
talk over music then R. Malabo IDs and morning greetings. Fair signal
and clear but unusually noisy. Much better signal at 0600 (Dave Valko,
Dunlo PA, HCDX via DXLD)
** ERITREA [and non]. RADIO SAWA VERSUS "WESTERN MEDIA GIANTS."
Radio Sawa in Eritrea. "In the 40s and 50s Eritrea was sentenced to a
slow and silent death by suffocation. But now Eritrea, you have the
means to speak and to speak loud and clear. Thanks to the 'equalizer'
(the information super highway), the suffocation days, the days when
Western media giants and mercenaries, used to break nations and
societies at whim are over. With Dimtsi Hafash, ERI-TV, Radio Sawa,
the Internet, and newspapers at her disposal; Eritrea have now the
means and the ability to talk and talk loud and clear." Biddho.com, 9
February 2008 (kimandrewelliott.com via DXLD)
Unless there is another Radio Sawa, why would the U.S.-funded Radio
Sawa counter the "western media giants"? The Radio Sawa website lists
an FM outlet in "Amara," presumably Asmara. The Radio Sawa medium wave
relay in Djibouti should also be heard well throughout Eritrea (Kim
Andrew Ellioott, Posted: 10 Feb 2008, ibid.)
Not to mention that Arabic is very much a minority language in Eritrea
--- five are listed ahead of it in the World Almanac, so why is R Sawa
even significant there? 73, (Glenn to Kim, via DXLD)
Glenn, Yes, but per this website:
http://home.planet.nl/~hans.mebrat/eritrea-languages.htm
Arabic is mentioned as a "working language" in Eritrea, and that
"Tigrinya, Arabic and English predominate in commerce and national
business." See also http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Languages_of_Eritrea
Still not clear what the writer of that article was trying to say
about Radio Sawa. 73 (Kim Andrew Elliott, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
Kim, Maybe there is another Radio Sawa. At least there is another
Sawa, with a lot of hits searching on Sawa Eritrea, such as:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sawa_Defence_Training_Centre
(Glenn to Kim, via DXLD)
** ETHIOPIA. 7110, R. Ethiopia, Carrier on as early as 0254 7 Feb.
Adjacent broadcaster just blasting over the freq. It was only when it
stopped playing music that this came in clear with tinkly IS at 0259
followed by opening by M with ID sounding like "Radio Ee-Tah-Pee".
0300 three gongs denoting ToH, then short program intro with techno
music. Presumed news by different M, then W at 0303, modern Horn of
Africa music, and same M returned at 0305. Possible press review
program with long actuality by journalist. 0318 children`s choir.
Would have been nice if not for the slop QRM. Personally I prefer the
old rapid flute IS they used to play (Dave Valko, Dunlo PA, HCDX via
DXLD)
** EUROPE. Re 8-018: The correct name of the station relayed by Radio
Barretina is Radio L´Arboç. This is a municipal radiostation
broadcasting in Catalan on 106.8 FM. An Internet live stream can be
found at http://www.radiobaixpenedes.cat 73, (Patrick Robic, Austria,
Feb 11, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** EUROPE. EUROPirate – 6311, R. Barretina, Catalunya, Spain, 1615-
..., 10 Feb, Catalan, chat, music; 44343. They seem to relay local
station Ràdio L'Arboç (Carlos Gonçalves, Portugal, Feb 12, DX
LISTENING DIGEST)
** FRANCE. EFJ FEARS FOR FUTURE OF FRENCH PUBLIC BROADCASTING AS
JOURNALISTS PREPARE DAY OF ACTION
http://www.ifj.org/default.asp?Index=5821&Language=EN
12/02/2008 --- The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ), the
European group of the International Federation of Journalists, today
said it fears for the future of public brodcasting in France and
supported the Day of action organised tomorrow to protest President
Sarkozy’s plan to strip the broadcaster of commercial revenue.
“Advertising will be removed but there is no guarantee of alternative
sources of funding, which is a great danger for the survival of public
broadcasting” said EFJ Chair Arne König.
Following the unexpected announcement from French President Nicolas
Sarkozy that commercial incomes would be suppressed in public
brodcasting, journalists’ unions called for a day of action to take
place tomorrow 13 February. Journalists want to defend the public
service mission and the 16000 jobs at their broadcasters.
Sarkozy’s sudden decision was made without any consultation with
journalists or their unions and his new plan does not offer any
proposal to compensate for the €850 million commercial income that
French public broadcasters currently receive. Today unions
representatives met with the advisors of the French President and
raised their concerns that to deal with the steep loss in revenue, the
government may privatise of local channels, which some government
officials have said could be one way to solve budgetary problems.
The EFJ condemned the unilateral approach of the French President and
said that the fight of unions in public broadcasting is not just a
French problem. In the UK, a struggle is going on between unions and
management at the BBC as a restructuring plan at the public
broadcaster is putting 3000 jobs at risk.
SEE FULL TEXT IN FRENCH - VOIR COMMUNIQUE EN FRANCAIS
http://www.ifj.org/default.asp?Index=5820&Language=FR
(IFJ via DXLD)
** FRANCE. "Rabbi Sidney Lefkowitz was a chaplain who went ashore on
Omaha Beach on D-Day, June 6, 1944. ... And on Oct. 29, 1944, he
conducted the first Jewish service broadcast by NBC on Nazi soil. It
was on the site of a synagogue burned to the ground by Nazis in 1938.
The service was attacked by German artillery fire as it was being
broadcast by shortwave radio to the United States over NBC. A video of
the story can now be viewed online and has received thousands of
viewings. It's fascinating and educational."
Jacksonville Times-Union, 11 February 2008.
http://www.jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/021208/opi_245923910.shtml
WT-URL-K? Fortunately, a Google search found it quickly:
http://www.militaryglobal.com/forum/index.php/topic,2847.msg15532.html
73 (Kim Elliott, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** GERMANY. Winter B-07 of DTK T-Systems Media & Broadcast. Pt 1 of 4:
IBC Tamil Radio:
0000-0100 on 6045 WER 250 kW / 105 deg to SoAs Tamil
Voice of Croatia in Croatian/English/Spanish:
0000-0400 on 7285 WER 100 kW / 300 deg to NoAmEa
0200-0600 on 7285 NAU 125 kW / 320 deg to NoAmWe
0500-0800 on 9470 WER 100 kW / 240 deg to NZ
0600-1000 on 11690 WER 125 kW / 270 deg to AUS
2300-0400 on 7285 WER 100 kW / 240 deg to SoAm
Athmee Yatra He/Gospel For Asia (GFA), SE Asian languages:
0030-0130 on 7215 WER 250 kW / 090 deg to SoEaAs
1330-1430 on 13600 WER 250 kW / 075 deg to SoEaAs
1430-1530 on 12005 WER 250 kW / 075 deg to SoEaAs
1530-1630 on 11645 WER 250 kW / 090 deg to SoEaAs
2330-0030 on 7160 WER 250 kW / 075 deg to SoEaAs
Radio Free Asia (RFA):
0100-0300 on 9670 WER 500 kW / 075 deg to SoEaAs Tibetan
Voice of Russia (VOR):
0200-0300 on 6155 WER 250 kW / 300 deg to NoAm Russian WS
0300-0500 on 6155 WER 250 kW / 300 deg to NoAm English WS
1500-1600 on 13755 WER 100 kW / 120 deg to ME Russian "Commonwealth"
2300-2400 on 6175 WER 100 kW / 105 deg to ME Arabic
Voice of America (VOA):
0230-0330 on 7200 WER 250 kW / 105 deg to WeAs Persian
0230-0330 on 9495 WER 250 kW / 105 deg to WeAs Persian
1630-1930 on 5850 WER 250 kW / 105 deg to WeAs Persian
1630-1730 on 12110 JUL 100 kW / 100 deg to WeAs Persian
1730-1830 on 9495 JUL 100 kW / 100 deg to WeAs Persian
1830-1930 on 9680 JUL 100 kW / 100 deg to WeAs Persian
1730-1830 on 9495 JUL 100 kW / 100 deg to WeAs Persian
1830-1930 on 9680 JUL 100 kW / 100 deg to WeAs Persian
1400-1500 on 9565 WER 250 kW / 075 deg to WeAs Pashto Deewa Radio
1700-1800 on 9770 WER 250 kW / 105 deg to WeAs Dari/Pashto R.Ashna
1730-1800 on 11905 WER 250 kW / 150 deg to EaAf Afan Oromo Mon-Fri
1800-1845 on 11905 WER 250 kW / 150 deg to EaAf Amharic
Radio Liberty (RL):
0300-0400 on 7105 WER 250 kW / 105 deg to WeAs Persian Radio Farda
0400-0500 on 12015 WER 250 kW / 105 deg to WeAs Persian Radio Farda
0600-0700 on 17675 WER 250 kW / 105 deg to WeAs Persian Radio Farda
1800-1900 on 9595 WER 250 kW / 105 deg to WeAs Persian Radio Farda
0400-0500 on 6140 WER 250 kW / 060 deg to EaEu Belorussian
1600-1700 on 9520 WER 250 kW / 045 deg to EaEu Russian
Brother Stair/The Overcomer Ministries (TOM):
1400-1600 on 6110 WER 100 kW / 300 deg to WeEu English
1400-1600 on 13810 NAU 100 kW / 125 deg to WeAs English
1400-1600 on 15325 NAU 100 kW / 165 deg to WeAf English
1600-1700 on 6110 JUL 100 kW / 290 deg to WeEu English 1st Sun
CVC International
1400-1600 on 7145 JUL 040 kW / 290 deg to WeEu English DRM
1400-1800 on 9885 JUL 100 kW / 090 deg to EaEu Ukrainian R. =
Emmanuel+Russian
HCJB Global:
1600-1700 on 3955 JUL 100 kW / non-dir to WeEu German
IBRA Radio:
1730-1800 on 9520 JUL 100 kW / 145 deg to EaAf Swahili
1730-1800 on 9660 JUL 100 kW / 125 deg to EaAf Somali
1800-1900 on 9470 WER 250 kW / 150 deg to CeAf Arabic/Sara
Gambai/Zaghawa
1900-2045 on 9845 NAU 125 kW / 200 deg to WeAf Hausa/French/
Fulfulde/Bambara
FEBA Radio
1900-1930 on 7235 WER 250 kW / 105 deg to WeAs Arabic
Democratic Voice of Burma (DVOB):
2330-0030 on 5955 WER 125 kW / 075 deg to SoEaAs Burmese
Polish Radio External Service
1130-1200 on 7285 NAU 100 kW / 100 deg to EaEu Polish
1130-1200 on 9445 WER 100 kW / 300 deg to WeEu Polish
1200-1230 on 13840 WER 100 kW / 090 deg to EaEu Russian
1200-1230 on 15520 WER 100 kW / 060 deg to EaEu Russian
1230-1300 on 5965 WER 100 kW / non-dir to WeEu German
1230-1300 on 5975 WER 100 kW / 040 deg to WeEu German
1300-1400 on 5975 NAU 100 kW / 000 deg to WeEu English
1300-1400 on 9450 WER 100 kW / 300 deg to WeEu English
1400-1430 on 11675 WER 250 kW / 060 deg to EaEu Russian
1400-1430 on 11840 WER 100 kW / 060 deg to EaEu Russian
1430-1530 on 6035 JUL 100 kW / 060 deg to EaEu Belorussian
1430-1530 on 7180 JUL 100 kW / 070 deg to EaEu Belorussian
1530-1600 on 6000 JUL 100 kW / 075 deg to EaEu Ukrainian
1530-1600 on 7335 JUL 100 kW / 050 deg to EaEu Russian
1600-1630 on 7170 WER 100 kW / 075 deg to EaEu Ukrainian
1600-1630 on 9440 JUL 100 kW / 075 deg to EaEu Ukrainian
1630-1700 on 7105 MC 100 kW / 010 deg to WeEu German
1630-1730 on 6140 JUL 100 kW / 090 deg to EaEu Polish
1730-1800 on 6140 JUL 100 kW / 090 deg to EaEu Belorussian
1800-1900 on 6015 WER 100 kW / 300 deg to NoEu English
1800-1900 on 7130 ISS 250 kW / 025 deg to NoEu English
1900-1930 on 5935 WER 100 kW / 075 deg to EaEu Russian
1900-1930 on 9760 WER 100 kW / 120 deg to EaEu Hebrew
1930-2000 on 5850 JUL 100 kW / 085 deg to EaEu Ukrainian
1930-2000 on 5935 WER 100 kW / 075 deg to EaEu Ukrainian
2000-2030 on 5935 WER 100 kW / 075 deg to EaEu Ukrainian
2000-2030 on 6135 WER 100 kW / 045 deg to EaEu Russian
2030-2100 on 9640 GUF 250 kW / 035 deg to WeEu German
2030-2100 on 11840 GUF 250 kW / 040 deg to WeEu German
2200-2300 on 6050 WER 250 kW / 055 deg to EaEu Polish
2200-2300 on 9660 GUF 250 kW / 040 deg to WeEu Polish
(DX Mix News, Bulgaria, Feb 12 via DXLD)
** GERMANY [non]. DW Amharic service has been coming in well in the
1400 UT hour, such as Feb 11 at 1450 on 15620 via Rwanda, discussion
of Barack Obama, clips in English and German into Amharic voice-over.
So this is of some interest in Ethiopia? No jamming heard on this
frequency, but I wonder if that is the case inside Ethiopia (Glenn
Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** GERMANY. Re Dresden Bandscan, excerpted in 8-017 (under Russia):
What could it contain besides 1431? Maybe 91.1, relaying a paltry 64
kbps mono feed of BBC/RFI? This feed is from Eutelsat W3A and
originates from RFI, i.e. RFI squeezes the BBC WS audio (which
elsewhere is available as decent quality stereo feed) through this
bottleneck as well.
And it seems that the Wilsdruff transmitter continues to fascinate
people? First about all these VOR relays: With the exception of 1323
and 603 they are simply the outcome of the Megaradio venture,
including 630 which is truly a West German outlet. New transmitters
had been installed for Megaradio, of course on the foundation of a
long-term contract, but these contracts were worth nothing when
Megaradio went bankrupt, and all the investments at the transmitter
sites were lost. At least four of them (630, 693, 1431, 1575) could be
marketed to a new customer, and this customer is VOR.
The audio problems of 1431 result from the circumstance that the
output of the satellite receiver has been directly connected to the
transmitter. Contrary on 630 obviously a limiter/compressor is in the
chain, judging from the audio characteristics it could be an EMT 377,
installed in the old days (when Moscow relays via this site were
unthinkable) for Deutschlandfunk transmissions. This compressor
smoothes out the audio levels of the VOR feed, which vary wildly (I
think to 10 db or so) since they have inaugurated new studios, the
same new studios in which they replaced their Oktava mics (nowadays
many German stores stock Oktava, so these are not just some old Soviet
mics) with some dynamic mics everybody is supposed to consider as
great legends, with the result (muffled audio) being discussed here in
DXLD also by listeners without an interest in these things, proving
that it is indeed an issue.
VOR relays on 1431 started on April 1 2006. Here is even a recording
of the first sign-on: http://janbalzer.gmxhome.de/wilsdruf/audio.htm
It should be noted that four of the recordings on this page are
obviously "samples" and actually taken off FM. Of course they are as
such interesting documents as well.
The current transmitters, installed at the base of the 153 metres tall
antenna, can be seen at
http://janbalzer.gmxhome.de/wilsdruf/wils06.htm
These are a Thomson (back then Thomcast) TMW 2020 (20 kW) for 1044 and
two Transradio (then still Telefunken) TRAM 100, upgraded to 125 kW
each and combined to a single 250 kW on 1431.
Also featured on this page the old transmitters; SM4 = the 250 kW main
transmitter from 1953, shut down in 1993 (note that an identical
transmitter could still be in use for 594 at the Bulgarian Pleven
site, if it has not been replaced recently); SM4E = the 20 kW aux
transmitter from 1959 (the Hoyerswerda transmitter, already discussed
in DXLD for carrying programming in Sorbian, is of an identical design
and the site was also organizational-wise kind of an outpost of
Wilsdruff).
More nice photos of both the historical and the current equipment:
http://www.darc.de/s27/s27txwilsdr.html
And since this appears to be a topic of some interest I uploaded to
the Yahoo group files section a recording of the 250 kW transmitter on
1044 again going on air for another year on July 1 1992, carrying
DT64. The file starts with DT64 taken off FM in Dresden (actually four
seconds earlier than supposed, thus four beeps of the 5+1 time signal
are missing), then the 1044 relay starts after some complex switching,
thus only after a half minute (a full minute had been provided, hence
fill music had been broadcast until 00:01 CET).
This mediumwave service had started after a six month reprieve on FM.
Also in the files section is a recording of "hour zero". If anybody
wonders about what can be heard from behind the closed studio doors:
This can be seen between 3:30 and 3:50 of the excerpt from a
documentary posted at http://www.myvideo.de/watch/2461386
Amongst this crowd are also strangers who spontaneously went out to
the broadcasting house where the guards finally had been convinced to
let them in and send them straight to the studio. Thus: Wilsdruff.
(Kai Ludwig, ibid., Feb 11, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** GUAM. Re 8-012, ``KTWR`s English on 15170 at 263 degrees has been
modified to: Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri 0805-0900; Wed 0820-0900 (FCC via
DXLD)`` Let`s try that again:
0805-0900 is on Mon, Tue, Thu and Fri, while 0820-0900 is on Wed
(Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** HONDURAS. 3340, Radio Misiones Internacional, 0712-0803, Feb 10,
US-produced English religious program with Spanish translations.
English religious program at 0733 without any Spanish talk. Gave
California address. Spanish contemporary religious music at 0738.
Another US-produced English religious program at 0803 and English
religious music. Fair signal (Brian Alexander, PA, DX LISTENING
DIGEST)
** HUNGARY. 17690. R. Budapest. 1219-1258. Feb. 12/Tue. Hungarian.
Jingle and OM said assumed as "It's Budapest" followed by conversation
in a crowded place on photography, documentation and film. Another
long talk on Kosovo, Serbia and Yugoslavia followed by women
conversation mentioning Slovakia and Maria Theresia. Before signed
off, I heard again ". .Budapest" SIO 443 (Tony Ashar, Depok –
Indonesia, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Axually the word is
``Itt``, which means This is, or Here (gh)
** ICELAND. 189, RÚV, Gufuskálar, nice daytime catch, 1240-1309, 09
Feb, talks, music, gong for 1 PM TC followed by news; 24453, adjacent
QRM de Germany 183 (Carlos Gonçalves, Portugal, Feb 12, DX LISTENING
DIGEST)
** INDIA. All India Radio DRM Tests Test transmissions from All India
Radio in DRM mode scheduled on 11th, 12th & 13th Feb between 0530 and
1130 UT on 15045-15050-15055 kHz (Via Khampur, Delhi). Regards
(Alokesh Gupta, New Delhi, India, Feb 12, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** INDONESIA. 11785.87v, V of Indonesia was off air on Feb 9th and
10th totally. But appeared again today Feb 11th in Korean on HIGH side
of 11785 mess, smooth Indonesian "south sea" like music, ID in Korean
at 1326 UT. Switch your receiver on USB mode and you'll overcome the
co-channel mess. 0800-1500 UT. Increased condition from East Asia
noted also this morning Yamata on 12000 kHz was powerhouse here at
0900 UT too. 73 wb (Wolfgang Büschel, Feb 11, dxldyg via DX LISTENING
DIGEST)
With 9526 still missing Feb 11, I checked 11785 around 1400, and as
usual could only detect a weak het (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING
DIGEST)
I can add that also their web site with streaming audio was off. OK
again today. http://www.voi.co.id/realtime/ 73, (Erik Køie,
Copenhagen, Denmark, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** IRAN [non]. THAILAND. 9570, Radio Farda, 1926-1946, Feb. 10/Sun, ID
and songs up to 1930 news. 1934 OM talk on US Presidential candidates,
followed by report from Sudan with some translation of English
recorded speech. Good to fair (Tony Ashar, Depok – Indonesia, dxldyg
via DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** IRAQ. YI, (Update). Tom, N4NW, informs OPDX that the Stafford DX
Association' s efforts to procure an amplifier for YI9PT are moving
along. However, donations have reached only 65% of their goal of the
needed 1,300.00 USDs. Please support this operation by donating any
amount you can now. Radar is now active and is being worked in Europe
with 100 watts and a dipole. With the planned amplifier, his signal
will be improved significantly on the lower bands outside Europe.
Please visit the following Web page for complete information on how to
help support this operation at:
http://www.stafford-dx-association.org/donate.html
Radar, K2PT, (not MASH fame, but a SDXA member) a Marine in Baghdad,
is now on the air as YI9PT. During the past week he was on 80/20/17/10
meters. All QSL requests go to N4XP. Complete information may be found
on the SDXA Web site at: http://www.stafford-dx-association.org
Additional information, updates, log check and sponsor information
will be provided on the Web site and updated as the operating
conditions change (Ohio/Penn DX Bulletin No. 845, February 11, 2008,
via Dave Raycroft, ODXA yg via DXLD)
** JORDAN. 11810, Radio Jordan, 1322-1343, Feb. 10/Sun, Arabic talk
mentioning technology ended with "Insya 'Allah". Following ID on 1330
by YL I heard traditional music with chorus. Strong and clear (Tony
Ashar, Depok – Indonesia, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** KOREA NORTH. January 1, 2008 log: 19950, 0828, DPRK, V of Korea to
East Asia, H2 2 x 9975, Carrier only, better than weak, another one to
watch.
22740, 0836, DPRK, V of Korea, H3, 3 x 7580, peaked 4x5; to East Asia,
but had distorted audio, and martial music, Ho Hum !! 7580 was 5x6,
nothing heard on H4 30320; been the hint of a carrier since then. 73
(Dave, Adelaide, South Australia, Vitek, SWL Call VK5001SWL, Grid
PF95ga, 35 Degrees South 138 Degrees East, Icom R75 and G5RV
North/South, harmonics yg via DXLD)
** KOREA NORTH. (PDR), 6285 VoK/KCBS, Kujang 1214+ 10 Feb. Throwing
spurs +/- 55.2 kHz (6340.2, 6229.8) with usual fervent Korean martial
music and yak (Dan Sheedy, CA, R75/EF102040, dxldyg via DX LISTENING
DIGEST)
** KOREA NORTH [non]. 5985 via Yamata, Japan, Feb 11 at 1428,
``Kochirawa Shiokaze desu`` ID by YL thrice within a sesquiminute in
closing over usual piano music. Lite het no doubt from Myanmar, which
is never strong enough to get here even after Shiokaze is off at 1430
(Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** KOREA SOUTH [and non]. CHINA and KOREA. 9570, 1405+, Feb. 10/Sun,
KBS World / Indonesian mixed with CRI / Tamil Service (Tony Ashar,
Depok – Indonesia, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** KOSOVO. NEW ENTITY ABOUT TO HAPPEN - According to the Associated
Press on Friday, February 8th, a Serbian minister for Kosovo stated
that his government has received information that the Province's
Albanian leadership will declare independence on February 17th. For
details, go to:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080208/ap_on_re_eu/serbia_kosovo_independence
(Ohio/Penn DX Bulletin No. 845, February 11, 2008, via Dave Raycroft,
ODXA yg via DXLD)
** LAOS [non]. TAIWAN. 15260, Hmong Lao Radio, 0108-0159, Feb. 10/Sun,
talk mentioning Amnesty International, US President Bush, Condoleezza
Rice, US Presidential candidates, American Christian Missionary,
National University of Laos, communist regime, Hmong people, Lao
generals, International War Crime Tribunal, pressure to Laos
Government, family member of them who jailed in Laos. Very strong.
(Tony Ashar, Depok – Indonesia, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** LAOS [non]. TAIWAN. 15260, Haiv Hmoob Radio? 0100-0130. Feb.
12/Tue. Hmong. Signing on with a song by duo male & female followed by
long talk with many mention of "Hmong". SIO 443 (Tony Ashar, Depok –
Indonesia, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) That`s what`s sked on Tues
(gh, DXLD)
** MADAGASCAR. 5010, RTV Malagasy (tentative), 1522, 2/10. Sounds like
sports show with clips of soccer matches, French and other language;
have never heard African this time. Fair (George Herr, CA, WinRadio
g303e, R8B and NRD535, 50' wire and AmRad Antennas, NASWA Flashsheet
via DXLD)
Long path, of course; about as close as you can get on land to being
antipodal (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** MALAYSIA 11884.75, VoM, Kuala Lumpur, 1123-1146, 1150-1205, 1221-
1230* 10 Feb. Listed ES in Mandarin with Chinese pop vocals, evening
DJ chat including mentions of "VoM" plus URL for Mandarin comments ---
sounded like http://www.rtm.mandarin.com --- and postal address: VoM,
Mandarin, P.O. Box (???), Kuala Lumpur (spelled out), VoM URL also
given as www.vom@rtm.net.my [sic], 1+1 pips at 1200, more pop
music/chat to 1228 beginning of NA, off at 1230 (Dan Sheedy, CA,
R75/EF102040, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** MALI. 9635, R. Mali, Kati, 1154-1309, 01 Feb, Vernacular,
interview, newscast, French at 1300 for news; 45444. They're still
silent on 25, 41 & 60 m (Carlos Gonçalves, Portugal, Feb 12, DX
LISTENING DIGEST) Probably means 10 Feb like other logs in report (gh)
** MAURITANIA. 783. R. Mauritanie, Nouakchott, 2355-0012, 08 Feb,
Arabic related Vernacular, phone-ins & tunes, then program in Arabic;
54444. They're active on this frequency, not on 7245 daytime or 4845
nighttime (Carlos Gonçalves, Portugal, Feb 12, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** MEXICO. 9599.31, Radio UNAM, Mexico City, 0702-0710, Feb 10, tune-
in to some rather odd sounding rustic mid-eastern style vocals.
Spanish ID announcement at 0706. Normal classical music at 0707. Good.
In the clear (Brian Alexander, PA, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** MOROCCO. 1643, RTM-"B", site?, 1219-1349, 10 Feb, French, talks,
western songs; 55444 but this reflects the signal, not exactly the
audio, which remains strange; parallel to 87.9 MHz Rabat (Carlos
Gonçalves, Portugal, Feb 12, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** NETHERLANDS ANTILLES. Re 8-018: "I visited TWR Bonaire? I`ve been
to Curaçao but don`t think I ever made it to Bonaire (gh, DXLD)"
OK, I went twice to Curaçao with Radio Earth. On one of two visits we
took a side trip to visit RNW and TWR on Bonaire. So that must have
been the first one - I know GH was on the other one. It was a long
time ago :-) (Andy Sennitt, Netherlands, Feb 11, dxldyg via DX
LISTENING DIGEST)
Isn`t it about time RNW released info about its new Bonaire
transmitters, or must we visit to find out? (Glenn Hauser, ibid.)
** NIGER. 9705, LV du Sahel, Niamey, 1147-1302, 10 Feb, French, tribal
songs, advertisements, then between 1159 and 1202, they aired a
weather report mixed with TS+ID+jingle prior to news, vernacular at
1300; 44433 (Carlos Gonçalves, Portugal, Feb 12, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** OKLAHOMA [and non]. There`s a lot of fudging and downright fraud
when it comes to stereo sound on television. Apparently FCC rules and
regs do not extend to this, or if they do, it`s yet another area
lacking any significant enforcement.
I have rightly blamed our local cable provider for downgrading some
signals from stereo to mono, while leaving the stereo pilot on, e.g.
OETA channel 13, with PBS.
There is nothing left to watch on CBS primetime, CSI-this and CSI-
that, except 60 Minutes, where stereo really doesn`t matter, but
should it matter on --- The Grammy Awards, 3 hours of the best(?)
music??? Sure enough, KWTV-9, our OKC CBS affiliate has its stereo
pilot on as usual, but like all their other programming via Suddenlink
cable in Enid, it`s really mono. I have confirmed this by running it
thru a tape deck with VU meters, and monitoring on headphones. Then I
switch to antenna, off the air --- there I get some stereo separation,
but not much --- more on some of the commercials than on the show
itself. And some of the acts seem to be in mono from the outset,
others in stereo!
I wonder if in this declining year of analog TV, with DTV already on
the air, stations are downgrading their analog channel stereo in order
to make DTV/HDTV seem more attractive on the audio side? Or they just
don`t care about such technicalities on the doomed analog side (Glenn
Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** PAKISTAN. Hi Glenn, February 10, 2008, Radio Pakistan Bengali
service was monitored from 1205 to 1235 UT at 7445 kHz today. The
program contents were Kor`an recitation, News Bulletin, News Comment,
Bengali and Pakistani Music. SINPO rating was 23222. API-3 transmitter
howl was lower than usual. The signal was slightly strong as compared
to the Hindi Service which concluded at 1130 UT on the same frequency.
Of all the remaining external services of R. Pakistan, the contents of
Bengali service are little better because they present some other
programs in addition to the usual News and the News comment. They also
receive some mail from Bangladesh but very rarely from India. But till
the transmitter is replaced, any improvement in the program content
will also be an additional waste (Aslam Javaid, Lahore, Pakistan, DX
LISTENING DIGEST)
** PERU. 4486, R. Frecuencia VH, Celendín (tentative), 02/11-12
Spanish, 2345-0002 short male announcements alternating Andean and
local pop music. 22222 (Lúcio Otávio Bobrowiec, Embu SP Brasil (23 33
S, 46 51 W), Sony ICF SW40 dipole 18m, 32m, dxldyg via DX LISTENING
DIGEST)
** PRIDNESTROVYE. MOLDOVA, 6240, R. PMR, 2344-0000 5-6 Feb, deadair.
0000 chime IS once, then English ID by M "Here is Tiraspol, the
capital of the Pridnestrovian Moldovian Republic. Today is Tuesday the
5th of February 2008. This is the next edition of the English version
of the informational analytic program Pridnestrovia prepared by the
editorial staff of information political program of the Radio PMR.".
Political news and editorials. 0013 ID and sked by M over fanfare
music. Music to end the program, then IS once and into French.
Excellent signal (Dave Valko, Dunlo PA, HCDX via DXLD)
Those interested in Pridnestrovye, besides 7370 and 6240, might want
to check out the Travel Channel, US cable TV, tonight, with a new
Michael Palin hour on Tiraspol, UT Tue 0100 & 0500, also repeated
Saturday [Feb 16] at 1700 (Glenn Hauser, Feb 11, dxldyg via DX
LISTENING DIGEST)
** RUSSIA. Yakutsk, 4 pictures of RS-1 (LW/MW/SW) in Tulagino
http://www.tctr.ru/index.php?option=com_datsogallery&Itemid=69&func=viewcategory&catid=44
Also some new [photos of radio towers] from Sankt-Petersburg too
http://spb.rtrn.ru/materials.asp?view=6113
(Victor Rutkovsky, shortwavesites yg via DXLD)
** RWANDA. 6055, R. Rwanda, 2040-2044 3 Feb, great local vocal music,
then Hi-life music. 2049 M in presumed Kinyarwanda. 2050 soft pleasant
song, then same M with more voice-over talk mentioning Rwanda. 2057 M
returned as song ended including two nice IDs, ment of Rwanda several
times, and continuous music at 2058 to ToH. 2100 instrumental dance
music and short canned announcement by M mentioning Rwanda. Start of a
song, deadair, and off at exactly 2101:29*. Excellent clear signal
(Dave Valko, Dunlo PA, HCDX via DXLD)
** SAINT HELENA. QSL-Address: Change of P. O. Box-Number
Please change the Post Box number from 24 back to 93 for all reception
reports and letters in future to Radio St. Helena. Any mail sent to
Post Box 24 will still be received at RSH, but RSH would like to
change back to using only one Post Box for any future correspondence.
Many thanks and with best greetings to all SWL's everywhere,
Miss Laura Lawrence, Station Manager of Radio St. Helena (via Robert
Kipp; Feb. 2008, via Rich D`Angelo, NASWA Flashsheet Feb 10 via DXLD)
** SAUDI ARABIA. 21670. Saudi Radio. 0935-0945. Feb. 12/Tue.
Indonesian. OM questioned an Indonesian immigrant worker. SIO 344
(Tony Ashar, Depok – Indonesia, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** SAUDI ARABIA. Have been enjoying the music on BSKSA, 15435 just
after 1500 UT Feb 11 and 12, a.k.a. Call of Islam, but it starts
fading out by 1515 or 1520 as they get back to talk (Glenn Hauser, OK,
DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** SINGAPORE. January 1 2008 log: 30670, 0753, BBCWS H2, 2 x 15335, ex
30720 ex 15360, 250 kW to SE Asia and Australia, Music Program, best
in AM-N [?], and off 0759* per sched; been chasing this for some time
since they, were practically forced off the old frequency by Chinese
QRM; i.e., they just landed completely by accident right on top of a
BBC frequency that they had been using for decades, I presume the
Foreign Office had a word or two with CRI !!! Anyway very good day for
F2 propagation, and Sporadic E.
30570, 0802 Carrier only, just above weak level, 2 x 15285 BBCWS via
Singapore, will have to keep an eye on this, only 100 kW, English to
SE Asia.
23480, 0812, R. Japan via Singapore, Carrier only, just above weak,
another one to watch, H2 2 x 11740 to SE Asia 250 kW. 73.
I've lost the log of this because their all mixed up with my Sporadic
E Log from our Summer, I mix all my logs in one notebook, and can't
find it, but of the top of my head, 14270, H2, 2 x 7135, BBCWS via
Singapore, around 1100-1130z time frame, heard recently, around end of
January, Service to SE Asia, 100 kW on 7235, wasn't too strong and H3
worth a look (Dave, Adelaide, South Australia, Vitek, SWL Call
VK5001SWL, Grid PF95ga, 35 Degrees South 138 Degrees East, Icom R75
and G5RV North/South, harmonics yg via DXLD)
** SOLOMON ISLANDS. 5019.88, SIBC, 1449, 2/10. Relay BBC "Have Your
Say", first time heard at listenable levels in a long time. poor to
fair (George Herr, CA, WinRadio g303e, R8B and NRD535, 50' wire and
AmRad Antennas, NASWA Flashsheet via DXLD)
** SOUTH AFRICA. RSA, 3320, SAUK/R. Sonder Grense, Meyerton, 1937-
2025, 09 Feb, Afrikaans, light songs, talks; 55444. This is hardly DX,
but I mentioned this because of the phenomenal signal (Carlos
Gonçalves, Portugal, Feb 12, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** SWEDEN [and non]. Re: Radio Sweden's German service ends after 69
years in service on March 29 --- This interview with Ingemar Löfgren,
head of SR International, is available online via
http://www.sr.se/cgi-bin/International/nyhetssidor/artikel.asp?ProgramID=2108&Nyheter=&format=1&artikel=1872631
Summary of this programme:
Only three editors are left after the former head of the German
service went away and SR International got no permission to hire a new
employee because SR has to save money. But why have other language
services more staff members than before now? No real answer by IL,
just "SR must save money" mantra.
How does SR know that the listeners numbers have "dramatically"
declined in recent years although no such surveys had been made for
years? IL: "I must pass, I'm not able to answer this question." [!!!]
Dieter Weiand, the former head of the German service, left SR
primarily due to an impression that the prospects for this service
were grim. The leadership of SR had signalled over years that German
is of little interest for them. IL: Can't confirm this impression,
but is rather new to this position and not able to comment decisions
like cancelling Estonian and Latvian that had been made before he
assumed office. The reason given for this decision was that these
services were meant to promote democracy. From such a point of view
German would be obsolete already since autumn 1989. This question
would have to be answered by the leadership of SR, but they refused an
interview request.
Btw., Radio Sweden repeatedly stated that the last German program will
be aired on March 30. It remains to be seen whether or not this is a
persistent mistake.
It might be also of interest that NDR 1 Welle Nord, the Schleswig-
Holstein station of Norddeutscher Rundfunk (Kiel broadcasting house),
broadcasts every Thursday at 21:05 local time a coproduction with
Radio Sweden, called Ostseemagazin (as linked on their webpages). This
illustrates how popular this service actually is, and I simply don't
believe the claim that listeners figures have "dramatically declined",
since SR fails to provide any evidence from audience research. It's as
much a blow as the end of German from the BBC was back in 1999. And I
can't resist from the cynical speculation that RFI could be next, if
not some station of a former Warsaw Pact country throws in the towel
before (Kai Ludwig, Germany, Feb 11, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** TAJIKISTAN. Broadcasting disrupted by energy crisis caused by worst
winter for 25 years. Severe power cuts in force since last week. No
sign of 7245 today (11 February) though it was heard for some periods
yesterday. 4635 and longwave 252 still heard. Regards from (Chris
Greenway (in neighbouring Uzbekistan, where tonight's forecast for
Tashkent is minus 20 C), Feb 11, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** TINIAN. USA/NORTHERN MARIANAS: Good signal with news and commentary
(mention of Pakistan) on VOA's Korean service on 7235 (250 kW/329 deg
from Tinian site) on 2/10 at 1405; incredible that a signal from the
Pacific could show up on 41 meters, well after sunrise. BTW, do you
notice that at the end of every Korean sentence, it ends with a "nida"
sound -- wonder what that means? (Joe Hanlon, NJ, Drake SW8 w/100ft.
LW, Feb 11, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
Yes, I certainly have. That`s the dead giveaway to identify Korean,
differentiating it from all other Asian languages. It`s usually
imnida, I think. Maybe a polite particle? (gh, DXLD)
** U K. SHORTWAVE CHANGES FOR EUROPE - THE REMAINING BBC WORLD SERVICE
SHORTWAVE TRANSMISSIONS TO EUROPE WILL CLOSE ON 18TH FEBRUARY 2008.
This change is being made in line with listener trends in radio.
Increasing numbers of people around the world are choosing to listen
to radio on a range of other platforms including FM, satellite and
online, with fewer listening on shortwave.
Alternatives
This is particularly the case in Europe, where the majority of
shortwave transmissions ceased in March 2007. The current closures
affect the remaining transmissions heard in southern Europe.
This will be a loss to some listeners, but there are alternative ways
of hearing BBC programmes. For more information about other ways to
listen, please follow the link below:
Europe
http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/help/2008/02/080208_sw_changes_euro.shtml
(via Kevin Redding, AZ, Feb 11, ABDX via DXLD)
No mention of which frequencies are affected - Southern Europe is
coupled with North Africa in their schedules. Does it affect all the
frequencies in the Southern Europe and North Africa schedule? And also
the remaining service to Western Russia also? As well as English BBCWS
are any remaining language services to Europe still on shortwave also
closing? (Alan Pennington, BDXC-UK yg via DXLD)
Bummer - had not seen this until now. Thanks, Glenn - At least here in
Eastern PA, I tend to focus on African frequencies anyway, with
European frequencies only as an alternative.. For example, right now
at 0409 UT on 12 February, all three African frequencies are at least
reasonably listenable - 7120 the best, followed by 7160 and then 6005
I took a look at the Prime Time Shortwave schedule dating from
December (right before a DXPedition).
What appear to be disappearing are the following that were listed in
the PTSW database but are no longer shown at the website:
04-05 all (6195 / 9410 / 12095 / 15565)
05-06 9410, 15565
06-07 6195, 12095
08-09 15485
14-17 12095
18-19 9410, 12095
19-22 9410
These were all the frequencies showing a target of Europe that do not
appear in the remaining Southern Europe / West Africa or Western
Russia listings.
While I don't speak or read Albanian, it appears shortwave is ending
there on March 3rd.
A scan of European languages suggests only Turkish (and Russian?) will
remain on shortwave. All others listed (Albanian, Macedonian,
Romanian, Serbian, Ukrranian) only list MW, FM, and satellite options.
(Richard Cuff / Allentown, PA, Feb 11-12, swprograms via DXLD)
Most probably: "...The current closures affect the remaining
transmissions heard in southern Europe..."
http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/schedules/internet/800/radio_frequencies_s_europe_n_africa.shtml
Radio Frequencies Frequency chart with transmitter details for this
region FREQUENCIES: SOUTHERN EUROPE AND NORTH AFRICA (Europe
programmes) All Times GMT
From To Days Frequency (kHz)
05:00 08:00 Daily 6195 SKN 300kW 140 deg
06:00 08:00 Daily 9410 CYP 250 281 RMP 500 140
07:00 10:00 Daily 12095 CYP 250 281 RMP 500 168
14:00 17:00 Sat. 9410 CYP 250 314
16:00 18:00 Daily 9410 RMP 500 168, 11665* SKN 300 180
18:00 20:00 Daily 5875 CYP 250 358
18:00 22:00 Daily 6195 SKN 300 180
(via Wolfgang Büschel, DXLD)
Comments: Henk Feb 12, 2008 at 4:28 pm: This is one of the most
stupid decisions made by the BBC-WS. Do they really think everyone has
a satellite dish or roaming internet access wherever they go?
Well, dear BBC, go ahead and let the airwaves be flooded by the very
“democratic, objective, balanced” information offered by Chinese and
Russian radio. Cowards.
Valentino, Feb 12, 2008 at 5:12 pm: This is how it works:
1. You reduce the number of shortwave frequencies.
2. You do some research on listening habits of your audience, and you
conclude that shortwave is on its way out.
3. You never ever talk about shortwave on your website or, for that
matter, on your regular broadcasts. Instead you keep on blabbering on
radio about how to download podcasts and listen on-line.
4. You further reduce shortwave broadcasts, and you find out (what a
surprise!) that there are fewer and fewer shortwave listeners out
there.
5. Then finally, while (you hope) nobody is listening, you take your
courage in both hands and you pull the plug even before the A08 season
begins, just like your colleagues from RAI International did last time
around. It makes me sick. Long live RN and DW! (Media Network blog via
DXLD)
** U K. Re: From David Thorpe, BDXC-UK: Excellent book called 'On Air'
charting the history of BBC transmission, has just been reprinted, its
available via the website http://www.bbceng.info/Books/books.htm
The price of this book was reduced in January 2008 from £12.50 to £5
(plus P&P). Only a limited stock is available and there will not be
another reprint when the stock is exhausted. So, "Hurry while the
stock lasts". http://www.bbceng.info/Books/On%20Air/On_Air.htm
(Mike Barraclough, England, worlddxclub yg via DXLD)
** U S A. CELEBRATING 16 YEARS OF KOOKINESS
My last entry a few days ago
http://mcclare.blogspot.com/2008/02/mammas-dont-let-your-babies-grow-up-to.html
got me thinking about all the various bizarre radio personalities I
have listened to over the years, particularly those that have come and
gone. I can still remember the first day that I sat down with a
shortwave radio and heard conspiracy theorists for the first time:
January 20, 1992. My roommate had just brought his ham radio from home
and had been playing with it, and I wanted to see what else I could
hear. After scanning the dials and hearing some foreign-language
broadcasting and a few hams (naturally talking about their equipment
and little else), I accidentally came across the late-night broadcast
on WWCR at 7435 kHz. And the rest was history. Full blog entry
profiling Tom Valentine, William Cooper, Brother Stair, Texe Marrs and
Alex Jones:
http://mcclare.blogspot.com/2008/02/celebrating-16-years-of-kookiness.html
(Scott McClare, The Crusty Curmudgeon blog, Feb 10 via Mike
Barraclough, DXLD) He nails `em! A hoot! (gh, DXLD)
** U S A. 3185, WWRB, Manchester TN, 1055-f/out 1125, 10 Feb, English,
religious propaganda, ID+address & web info; 25342. This was alone on
the band at that time. 73, (Carlos Gonçalves, Portugal, Feb 12, DX
LISTENING DIGEST)
** U S A. WWRB, 9385, Feb 12 at 1418, with Brother Scare more
distorted than usual and splattering down to 9230 and up to 9465,
especially bothering fellow US stations on 9330, 9355, 9370 (Glenn
Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** U S A. Non-log from Hans Johnson Naples, FL, DE1121 with whip
antenna: 9265, WMLK --- Still missing during several checks today. Is
anyone hearing them? (Hans Johnson, Feb 11, Cumbredx mailing list via
DXLD)
WMLK is rarely mentioned on this list so I don't know how many people
have seen these pics. http://www.wmlkradio.net/pics.html
Here's the link to a series of pics.
http://assembliesofyahweh.com/fot2003sw1.htm
(Liz Cameron, MI, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST)
Shows people admiring the ``new`` (as of 2003y) 250 kW transmitter,
which they still don`t have in operation! (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING
DIGEST)
** U S A. Re 8-018: New voice to hit the radio: 620-AM [WSNR]
Heard WSNR last night, but not the slightest hint of Caribbean
programming:
620 WSNR Newark NJ; 0555-0601+, 12-Feb; Extended peak on top
with Jewish program in English. ToH ID, AM 6-20 WSNR". NJ #6 (Harold
Frodge, MI, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
620 has a HORRID signal because of its directional array that hasn`t
been maintained. Plus, according to their website, the Caribbean
format is only on the air 10 am to 12 midnight on weekends (Paul B.
Walker, Jr., SC, Feb 10, ABDX via DXLD) 1500-0500 UT (gh)
Isn't that the old WVNJ? The site used to be near Livingston NJ. WVNJ
FM became WHTZ and moved to the Empire State Building. My guess is the
AM stayed at the old site (Alan Furst, Round Rock, TX, ibid.)
That's the old WVNJ - but the old site in Livingston, which was worth
a small fortune, was paved over and turned into a condo development in
the mid-90s. (I think the towers came down around 1995.)
620 moved to a new "temporary" five-tower site just southwest of the
WLIB 1190 towers in Lyndhurst, and from there it has some very tight,
very ugly nulls that make the station unlistenable in most of north
Jersey. It's basically useful only in one tight lobe that goes east
across lower Manhattan, Brooklyn and southern Queens.
They've had several apps and CPs to rebuild a better array in other
parts of north Jersey (most recently, just north of WBBR 1130 in East
Rutherford), but so far zoning issues and environmental hassles have
thwarted all those plans.
(Oh, and the FM was long since gone from Livingston by the time it
became WHTZ - it had moved to First Mountain in West Orange before
going to Empire...) s (Scott Fybush, Rochester NY, ibid.)
It's technically a NEW JERSEY station - but New York listeners who
still miss the Caribbean format that once filled much of the
programming day on WLIB (1190 New York) can head down the dial to WSNR
(620 Jersey City), where "One Caribbean Radio" launched late last
week, with a staff that includes former WLIB PD Bob "Spiceman"
Frederick. For the moment, the "One Caribbean Radio" website shows
programming from 10 AM to midnight on Saturdays and Sundays - will
that expand if there's demand for the format?
We've seen several rumored launch dates come and go (and indeed, the
station's website still says "Coming January 2008"), but Mega Media
says this morning will be the official launch of top 40 "Pulse 87" on
the audio carrier of WNYZ-LP (Channel 6) in New York. The station's
new morning show, with Star and Buc Wild, won't launch until next
Monday on the station, which can be heard at 87.7, just below the FM
dial.
In Bennington, Southern Vermont College is considering selling WBTN
(1370), ending more than five years of college operation of the little
AM station. Robert Howe donated WBTN to the college in 2002 in hopes
that the station would be the cornerstone of a communications program,
and its operations have lost about $450,000 since then. The Bennington
Banner reports that the college trustees voted last week to end direct
operations of the station no later than September, with options
including an outright sale or a lease of the station.
(NERW notes that WBTN is the only real local radio voice for
Bennington; former sister station WBTN-FM 94.3 is part of Vermont
Public Radio's statewide network, while onetime local outlet WHAZ-FM
97.5 Hoosick Falls NY is now simulcasting religious programming from
Albany-market WHAZ 1330 Troy.) (Scott Fybush, NE Radio Watch Feb 11
via DXLD)
** U S A. KSHE 95. ROCK MUSEUM, YOU TUBE VIDEO, Video Description
From KETC, LIVING ST. LOUIS Producer Anne-Marie Berger looks back at a
time when "real rock" music found a home on St. Louis' KSHE 95. In
2007, the radio station celebrated its 40th anniversary by creating a
rock and roll museum with sound bites, music and pictures. They also
brought back some of their former DJs that were among the first to
play requests from listeners.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BiohypZ1_DE
http://www.kshe95.com/
Thanks to Ken Hawkins for this information.
http://www.kshe95.com/museum/admission.aspx
(via Dario Monferini, playdxyg via DXLD)
** VENEZUELA. Hi Glenn, Sunday evening (10 Feb) at 2248 hours UT,
until 2305, I had an excellent signal coming from YVTO, Observatorio
Cagigal on 5000 kHz. The most amazing thing was that their ID's and
time pips were covering this frequency -- WWV was weakly audible in
the background. I have never experienced this before, must be a
propagation anomaly. Clear OM ID twice in Spanish as "Observatorio
Naval, Cagigal, Caracas, Venezuela." Noted their time pips were
shorter and higher pitched than WWV uses. Passport lists this time and
frequency station at 2000 watts; the signal peaked at S8 dB on my R8A
(Ed Insinger, Summit, NJ 07901, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
Yes, there was a G1 geomag storm and the K-index was 3 at 0000, rising
to 4 the rest of the night and next day (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING
DIGEST)
** VENEZUELA. RNV CANAL INFORMATIVO VUELVE A SU FRECUENCIA FUNDAMENTAL
saludos desde Catia La Mar, VENEZUELA. - Después de muchas semanas
oscilando entre los 631.26 y 631.28 kHz, RNV Canal Informativo ha
vuelto este 11/02 a su frecuencia fundamental de 630 kHz. La escucho a
esta hora 2207 UT con identificación de frecuencias a escala nacional.
SINPO 4/4. 73s y buen DX (Adán González, Catia La Mar, Estado Vargas,
VENEZUELA, Feb 11, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** VENEZUELA. More about my visit to Venezuela. Radio Nacional of
Venezuela is now involved as I explained during the weekend edition of
Dxers Unlimited, in a wide-reaching nation-wide expansion and
modernization of its broadcast facilities; that includes the
installation of a large number of FM broadcast band transmitters to
increase the overage even to the most remote locations.
The installation of several new AM broadcast transmitting stations is
also now in the works, using solid state transmitters and highly
efficient folded monopole vertical antennas. Most of the new AM
broadcast band sites will be serving two of Radio Nacional of
Venezuela´s national programs, by means of a diplexer arrangement that
allows using the same antenna system for transmitting two different AM
band frequencies. This is a very sound and economical approach that
has been used for a long time by AM stations around the world, and now
it is even a more efficient approach thanks to the use of the vertical
folded and grounded monopole antennas, that also provide additional
protection for the solid state output modules of the modern
transmitters.
So, in the not too distant future, I am sure that DXers in South
America, the Caribbean, Central America and North America will be able
to pick up the new Venezuelan AM transmitters broadcasting Radio
Nacional of Venezuela different programs, as several of these sites
will be using power outputs in the 10 to 50 kiloWatt range --- the
kind of power that makes possible frequent DX pick up from distances
of more than one or two thousand miles away.
But there is still more good news for short wave listeners around the
world from Radio Nacional of Venezuela: their international service,
CANAL INTERNACIONAL, is also part of the broadcast expansion plans,
and a new short wave transmitting station is now under construction
there. The new installation will include a 50 kiloWatt transmitter to
be operated on the 60 meters Tropical Band, and five 100 kiloWatts
short wave transmitters to be operated with several antenna arrays.
The new transmitting station is located in the State of Guárico, and
the antenna systems will include several high gain curtain arrays and
also quadrant type omnidirectional antennas for short and medium range
coverage. The new transmitters are of the pulse step modulation type,
and very efficient from the point of view of energy conversion, that
is that they are capable of producing a 100 percent modulated signal
with much less electricity than what is required for a high level
plated modulated transmitter.
The Radio Nacional of Venezuela engineering department is in charge of
the project and it is expected that the first transmitter may be on
the air pretty soon. The new Venezuelan international broadcasting
facility is going to be one of the most modern and energy efficient
installations in the Americas, and its antenna systems were designed
with coverage of the Americas as the prime target area, but as
expected, it may be heard around the world when propagation conditions
are good.
The old Venezuelan Radio Nacional 50 kiloWatt transmitter on 9540
kiloHertz may also soon be back on the air on that traditional
frequency that has been in use by the station for many years. At the
present time Radio Nacional of Venezuela Canal Internacional is
broadcasting via the Radio Cuba transmitters outside Havana, according
to an agreement between the two nations (Arnie Coro, CO2KK, RHC DXers
Unlimited Feb 12, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST)
This is the first definite news we have had that RNV will be having
its own SWBC site. Guárico is the central, largely rural state
directly south of Caracas; where in it, exactly? (Glenn Hauser, DX
LISTENING DIGEST)
** ZAMBIA. 5915, ZNBC/R. One, 6 Feb, tone to 0240, then Fish Eagle IS
to 0250. Choral NA 0250-0252, deadair, then talk by M in vernacular
language with native music. 0255 music bridge and W opening with R.
One ID and chatter in the studio. Pleasant instrumental music, then W
again at 0258, then Hi-life music over and past ToH. Decent signal but
just horrendous slop QRM from adjacent frequency (Dave Valko, Dunlo
PA, HCDX via DXLD) That would be WBOH 5920 (gh)
UNIDENTIFIED. Re 8-018: Patrick: I heard WSAI [1530] (or whatever
their current calls are) the other night distinctly carrying two
programs and one of them was Louisville BKB under their usual sports
programming. WHAS was carrying Louisville BKB at the time. I'm not
sure what's going on here, but similar events have been reported to
IRCA earlier this year. They no longer put much of a signal in here,
being rather fady even in the daytime, and I've heard a lot of other
stations on the channel, which used to be one of my most difficult.
They were among the first to IBOC, but they don't seem to do that
anymore either. 73's (David Faulkner, Albany, Ohio, IRCA via DXLD)
UNIDENTIFIED. Hello DXers, checking that unID Arabic station on USB
4640, I picked them up around 0430 UT. I could hear a long
conversation between 2 OM in north African Arabic (Libya, Algeria,
Tunisia or Morocco) talking about some kind of project I couldn't
figure out what was that exactly as that kind of Arabic is not as easy
for me as Egyptian or eastern Arabic accent that I can figure out :(
Didn't sound like a radio station to me. Now it's 0440 UT and sounds
like they have finished their QSO. More to come soon. All the best
(Tarek Zeidan, Cairo, Feb 11, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST)
UNIDENTIFIED. 5898.00, Spanish digit number station came across
between 0815 and 0844.40 UT on Feb 11th. S=4-5 signal, probably from
Latin America. Spanish accent of some numbers sounded like smooth
Brazil Portuguese. Many groups, a short break at 0828:54 UT. Then
again started till 0841:54 UT, followed by 3 times "final"? 0842 end
of transmission, 0844:40 tx off. V2 Spanish type of ENIGMA
classification? http://www.spynumbers.com/enigma.html
(Wolfgang Büschel, Stuttgart, Germany, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST)
UNIDENTIFIED. 15710, jamming against nothing, presumably from Cuba,
still here, but unlike the previous solid wall of grinding noise, Feb
12 at 1425 check was merely pulsing at exactly two times per second,
allowing one to be sure that there was really nothing else on the
frequency. Same at 1518 recheck. Cannot pin down a carrier frequency
but fortunately, not wideband, and no problem for Bulgaria on 15700
(Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
UNSOLICITED TESTIMONIALS
++++++++++++++++++++++++
Glenn, here is a donation for World of Radio. I really value the
program. Over the past twenty years, I doubt that I`ve missed even ten
programs. Thanks, (Tim Hendel, Huntsville AL)
PUBLICATIONS
++++++++++++
WOMEN ON THE AIR
Visit the WOTA (Women On The Air) Web page. The Web site, put
together by a SWL (FE11DX) Steven has interesting pictures and bio's
of active YLs around the globe. Take a look at:
http://wota2008.blogspot.com
(Ohio/Penn DX Bulletin No. 845, February 11, 2008, via Dave Raycroft,
ODXA yg via DXLD)
LANGUAGE LESSONS
++++++++++++++++
KOREAN: see TINIAN
RADIO EQUIPMENT FORUM
+++++++++++++++++++++
VOICE EQUALIZATION FOR SHORT WAVE BROADCASTING
[Re 8-018, CUBA] One addition to the comment from Erik on this: Mic
processors like VIP have readers for chip cards which contain special
settings for every on-air personality, and some new studio
installations do the same by way of a log-in into the interface.
However, in an old school approach you will in cases like being on air
with another one's preset hardly notice a difference. Deutschlandfunk
engineering even has a strict policy to use these chip cards only for
the level, so that the operator has not to adjust it to each
announcer, and to not apply any equalizing this way.
Filtering audio to 250...3000 Hz? That's a method to fake phone calls,
and I indeed meant to ask if the "phoned-in news update" was a phone
call at all, since in the past such stupid fakes were a common East-
German practice (Kai Ludwig, Germany, Feb 11, dxldyg via DX LSISTENING
DIGEST)
I wasn`t really referring to the sound of Arnie`s voice on DXUL, but
rather on the news updates, such as 0630 UT, where perhaps the
difference is more obvious compared to the announcers before and
after. Since this is for the general rather than the specialized DX
audience, perhaps that `DX` processing should be turned off (gh, DXLD)
Dear amigo: After running many tests... we found out what may best be
described as an almost optimum setting of the audio frequency response
curve that will provide my listeners with the best possible audio
¨punch¨, that is audio that will get trough interference of all
kinds...
As a bonus, if you remove the lower frequency segment of the audio,
that is from 30 to 250 Hertz, your transmitter won´t waste power
modulating that segment of the audio spectrum that provides, according
to psychologists and audiologists, practically no useful information
for the human to decode voice.
Although of less significance, it is also a good idea to introduce a
high frequency cut with a 12 or 18 dB per octave slope after 2.7
kilohertz or so... I have heard my shows on short wave under the most
difficult reception conditions and the programs came in a lot better
than the other shows recorded with the ¨standard¨ studio quality.
I am sure that you are aware that the typical short wave broadcast
transmitter´s audio frequency response curve starts around 50 Hertz
and ends quite abruptly at around 4.5 kiloHertz with a very steep
slope that is required in order to comply with the channel separation
requirements.
The studio microphones, audio mixers, master control program
amplifiers, fiber optic coders and decoders, STLs etc. are always
easily capable of handling a minimum bandwidth of between 20 and
15,000 Hertz, while the short wave transmitter by its own nature is
only cable of responding from about 50 to 4500 Hertz, and if you
really want to be heard under the most difficult reception
conditions, your voice modulation should be restricted to the range
between 250 and 3000 Hertz or so. 73 and DX (Your friend in Havana,
Arnie Coro, CO2KK, Host of Dxers Unlimited radio hobby program,
Radio Havana Cuba, ODXA yg via DXLD)
Hi, It's interesting to learn a few "tricks of the trade" used in
shortwave broadcasting from both Arnie and Andy. Other RHC programming
is targeted at a more "general" audience within the target area of the
transmissions.
However, the "target audience" for "DX'ers Unlimited" tends to be ham
radio operators and SWL hobbyists, i.e. folks who may be listening far
outside the "target area" and will put up with weak signals that are
fading in and out under poor propagation conditions or QRM or
whatever. So it makes sense to shape the audio to both fit the
audience and the individual announcer's voice.
I suppose the audio might sound a little "strange" to someone with an
S9 +20 receive signal in North America, but in let's say, India, the
audio processing techniques make the difference between being heard
and not being heard.
Of course on a "smaller scale" most ham radio operators play around
with their audio and speech processor settings. For "ragchewing" you
might use one setting, but in a ham radio contest you'll usually want
some more "punchy" audio. 73 (Bob Chandler, VE3SRE, ibid.)
Dear amigo Bob Chandler, VE3SRE, has hit the bullseye right in the
middle !!! After several years of doing Dxers Unlimited, one day the
former station chief engineer and now senior technical advisor Luis
Pruna Amer I.E. and yours truly were talking about the people who
listened to my show. Then we ask for help from the station´s
correspondence department, and Irma Armas, the head of the English
section came out with the surprising result that Dxers Unlimited
had been heard and reported from 162 ¨DX entitities¨ of the 192 that
have been reported to Radio Habana Cuba until that time (this happened
about 5 years ago or so). Then Pruna and yours truly agreed to
optimize the audio frequency response curve for not only voice, but
specifically to provide optimum response to my voice.
We ran many tests using an audio frequency spectrum analyzer, and
ended up with a pretty nice audio that really punches trough. The
curve cuts down fast below 250 Hertz, and provides a boost of about 6
dB between 500 and 1500 Hertz, then it is again flat up to 2500 Hertz
and from there it goes down with a very steep descent of 12 dB per
octave at first and then 18 dB per octave later.
THIS IS NOT HI-FI!!! But as Bob Chandler has very well analyzed and
brought to our attention, that type of audio frequency curve shaping
(together with the use of a well designed and adjusted audio
compressor) will increase the possibility of reception of the program
in areas where the signal to noise ratio is not of the typical
broadcast quality (no less than 26 dB signal to noise ratio minimum).
I remember when we used the old Siemens and RFT transmitters for
broadcasting Radio Havana Cuba on single side band, that the 10
kiloWatts PEP Siemens provided the coverage of a 100 kiloWatt AM
transmitter!!!
So, although Dxers Unlimited doesn´t make use of the full potential
quality of the station´s studios. STL´s, fiber optic links and
transmitters, I do intend to keep using the ¨special for Arnie´s
voice¨ frequency response curve !!! 73 and DX (Arnie Coro, CO2KK,
Host of Dxers Unlimited, Radio Havana Cuba, ibid.)
Hello friends, This is an excellent point that Prof. Arnie makes.
There is little point is wasting power trying to modulate those lower
audio frequencies. However, over the years, I have noticed that
women`s voices are much more difficult to listen to and understand on
SSB. I am wondering if that is just a matter of so few women`s voices
on the bands, or is there a real difference in their voice range? All
comments about this greatly appreciated. 73 (Larry, WA2TVN, Utica, NY
13501 USA, ibid.)
Hi, I'm not sure about that. I've usually found that women's voices on
SSB are more intelligible than male voices and cut through the static
and the QRM.
I participated for some years in the "Team Zone 2" ham contest effort
from northwestern Quebec during the CQ World-Wide SSB contest and we
always had the good fortune of having one or two female operators.
They would always get some incredible "runs" and rack up the points
for our contest team. In fact I have a funny feeling that if there
were more female ham radio contesters they would be walking away with
all of the certificates, plaques etc. ;) 73 (Bob Chandler, VE3SRE
http://www.ve3sre.com ibid.)
I find the female voice is easier to understand, particularly when
there is a certain amount of band noise. There are a lot of contest
ops that feel the female voice works better on the air. It is not
unusual in one of the larger contests to hear a female voice calling
CQ (from a voice recorder) only to have a male voice doing the actual
exchange of details needed for the QSO. Cheers! (Kevin Cozens, ibid.)
However, if there were more YLs / XYLs on the air, would the ability
of female voices to stand out disappear? My two cents -- focus first
on the content. Optimization of audio quality is clearly secondary.
If a program is worth listening to, people will go to great lengths to
hear it (Richard Cuff / Allentown, PA USA, ibid.)
In the case of ham radio contesters the "content" is "CQ Contest CQ
Contest from (insert callsign here!)" and yes people go to great
lengths to hear it ;) Cheers & 73 – (Bob Chandler, VE3SRE, ibid.)
A nice analysis of the role of the human voice in broadcasting started
around the use here of a especially shaped audio frequency response
curve that, it´s true, sounds almost like telephone quality because
the lower frequencies are attenuated and the frequency range between
500 and 1500 Hertz or cycles per second are boosted in order to
increase the talk power. We also cut abruptly above four kiloHertz, as
very little information is sent with my voice above three point five
kiloHertz. As a result of this shaping of the audio frequency response
curve, DXers Unlimited is heard better when propagation conditions are
marginal, and also in areas where the signal from the station is
normally very low because they are not the target of the broadcasts.
Thanks to the Ontario DX Association mailing list, we learned that
Andy Sennitt, from Radio Nederland also used a specially tailored for
his voice audio frequency response curve during the time that his
popular Media Network program was on the air (Arnie Coro, CO2KK, RHC
DXers Unlimited Feb 12, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST)
DIGITAL BROADCASTING DRM: see GERMANY; INDIA
++++++++++++++++++++
HD: IF A TREE FALLS & NO ONE HEARS IT . . . HD RADIO'S SCATTERSHOT
DEVELOPMENT HAS RAISED A CHICKEN-AND-EGG QUESTION FOR STATIONS AND
AUDIENCE. --- The Listener By Marc Fisher Washington Post Staff Writer
Sunday, February 10, 2008; Page M05
Chasing an audience that has migrated to iPods, Internet radio, pay
satellite services and the burgeoning world of cellphone music, the AM
and FM radio industry has spent the past couple of years beckoning
listeners to discover the "secret stations" of HD radio.
But what is the secret? If you were to shell out somewhere between $80
and $300 for a new radio capable of receiving the digital signals that
have added about 1,600 stations across the country, what would you
hear?
I spent the better part of a week listening to the HD offerings on
Washington stations, and came away impressed by the commitment two
stations have made to the new technology but underwhelmed by the great
majority of what's on HD.
First, the good news: WHUR, the ratings powerhouse that serves up R&B,
Steve Harvey's comedy and Michael Baisden's talk on its regular signal
at 96.3 FM, has created a real second station for HD listeners. WHUR-
World is at once something new and a throwback to the station's 1970s
roots, featuring a genre-busting blend of fusion jazz, neo-soul and
high-end hip-hop, all hosted live by DJs who aren't afraid to share
their knowledge of the music. The station also plays world music,
speeches from Howard University's Rankin Chapel and news briefs
focused on Africa and the Caribbean.
Public WAMU (88.5 FM) is pumping more resources into HD programming
than any other station in the region, with two additional streams on
top of its regular mix of news and talk . . .
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/02/08/AR2008020801035.html
(via Kim Elliott, DXLD)
PROPAGATION
+++++++++++
And now amigos, just before going QRT, now back in Havana, at RHC
Studio 6 and with the audio frequency equalizer set for optimum
response to my voice, here is
ARNIE CORO´S HF PLUS LOW BAND VHF PROPAGATION UPDATE AND FORECAST.
According to solar scientists we are still heading for more zero
sunspots days, solar cycle 23 seems to be going to last for at least
several more weeks. Predictions call for extremely low solar activity,
rock bottom solar flux near 70 units and lower, and zero sunspots for
at least six more weeks. So, again we will see short wave propagation
conditions will limited to the lower frequency bands, with daytime
propagation reaching only up to 18 or 20 megaHertz. Night time maximum
useable frequency on some paths will dip even below 7 megaHertz,
something typical of extremely long periods of very low solar
activity.
Also be on the alert if you enjoy DXing on the low frequency bands, in
the range between 100 kiloHertz and 2 megaHertz, because propagation
conditions will be ideal during periods of quiet geomagnetic activity.
AM broadcast band conditions are ideal to bring in some rare and nice
DX especially to the South of your location. Amateur radio operators
that enjoy the use of the 160 meters 80 and 40 meters bands will be
able to work some nice DX during the rest of February and early March.
We will see possibly the best conditions for 160 meters for many years
to come (Arnie Coro, CO2KK, RHC DXers Unlimited Feb 12, dxldyg via DX
LISTENING DIGEST)
Re 8-018: HF Propagation Research projects
``Has anyone picked up sounding signals from these?``
It looked as if the operating frequency was 4450.0 kHz, but the
duplicated text from the graphs was very difficult to read on my
monitor. In answer to the question - no! (Eric Bray, UK, Feb 10,
monitoringmonthly yg via DXLD)
Hi Trevor, I noted some wide sounding very similar to OTHR on 5.7 MHz
last week, but it went off before I could record it on the Winradio
313i receiver. I will keep revisiting this channel. Regards (Dave
Towers, G8SZX Glenfield Leicester IO92jp, webpage
http://www.g8szx.mediumwaveradio.org ibid.)
Something wide on 8680 kHz, attach screendump; anyone have an ID or
suggest function? (Dave Towers, 1645 UT Feb 11, ibid.) Signal was
switched off between 1735 and 1737 hours and is active again (Dave
G8SZX Towers, Glenfield, Leicester, IO92jp, webpage
http://www.g8szx.mediumwaveradio.org 1739 UT Feb 11, ibid.) ###