DX LISTENING DIGEST 8-042, April 6, 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 NEXT SHORTWAVE AIRINGS OF WORLD OF RADIO 1402 Tue 1100 WRMI 9955 Tue 1530 WRMI 9955 Wed 1130 WRMI 9955 Wed 2300 WBCQ 15420-CUSB [NEW] 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 ** AFRICA. Africalist update auf/on http://www.africalist.de.ms 73 (Thorsten Hallmann, Münster, Germany, April 5, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ALASKA [and non]. 9780, Firedrake jamming against KNLS Chinese at 13-14 UT. Co-channel VoA Pashto from Udorn (Wolfgang Büschel, Germany, April 6, undated A-08 logs so sometime since March 30, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Does this mean KNLS has political content? Was not aware their Chinese was getting jammed (gh, DXLD) ** ALASKA [and non]. Re 8-041, MW daytimer: A daytime mediumwave station on Alaska indeed existed: I'm very curious about its schedule! Something like 2 AM to 12 PM in June/July, 11 AM to 1 PM in December/January? ?? (Kai Ludwig, Germany, April 4, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Anchorage is just 600 km south of the Arctic circle. I'm curious how this 630 kHz operation was run in mid-winter. They must have pre- sunrise and past-sunset authorizations, since running the station strictly from sunrise to sunset only (actually during the period between the sunrise and sunset times on the 15th of each month, as I understand the US "daytime" practice) would have been quite pointless, unless a substantial audience could be kept while cutting back to a short noon service for weeks every year. This also makes me think about the northernmost daytime allocation in Europe: It could be Kiel 612 kHz, available 6 AM to 7 PM if I recall correct, not defined to actual sunrise and sunset times. It was on air for the last time in January or February 2004 for a commercial station called Power Radio (which has since been revived as small FM operation around Berlin) from a 10 kW Siemens transmitter at NDR's Kronshagen site which meanwhile no longer exists. Kiel is not so high up, but already enough that around the summer solstice dusk turns into a still quite bright shine, wandering over the northern horizon eastwards and finally becoming the new day's dawn. It's even more impressive on the Sylt island, already close to a real white night (Kai Ludwig, Germany, April 5, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ALBANIA. Dear Drita, Radio Tirana A08 monitoring. April 2, 2008 *1430-1458* UTC 13640 kHz. Overall fair to good. Peak S9. Good audio. Programming of News Bulletin, "Albanian Daily Press Review" and a look at the Bucharest NATO summit. From around 1445 UTC hearing slight QRM from station on 13645 kHz in Arabic (I believe Arabic). April 2, 2008 *1845-1856* UTC 13640 kHz. Overall fair to good. Peak S9 +20 dB. 7430 kHz not heard. Good audio. News Bulletin and report on the NATO summit. April 2, 2008 *2000-2028* UTC 13600 kHz. Overall fair to barely heard. Initially fair signal peak S9. Unfortunately became poor and then useless by 2015 UTC. QRM from All India Radio (positive ID) on 13605 kHz with programming in French. Hope these reports are useful (Kraig Krist, KG4LAC, Manassas, VA, USA via Drita Çiço, R. Tirana, DXLD) ** ALBANIA. R. Tirana, English to NAm, April 3 at 1442 check, much weaker than Darwin 13635. A few minutes later, Tirana had improved to more or less equal strength but still adjacent QRM from CVC. Also at 1450, CODAR was audible as high as 13670. Looks like Tirana should shift up; not to 13645 where there is Lampertheim, but 13650 or 13655 where I hear nothing during this semihour, nor is anything scheduled. 13660 may be occupied by Sines, but not heard here. So 13655 should be best. The 1845 English broadcast on 13640 was better with no QRM. R. Tirana, 13640, April 4 at 1428 with IS, opening English. Roughly equal strength to CVC Darwin on adjacent 13635, but much louder modulation from Australia. RT was steady with some slow fades, while Darwin was fluttery. Wolfgang Büschel says in Europe there are no clear frequencies higher in the band available for Tirana at this time, just 13605. But CODAR would be worse there (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) See also USA: WWRB ** ALBANIA [non]. Dave Frantz has not replied to our inquiry whether he would start closing WWRB 9385 at 2300* as per the FCC schedule, but he has kept running it almost an hour later, severely QRMing R. Tirana, Albanian to North America on 9390, which chose that frequency in good faith on the assumption that WWRB would be off by then. April 4, Brother Scare was cut off abruptly at 2349* (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ALGERIA [non]. 7150, PORTUGAL, Radio Algeria at 2233 with Arabic singing, possibly Islamic recitations. Very good; 9710 via UK good Apr 4 (Harold Sellers, ODXA Shadow Lake Radio Camp, Stouffvlle, Ontario, Eton E-1, 200 ft wire northeast, DX LISTENING DIGEST) see also UNIDENTIFIED 11835 ** ANGOLA. 1088 MW. Resulting from my listening activities in Uganda, I did receive a quite strange “confirmation” letter from the Luanda HQ at Caixa Postal 1359. Even [tho] my letter was in Portuguese the reply was in English or should I call it “African Pidgin”. The text goes as follows: “We accused (!) the reception of your letter from 8 Febrier 2008 as your preoccupation (?) in a captation (?) of our broadcasting sign of radio National of Angola. Thank you very much, and We hope that you keep on listening us through our radio, using the following frequency: 11955, 7215, 4940 (!) (Comment: 11955 is never heard, guess it`s inactive, 4940 is 4950 of course). You consult our site http://www.rna.ao Sonly (?) we hope your point of view about our broadcasting station. Interchange department public opinion and international relation in Luanda 4 Febrier 2008”. What should I say? The letter came with an enormous amount of stamps costing more than EUR 3 by registered mail, no attachments, no name. Report, just by the way, was for their frequency 1088 kHz MW. I do not surrender and a Brazilian girl who is a friend to my wife here in Frankfurt will write a letter in Portuguese (mine also might a little bit Pidgin-like, hihihi) and I try it again using one of their web site`s contacts! (Stefan Schliephacke, Frankfurt am Main, Germany, DSWCI DX Window April 2 via DXLD) Interesting letter! By the way, WRTH 2008 uses Caixa Postal 1329, Luanda. What is correct ? (Ed. Anker Petersen, ibid.) ** ANGUILLA [and non]. 6090 off the air when tuning by April 3 at 0620, uncovering noise and low het, presumably Nigeria and Brasil; I never get anything worthwhile when DGS croaks; hmm, I shouldn`t put it that way. BTW, I do not call the Costa Rican transmitters carrying identical programming ``Caribbean Beacon``, since that is the name of the Anguilla station, in fact from before DGS bought it. However, Mike Barraclough points out that the CR listings on page 417 of the WRTH 2008 do show that as Caribbean Beacon, along with University Network. I still don`t think the Cahuita transmitters should be called ``CB``, but if PMS really declares that is their name, I suppose that is her prerogative. But has she? However, exactly the same programming heard on WWCR 13845/5935 is certainly not The Caribbean Beacon. It all comes from Los Ángeles, after all, mostly old tapes of Defunct Gene Scott. This is all pretty theoretical, as to my knowledge, neither Anguilla nor CR have EVER broadcast a local ID by any name! Let alone the registered callsign in CR, TIRWR (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ARGENTINA. 11710, RAE at 0101, man and woman in Spanish, music. No English as scheduled. Poor Apr 5 (Harold Sellers, ODXA Shadow Lake Radio Camp, Stouffvlle, Ontario, Eton E-1, 200 ft wire northeast, DX LISTENING DIGEST) English reverted to 0200-0300 UT Tue-Sat a few weeks ago when DST ended (gh) RAE, Buenos Aires, English to NAm, back to 0200 on 11710. Fair, varies as it goes along (Bob Thomas, CT, April 1 via P-mail, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ARGENTINA. RAE, 15345 - I was surprised that the normal talk gave way to a good chunk of Tango music 2005-2015 April 5. A pleasant listen without Moroccan bullying, 44444. 73's (Dan Goldfarb, Brentwood, England, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** AUSTRALIA. 11770, April 4 at 1514 with pop/rock music, 1515 Chinese YL announcement, no QRM. This is CVC Darwin (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BENIN. TWR Benin update ******************************************************* Differences in page http://www.twrafrica.org/index.asp ******************************************************* NEWS FLASH! TWR'S PROGRAMME SCHEDULES FOR AFRICA CHANGED ON SUNDAY 30 MARCH 2008. NEW SCHEDULES CAN BE VIEWED AND PRINTED FROM THE SCHEDULES SECTION OF OUR WEB SITE http://www.twrafrica.org/Programmes-2/benin.asp (via Steve Whitt, MWC via DXLD) Program/language grid showing 1566 kHz is on at 0200-0435, and 1600- 2045 exc M/W/F to 2030. All in French after 1945. When NAm is likelier to hear it, until 0300 mostly music, 0300-0330 Hausa, 0330-0400 English, 0400-0430 Twi and Ewe (Glenn Hauser, DXLD) 1566 noted here for the first time tonight at 2300 EDT [0300 UT April 6] with English and gospel style music. Signal is hitting S9, I think I missed the 2300 ID by about 30 seconds but I'm running tape so see if I can get one. Lots of TAs tonight, at least on the top end. 1503, 1512, 1521 very strong, etc. (Mike Bugaj, Enfield, CT USA, April 5, WTFDA-AM via DXLD) ** BOLIVIA. One log from live Radio --- 5952.45, Radio Pio XII, 0130- 0215 April 6. Noted a group of individuals talking in possible Spanish/vernacular language. At 0136 woman singing possibly live until 0142. Live comments in Spanish Language mixed with vernacular. This sounds very much like a live show. Local music at 0146 which sounds good. Influenced by the local music, I can see in my "mind's eye", the singing women dancing around the campfire as the men sit in a circle with a glass of wine, counting the silver they brought up out of the mine today. "Tomorrow we eat," they shout. The signal is really good this evening. I'd be willing to suggest that those living further north than I, should be able to hear Pio XII easily this evening. Unfortunately, a carrier comes on the air at 0159 from Radio Japan on 5960 via Sackville, almost blocking Pio XII. However, switching to LSB from USB, Radio Pio XII can still be heard. At 0208, live ID by male as, "Pio 12". Signal is at a fair level now with splatter and QRM. (Chuck Bolland, Clewiston, Florida, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 5952.45, R Pio XII (presumed), 0224-0234*, 04/06/08, Spanish. Female vocals, then chatty commentary by several announcers and sound effects/music clips to apparent signoff at 0234. Relatively decent signal strength, but very tough copy under strong QRM from 5950. Thanks to Chuck Bolland tip. Fair/poor (Mark Schiefelbein, MO, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 5952.5, 5/4 2300, R. Pio XII - Siglo XX, Aymara talk, buono (Roberto Pavanello, Vercelli - Italia, bclnews.it yg via DXLD) 5952.44, Radio Pio Doce, 0220-0232*, April 6, local music. Spanish talk. "Radio Kwai" signature tune at 0230. Stronger than usual but still a poor quality signal due to strong adjacent channel splatter. Tnx to Chuck Bolland tip (Brian Alexander, PA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) River Kwai? (gh) ** BRAZIL. 3235, R Globo-Santos, Guarujá, SP, 0028, Mar 16, Portuguese results of lottery // 1100 MW Globo SP // 1220 MW Globo RJ, mentioned "Rádio Globo-Santos" (Just a question, the station identifies itself as a "Globo-Santos", but is established in Guarujá, a municipality adjacent to Santos. Wouldn't it be more correct that the station is called "Globo-Guarujá"?), 45444 (Rudolf W. Grimm, São Bernardo/ Jarinu, SP, Brazil, DSWCI DX Window April 2 via DXLD) Also on 5940 ** BRAZIL. 9695 - Manáus was one of many 31m loggings of Brazilian stations 33333 2120-2140 April 5 (Dan Goldfarb, Brentwood, England, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 9694.99, Rádio Rio Mar, Manáus, AM, 1033-1040, April 05, Portuguese, talk by male, news about Acre & Amazonas states; TC as: "6 horas y 39 minutos em Manáus"; short local news; announcement & ID as: "...sua Rádio Rio Mar....", 43433. 6180, Rádio Nacional Amazônia, Manáus, 1055-1100, April 05, Portuguese, report & local news by female, 23432 with QRM from Radio Nacional de Venezuela? [via CUBA] (Arnaldo Slaen, Argentina, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) The Amazon service is transmitted from faraway Brasília on 6180 and 11780, and I thought programming studios are also there. Is there really any programming originating in Manáus? (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BURMA [non]. As I tuned in 15480, April 4 at 1435, they said ``January, 2007``, but then switched to Burmese in phone interview. Still going past 1500. This is Democratic V. of Burma, via Gavar, Armenia, daily 1430-1530 at 100 degrees (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CANADA. Presumed CBA New Brunswick on 1070 is alternating with CHOK at 0100+ 5 April with CBC Radio-1. Hear this while you can. 73/ (Liz Cameron, MI, Shortwave Obsession: http://www.geocities.com/alera1/ Radioblonde Blog: http://radioblonde.blogspot.com/ dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) BTC Podcast number 11 is now ready for listening. Click on this link for the latest news from your IRCA/NRC Joint Broadcast Test Committee. http://www.dxtests.info/podcasts/BTC_Podcast_11.mp3 (Jim Pogue BTC Coordinator Memphis, TN, April 6, DX LISTENING DIGEST) About CBA 1070 DX test around 0400 UT April 7 just before closing down forever at 1000 UT (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) CBA 1070 in Moncton has confirmed they will air a DX test Monday morning, April 7 at 01:00 am ***Atlantic*** time. I'm now trying to determine the duration of the test - I'd expect just a couple of minutes, for a very tight window of opportunity - and how QSLs and eQSLs will be handled. Please feel free to spread this far and wide. I'd like our friends overseas to know and I'm not on any of those lists! BTW, I know it's taken a long time for the CFFX QSLs. And I really appreciate the patience we've encounterted from fellow DXers. We're getting these finalized; they will be issued shortly. We have NOT forgotten! (Saul Chernos, Ont., amfmtvdx at qth.net via DXLD) My earlier message above stands, and I will not be able to update anything until the test is over as I will have no e-mail access until Monday daytime. (I'm at an ODXA DX GTG). A couple things to note: The test may be very very brief, and at 01:00 ATLANTIC time Monday morning the 7th, therefore 12 midnight Eastern local time. That is Sunday going into Monday. Second, CBA News is interviewing me for a 5-minute item that will likely air between 4-4:30 Atlantic time (3-3:30 eastern time). I sent them a copy of the morse code, thinking they might like it as a sound effect, and they might include that. I know it's well before sunset, but it would be cool if the code punches through 1070 at that hour, and how far the "newscast test" gets out... that is this afternoon, in a few hours. I am in the Toronto phone directory if anyone needs to reach me with a last-minute question. Please leave a brief message. I will only answer calls that I consider urgent and that can't wait until after the test by e-mail. I am also not divulging what content the DX test will include. Let's just say, if you hear it, you'll know. And if you're not sure -- that's happened to me before -- recordings can be listened to. I expect to have QSL information very soon after the test. It's possible that CBA will handle this, though I have not yet heard back on that. Enjoy (Saul Chernos, April 4, ibid.) Tried for it with portable DX-398, 0358-0406 UT April 7, but no trace: 1070 dominated here as usual by KNX, less than 2 Mm away, atop jumble; with KNX nulled, more jumble led by KFTI Wichita (Glenn Hauser, Enid OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Thus far at 0404 only // 1550 CBE Windsor, faint under CHOK. CBA 1070 occasionally over CHOK at 0408. Not consistently so but more than usual. Still // 1550 CBE, playing instrumental music. 73/Liz (Cameron, MI, dxldyg via DXLD) Other reports from the east indicated nothing special happened around 0400 – (gh, DXLD) ** CANADA. It`s clear that Sackville`s most decrepit SW transmitter is reserved for the Northern Québec Service on 9625. The modulation is seldom up to par, and it was particularly bad April 5 at 2216 with a lot of distortion on peaks. These converted into spur spikes ranging from 9635 to 9650, peaking at an open spot 9640, which I could match to the distorted modulation peaks on 9625 on another receiver. I guess that was during World This Weekend; recheck at 2246 during Master Debaters, things had improved and the spixes were not audible. Did they tweak something, or does the unit go in and out of order all by itself? (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CANADA [and non]. 17810, UNITED KINGDOM, Radio Canada Int’l via Skelton at 1853 with women’s hockey results. Fair Apr 4 (Harold Sellers, ODXA Shadow Lake Radio Camp, Stouffvlle, Ontario, Eton E-1, 200 ft wire northeast, DX LISTENING DIGEST) RCI, 15235, amazingly weak signal from 1950 to 2005 April 5 covering the changeover French/English. Strong US signals but this barely audible one from Sackville??? 33333 at best (Dan Goldfarb, Brentwood, England, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CANADA [and non]. CBC COMPLAINS TO CHINESE AMBASSADOR AFTER BROADCASTER'S WEBSITES BLOCKED --- CBC News Last Updated: Friday, April 4, 2008 | 6:27 PM ET 0000http://www.cbc.ca/arts/story/2008/04/04/cbc-china.html The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation has formally complained to China's ambassador to Canada about the continued blocking of the broadcaster's websites in China. CBC president Hubert T. Lacroix outlined his concerns in a letter to Ambassador Lu Shumin on Friday. Access in China to CBC's French-language website Radio-Canada. ca has been blocked for six months, while access to the English site CBC.ca has been cut off since January, Lacroix said. "I am writing to request that you make formal and immediate enquiries as to why the sites have been blocked, and that you take steps to ensure that this policy is reversed," Lacroix said in the letter. He quoted Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao, who last year said China's government would "provide services of an Olympic standard to athletes, officials, spectators and the media in order to facilitate their participation and enjoyment of the Games." CBC is the official Canadian broadcaster of the 2008 Summer Games, which begin in Beijing in early August. Canada and China's relationship depends on the ability to communicate, Lacroix said. "Blocking access to our websites is inconsistent with that history and with China's growing place on the world stage," he wrote. "I would appreciate your personal commitment to resolving this problem as quickly as possible and ensuring that access to our programming is restored expeditiously. " CBC News publisher John Cruickshank said restricting the broadcaster' s websites is a violation of basic principles of free media and free press. "It restricts the rights of all Canadians living in China, it restricts the rights of Chinese to get Canadian news and culture," said Cruickshank. Online blogs have been buzzing about the blockage for weeks. "I'm not exactly sure why the site is blocked, but I'm annoyed about it. I first experienced this on Feb. 1, but thought it was a one-day thing," wrote John Guise on a blog called Zhongnanhai. Ralph McGreevy, a Canadian teaching in China, said he can get most other news websites. "Unfortunately, I still cannot get the CBC website, which is completely blocked. Most other news websites are reachable, although sensitive articles may not be," he wrote on a New York Times blog. CBC.ca is one of the most-viewed news websites in Canada. CBC's Letter to the Chinese Embassy http://www.cbc.ca/news/pdf/china-letter.pdf (via Fred Waterer, ODXA yg via DXLD) Ha, ha! Yet CBC is in bed with the Chicom for SW relay exchanges, and AFAIK those don`t get jammed (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) I wonder what will happen if access to the CBC websites in China is not restored at short notice. In my humble opinion such a “matter of the gravest importance”, as the letter puts it, should be reason enough to suspend the cooperation with China Radio International, since it is an absurd if not unbearable situation that the Chinese authorities block the CBC websites but still have access to the CBC’s Sackville transmitters for their own foreign service. I’m aware of RCI now mostly relying on Chinese transmitters for English and French to Asia, but shouldn’t the CBC’s commitment to press freedom, emphasized in this letter as well, be of greater importance? (Kai Ludwig April 5th, 2008 - 18:21 UTC, Media Network blog via DXLD) ** CANADA. RE: DXLD 8-040 & 08-041: CBC Radio Orchestra: 6160, CKZU / CBC Radio One via Vancouver/Richmond, 1315:30, April 2, "It's 15½ past 6. You are listening to the Early Edition, here on CBC Radio One 690 on your AM dial across metro Vancouver. Well CBC as you know usually reports on protests, but yesterday the corporation was the subject of protests. About 100 or more people marched through the front doors of the Vancouver station here protesting the cutting of the CBC Radio Orchestra", followed by interviews with the protesters. Wed. program of reading highlights of the emails received, mostly about the cancellation of the CBC Radio Orchestra, their email address is: earlyed [at] vancouver.cbc.ca --- fair reception (Ron Howard, CA, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CHAD. 29 March 2008 2120-2225 UT, 4905 kHz, Radio Chad. French program. Native music. News from 22 to 2220. S/off at 2225 with national anthem. Excellent reception; almost local signal on my vintage SONY ICF-5900W with whip antenna. 73s (Giovanni Carboni, QTH Pisa Italy, April 4, Cumbredx mailing list via DXLD) 4905, Chad, R. Chad; 06-Apr. French 2156 hilife African music, 2200 presumed news by OM, many mentions of Tchad, 2202 "intervencion", "campagne du evacuacion", 2214 hilife music, 2216 YL talks, 2217 National Anthem, 2219 with s/off emerged Chinese station, Anhanguera seems to been off. Some 4915 QRM splatter. Good 44434 (Lúcio Otávio Bobrówiec, Embu, SP Brasil, Sony ICF SW40 - dipole 18m, 32m, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Chad 7120 kHz which is reported by Carlos from downunder Portugal, approx. 15-16 UT? Exact time known, when do Chad regular move to 4905? (Wolfgang Büschel, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Chad not heard on 4905 kHz after 1800, so maybe, as Jari suggested in another mail, they have moved back to 6165 kHz altogether? 73, (Mauno Ritola, Finland, ibid.) Now Chad back on 4905 kHz. 73, (Mauno, 2117 UT April 6, ibid.) ** CHINA. Blocking CBC website: see CANADA [and non] ** CHINA. 11045, China R International, not listed, 1337-1345, Thu Mar 27, Indonesian, news and ID at 1345, 44333 // 11955 and 15135 (Tony Ashar, Depok, Java, Indonesia, DSWCI DX Window April 2 via DXLD) While it`s conceivable CRI could be so far out of band, that is more likely to happen with domestic services. This must be a receiver- produced 2 x IF image, since CRI happened to be scheduled in Indonesian at 1330 on 11955, 910 kHz higher, per Aoki B07: 11955 CHINA RADIO INTERNATIONAL 1330-1427 1234567 Indonesian 500 177 Kunming CHN 10250E2510 CRI b07 (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CHINA. 9170, very weak talk, flutter, April 4 at 1341 on this way OOB frequency. Per WRTH this could only be CNR-6, V. of Shenzhou, Beijing, 50 kW. Aoki B-07 adds that it is at 162 degrees, and the schedule then was 2055-0105, 1100-1805, alternating Chinese, Amoy and Hakka (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CHINA [non]. CRI relaying Easy FM at 2100-2200 --- For the past couple of days I've noticed that CRI's 7285 and 5960 frequencies (via Albania) have been relaying Easy FM in English at 2100-2200 UT instead of the regular CRI external service in English. Very strong signal here on both channels. The usual CRI English output was heard at the same time on 7190 (from China) and 1440 kHz (via Luxembourg), so this is probably a switching error at the Albanian transmitter site on 7285 and 5960. Easy FM is CRI's English language FM channel for Beijing and was carrying "China Drive Morning Edition" this evening with a lot of fast talking chat and music aimed at a domestic audience in Beijing. At exactly 2200 this evening, the 7285 transmitter switched from Easy FM to Family Radio in English, but 5960 closed (Dave Kenny, Caversham, A0R7030+ 30m long wire, April 4, BDXC-UK via DXLD) ** CHINA [and non]. I hear CRI at 2100 on 5960, 7190-JBA due to co- channel, 7285, 9600 and 13630. At 0000 6020, 9570-very low; 0100 6020, 9470, 9570, 9580, and JBA 9790. At 0300 9690-fair, 9790-VG; at 0400 I just about hear 6020 (Bob Thomas, Bridgeport CT, March 30, by P-mail, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 9470? That`s Kashi at 01-02, 308 degrees to Europe (gh, DXLD) ** CHINA. 15515, Firedrake jammer at 09-10 UT, against whom? UdornTani left. Jamming transmitter parked here? (Wolfgang Büschel, Germany, April 6, undated A-08 logs so sometime since March 30, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** COLOMBIA. 5600 Harmonic, LV DEL NIQUEL. Montelíbano, 1128-1150 Abril 6, (1400 kHz x 4) retrasmitiendo noticias de Caracol Básica // 810 kHz. Ads Cerro Matoso, Cigarrillos Continental, Alcaldía Montelíbano. Promo de las Fiestas. "...transmisión por la Voz del Níquel y el combo taurino...", "...le informa La Voz del Níquel de Caracol..." con música baladas de los 70's y 80's (Rafael Rodríguez R., Winradio PC G303I, JRC - 525, Sony 2010; Antenas. Varios hilos, de diferentes longitudes y orientaciones, Bogotá, Colombia, condiglist yg via DXLD) ** COLOMBIA. 6035, LV del Guaviare, 0250-0300*, April 5, local music. Spanish announcements. Sign off with National Anthem at 0258. Poor with several other stations on frequency & adjacent channel splatter (Brian Alexander, PA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** COSTA RICA. Caribbean Beacon? See ANGUILLA [and non] ** COSTA RICA. A unique station with a style all its own, was Radio Monumental in San José, Costa Rica. They operated on both medium and short waves in those days, and verified by letter and pennant. But the special feature was their broadcasting of the news to the local folk over a loudspeaker system in the square below. They also had their own staff of reporters to cover important events. The whole operation was managed and supervised by a lady, who I met on a visit to the station. The slogan of the station was “Radio Monumental – La Palabra de Costa Rica” (Radio Monumental – The Word of Costa Rica), which seemed very appropriate, considering their way of conducting a radio station. They are still listed in WRTH on 670 kHz AM – no longer on SW, sadly – but also in the 2007 WRTH noted as inactive. Happy memories, dear readers! (Tom Williamson, Ont., Looking Back, April ODXA Listening In, illustrated with pennant, via DXLD) What was the SW frequency? (gh, DXLD) ** COSTA RICA. It seems one of the three REE relay transmitters at Cariari de Pococí must always be one kHz low in frequency. April 5 at 2145 during expanded weekend hours, sports was on 11814 with a het from something on 11815, // 17850.0 and at 2218 with music // 9765.0 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Glenn, I can't explain it myself in other way. That REE Cariari transmitter one kHz down in the 25mb is the same they are using later for 5964, and the now 9765 transmitter is one of the other two tuned to exact frequencies. Just as a reminder, there are three 100 kW Continentals there. BTW, The ELCOR 5954 transmitter in nearby Guápiles completed one week off the air. Not heard on their usual testing sked, 2230, for the last seven days. 73 (Raúl Saavedra, Costa Rica, UT April 6, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Re 8-041, I was checking at the same time (specifically 2225-2235 April 2) and also did not hear any trace of ELCOR (Terry L Krueger, Clearwater, Florida USA 27.55.83 N, 82.46.08 W, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** COSTA RICA [non]. Glenn, Do you have any up to date information on what is happening at RFPI? There had been talk of getting back on the air back in 2004 but I have not heard anything since then. Thanks, (Herb Susmann, KA2ZOH, Ithaca NY, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Herb, Nor have I. I think it`s safe to assume it`s gone for good (from SW; still as a webcast). 73, (Glenn to Herb, via DXLD) ** COSTA RICA. Re 8-041. Old Costa Rican photos --- Mmm... I have my doubts: Limón, Costa Rica or rather Limón, Colorado? Certainly there was a CW station installed by the United Fruit Co. in the early years of XX Century, in what was called by then Zona Americana for their office employees, as well those for the Northern Railway Co. A couple of 150-feet self supported high towers were in place, but frankly as a tico-limonense native, those surroundings shown on the only picture are not familiar for me. BTW, buildings here never had a chimney, except for the foundry at the shops of the railroad company. 73 (Raúl Saavedra, Costa Rica, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CROATIA [and non]. 3985, Croatian Radio in Croatian at 0055 with talk, 0058 song, 0100 time tones, ID, continued in Croatian. Poor, // 9925 via Germany good Apr 5. 3985, CROATIA, Croatian Radio in English at 0200 with news. Fair, // 9925 via Germany fair Apr 5 (Harold Sellers, ODXA Shadow Lake Radio Camp, Stouffvlle, Ontario, Eton E-1, 200 ft wire northeast, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 9830, Croatian R Zagreb scheduled 07-15 UT, doesn't propagate into central Europe today. Skips over my head. They could easily use 6165 kHz from 0500 to 2000 UT instead, and 3985 at nighttime (Wolfgang Büschel, Germany, April 6, undated A-08 logs so sometime since March 30, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CUBA. RHC, English to NAm, aging systems?? 0100, 6000 splashed by 5995. 6180, V. of Vietnam 6175 [Canada] spars with splashover (Bob Thomas, Bridgeport CT, March 30, by P-mail, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CUBA [and non]. To prove me wrong? Cuba is not jamming WRMI 9955 24/7, at least not at the moment. Checked April 3 at 0628, weak music and talk on 9955, must be WRMI, presumably another repeat of Radio Prague that they are unaware of in the Czech Republic, since the 06-07 hour is supposed to be a repeat of the M-F 23-24 UT hour when Prague is on the WRMI schedule grid, English, then Spanish. At 1400 recheck April 3, 9955 was being jammed as the start of the ex- 7385 block containing R. Prague once again. At 1417 recheck, jamming was gone, but VP sig, presumably Prague (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) See also CZECHIA; and USA for more on WRMI; CUBA [and non]. Collision with VOA on 6180: see U S A [and non] Surprised to hear RHC in Portuguese on new 17740, April 3 at 2304, with slanted news, typical sounders, so no ID needed, and nothing on ex-17705. Totally unclear why they would need to move, as nothing else scheduled on 17700, 17705 or 17710. 17705 had been running from 2200 to 2430 in Portuguese, Guarani and Quechua, so probably 17740 takes over all those hours, altho not yet confirmed. Lacking any fundamental explanation, we must suspect RHC had to move to avoid putting an harmonic onto a locally inconvenient VH frequency. Is 17740 in the RHC http://www.radiohc.cu/espanol/frecuencia/frecuencias-espanol.htm schedule? Of course not! Nor does it show 12000 which we have been hearing before and after 2300 colliding with HCJB. However, altho still dated to have expired in March, they have made a change to show another recent new frequency we discovered, 11680 as 0000-0500 in Spanish. While RHC were on 17740 at 2300 UT April 3, they were back on 17705 when I checked 23 hours later at the opening of the South American transmission, April 4 at 2200. Still on 17705 after 2300 and at 0010 April 5. Maybe a mistake to be on 17740 April 3, or a test. Now, what? RHC`s usage of 12000 is still not clear. Originally 1100-1500 only, but as previously reported, have been colliding with HCJB before and after 2300 in Spanish. Now April 5 at 0540 I hear weak RHC English on 12000 // 11760, and soon fading out. In this case it could be an harmonic of 6000 which was extremely strong at the time, even receiver- rather than transmitter-produced. Are others hearing this? (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) RHC observations Saturday April 5: 11750 at 2041 in Spanish, the new service to Europe, but with choral hymns co-channel, SAH of 5 Hz; and at 2145 announcement by YL in Chinese, which is KSDA, Guam, at 21-22. I suppose they don`t interfere with each other in China and Europe, but they sure do here when FE conditions are good. OTOH, that 315 degree beam from Guam may well carry on into Europe, the other way round than I am getting it; does it? 9820 already with strong open carrier at 2149 Sat April 5; 2159:30 began modulating with a bit of music, no ID, switched to applause and into a session of the Sétimo Congreso de la Unión de Escritores de Cuba, including Raúl Castro himself. This is the special service // 6000 only, which on other days of the week is designated Mesa Redonda, roughly 22-24 UT. 17705 at 2201 April 5 opening RHC Portuguese, another day back on nominal frequency instead of 17740 where it jumped April 3. 12000 at 2207, 2251 and 2300 chex April 5, was not on the air, just HCJB with no collision, unlike some previous days. 11800 at 2300, surprised to hear RHC opening in English, // usual 9550 but with an echo between them due to different feed routes and/or transmitter sites. Per the out-of-date schedule at http://www.radiohc.cu/espanol/frecuencia/frecuencias-espanol.htm 11800 is supposed to end at 2300 after two hours of Spanish to Caribbean, as well as Portuguese and Arabic to Caribbean (????) at 2000-2100. Probably they did not get 11800 turned off on time, but I did not have a chance to check it later in the hour until 2400. I did make a quick check of other frequencies at 2300, and found RHC Spanish on 13760; French on 9505 // 5965 but an echo between them. It sure sounded like regular French to me with opening newscast, but the schedule above has these frequencies at 2300 and other times listed under BOTH French and Creole! (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Solar-terrestrial indices for 05 April follow. Solar flux 71 and mid- latitude A-index 16. The mid-latitude K-index at 0600 UTC on 06 April was 5 (96 nT). Space weather for the past 24 hours has been moderate. Geomagnetic storms reaching the G2 level occurred. Space weather for the next 24 hours is expected to be minor. Geomagnetic storms reaching the G1 level are expected (SWPC via DXLD) If RHC followed its own schedule to the letter and number, and didn`t constantly suffer from one technical problem or another, there would be little to report, but its operations are never nominal, giving us a rich fount of DX news. RHC observations early UT Sunday April 6: At 0556, after catching Arnie`s propagation comments at the end of DXUL on 11760, I tuned to the upper limit of the 11-12 MHz range on the FRG-7, which is approx. 12055, and was surprised to hear the Morse code closing of that show! It was quite weak and nothing further heard. Must be a mixing product, but with what? 11760 was very strong. I then tuned down below 11500 and guess what I found? Another very strong open carrier on 11462, which would match 12058, 298 kHz above and below 11760, making 12058 a leapfrog. I suspect 11462 is a Cuban spy-numbers frequency, altho I get no hits on it at the UDXF yg; perhaps I would at ENIGMA. Anyhow, there were no numbers, but at exactly 0600 a variety of multi-pitched tones for a few seconds, some kind of data burst, then back to open carrier. 15370 at 1434 RHC opening ``La Cultura en Cuba``, but with big hum on this frequency unlike // 11760 and 13680. Wiggle that patchcord!! Morning programming nominally ends at 1500, but rechecked at 1506, these three frequencies were still on with open carrier, and hum gone from 15370. 11760 only was supposed to be carrying the weekly Esperanto service at 1500-1530 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) See also VENEZUELA [non]; Numbers: UNIDENTIFIED 6768 ** CUBA [non]. 6100, R. República, 0208-0232, April 3, in Spanish, interviews via the phone, naturally they talked about political issues and Cuba, some songs, many IDs, good reception, no jamming (good audio), 0258-0302 still on, but badly garbled audio due to jamming (Ron Howard, CA, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CYPRUS. 9760, CBC at 2215 signing on with Greek music, man and woman announcers. (Very good, // 7210 poor under QRM, 5930 poor Apr 4 (Harold Sellers, ODXA Shadow Lake Radio Camp, Stouffvlle, Ontario, Eton E-1, 200 ft wire northeast, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Fri-Sat-Sun only 5930, Cyprus BC Corp, *2215-2244*, April 6, New Frequency, ex-6180. Sign on with Greek music. Greek opening announcements and radio-drama. Greek music. Sign off with Greek tune. Good signal. // 7210-poor, mixing with China Radio Int. and // 9760-very weak (Brian Alexander, PA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CZECHIA [and non]. R. Prague English to NAm: 1400 9955 [WRMI] 2130 11600 2230 7345 9415 0000 7345 9440 0100 6200 7345 0300 7345 9870 0330 6080 to NW US [Sackville] (Bob Thomas, CT, Apr 1 via P-mail, DX LISTENING DIGEST) +more via WRMI ** CZECHIA. R. Prague, 13580, 1300 in English to NAm, but April 3 I just tuned in at 1327 as they were ending Panorama show with music vamping instead of irrelevantly announcing French transmission schedule, as they often do following English; 1329 IS once and off. Another secret airing of R. Prague via WRMI, 9955: see CUBA [and non] (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** DENMARK. KALUNDBORG 243 KHZ --- PUBLIC BROADCASTER TO KEEP 243 KHZ LONGWAVE. The longwave towers in Kalundborg will stand for at least five more years, even though regular AM broadcasting on 243 kHz ceased last year. This means that Danish public service broadcaster DR keeps its attractive frequency for digital longwave broadcasts. A face lift will remove the top structures that were added to the towers in 1954. This will reduce the wind load significantly and give the masts their original 1927 "slim-line" look back. Only the inner two of the eight top capacitance wires that also feed the secondary tower of the Alexanderson antenna system will be retained. Calculations and antenna measurements made earlier this year by technical operator Broadcast Service Danmark A/S show the modification will not affect the extremely high relative bandwith of the antenna system needed for DRM (Digital Radio Mondiale) broadcasts. The QRP measurement signal was picked up by at least two DX listeners on 25 March 2008, a testament to the efficiency of the antenna system on the "Gisseløre" peninsula. According to calculations, a 1 kW transmitter should be sufficient for covering most of Denmark with DRM test transmissions. The 300 kW long wave AM transmitter is kept in working order and reaches most of Western Europe, the Faroe Islands, Iceland and Southern Greenland. Source: Radionyt.com and DRMRX.org via http://mediumwave.info (by Ydun M. Ritz on Fri Apr 04, 2008 1614 UTC, dxing.info via DXLD) ** DOMINICAN REPUBLIC. 5009.78, Radio Cristal Internacional, 2312-2335 April 3. Noted steady Spanish language music. At 2323 canned ID as, "... Radio Cristal ... Musical", then back to music. Male back at 2333 with more identifying comments. "...Radio Cristal International ..." Signal was good (Chuck Bolland, Clewiston, Florida, NRD545, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 5009.8, RADIO CRISTAL INTERRNACIONAL, Santo Domingo. 2313-2340 Abril 4, MUsica en español pero no la usual Bachata o Merengue. "...en la República Dominicana la señal 1510 kHz de Radio Pueblo..." a las 2320 programa DX: Frecuencia al Dia "...estamos transmitiendo Radio Pueblo, señal 1510 AM y HIMI Radio Cristal Internacional 5010 kHz desde Santo Domingo, República Dominicana en el corazón del Caribe..." (Rafael Rodriguez R., Winradio PC G303I, JRC - 525, Sony 2010; Antenas. Varios hilos, de diferentes longitudes y orientaciones, Bogotá, Colombia, condiglist yg via DXLD) ** ECUADOR. 4909.3, RADIO CHASKIS DEL NORTE. Imbabura, 1142-1205 Abril 5. Musica de alabanza y predicacion en español. "Reflexiones, conociendo un poco más a Dios a través del ministerio Nuestro Pan Diario por Chaskis del Norte..." Luego de las 1202: "..Desde el Corazón del Imbabura, transmite Chaskis del Norte en los 950 de su dial, nuestro potente sonido para Ibarra y los cantones hermanos..." Luego el programa: Palabras de Esperanza (Rafael Rodriguez R., Winradio PC G303I, JRC - 525, Sony 2010; Antenas. Varios hilos, de diferentes longitudes y orientaciones, Bogotá, Colombia, condiglist yg via DXLD) ** ECUADOR. 6050, HCJB, Pifo, 1045-1050, April 05, Waodani, short announcement and songs in vernacular (¿in waodani?), 32432 (Arnaldo Slaen, Argentina, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) As I was looking around 25m for RHC anomalies, such as the previous collision with HCJB on 12000, none of that April 5, but from 2252 tune-in I listened to the Brazilian tribal language Kulina, which is on the schedule now at 2245-2300 daily on 11920, 250 kW, 126 degrees. It used to be only 10 minutes or less. Not surprisingly, the only thing I could understand was ``Matéu, Capítulo Dezoito`` mentioned by the preacher at 2256 and 2259. Try to put yourself in the shoes(?) of an isolated people for whom the only radio broadcast in their language is from missionaries dedicated to depriving them of their original religion! I feel for the Kulina. According to the NIV, subjects in Matthew XVIII are: The Greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven, The Parable of the Lost Sheep, A Brother Who Sins Against You, and The Parable of the Unmerciful Servant. Including verses 8-9 advising people to cut off their hands and feet and gouge out one of their eyes. Yeah, sure. What good work HCJB is doing. And are there sheep in the Amazon? (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) I know I probably will not change your mind, just like you probably will not change my mind. However, get real Glenn, they are called parables for a reason. Verses 8-9 that you mention are talking about dealing drastically with sin. If people takes the Bible extremely literally they will probably hurt themselves with emotional turmoil or physically. One doesn't have to go very far in history to see the traumatic effects of hyper-religiosity. However, one doesn't have to go far to see the negative effects of Nietzsche's ideal in the overman either. Whether it be the fanfare of Hitler or the inspiration for school shootings. I did not listen to the broadcast which you speak of, but hopefully HCJB did bother to explain these parables to the listeners. Sincerely, (Jason R. Gardner, ABDX via DXLD) Non sequitur ** EGYPT. 9280, Radio Cairo at 2302, woman announcer speaking about evenings programs, easy-listening instrumental music. Very good Apr 4. 7270, Radio Cairo at 0203 Arabic song, 0205 man with ID and introduced “The Holy Kor`an and Its Meaning”. Very good Apr 5 (Harold Sellers, ODXA Shadow Lake Radio Camp, Stouffvlle, Ontario, Eton E-1, 200 ft wire northeast, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** EGYPT [and non]. R. Cairo`s new 11550 for the European language services, concluding with English at 2115-2245 has a slight problem: it collides with 500 kW WEWN. And it`s off-frequency causing a het, roughly on 11550.1, slightly wavering, which means the frequency of one of the transmitters is unstable, and I`ll bet I know which one. April 5 at 2158 found Cairo in English, tho undermodulated, was axually dominating WEWN. At this time a YL was speaking in some kind of commentary but could not axually follow it. WEWN ID in Spanish around 2200. Rechecked periodically during the remaining semisesquihour, and situation remained about the same. Cairo went off at 2245:40 leaving WEWN alone. Except on its lowest frequencies, and sometimes even on those at night, WEWN is normally a poor signal here, skipping over from only one megameter away, and/or aimed elsewhere, and/or not really running 500 kW or even 350. WEWN is on 11550 all the way from 14 to 24 UT at 220 degrees toward Mexico, while Cairo is at 1500-2245, 315 degrees toward Europe (and North America). Is WEWN any problem for it in Europe? (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** EGYPT. 12170, R. Cairo, Mar 31 1443-1455, 35433, Pushto, Music and talk, ID at 1444. 17835, R. Cairo, Mar 28 1215-1225, 45432, English, Arabic music, ID at 1220, Kor`an; also Mar 29 *1215-1232, 35432-45444, English, 1215 sign on with opening announce, ID at 1220, Talk, 1230 News (Kouji Hashimoto, Japan, Japan Premium via DXLD) ** EQUATORIAL GUINEA ECUATORIAL. 6250, Radio Nacional, Malabo, 0525- 0550, 04-04, canciones en español, canción "Angelitos Negros", de Antonio Machín, locutor, noticias locales, conexión con corresponsales en las distintas provincias de Guinea Ecuatorial, identificación: "Radio Nacional, Malabo". A partir de las 0545 la señal se empezó a debilitarse, y a las 0550 ya era difícilmente audible. 24322 (Manuel Méndez, Spain, DX LISTENING DIGEST)) 6250, Radio Nacional, Bata, 0540-0600, 06-04, canciones en español, locutor, identificación, "Radio Nacional, Malabo", comentarios. 24322 (Manuel Méndez, Lugo, España, escuchas realizadas en casco urbano de Lugo, Grundig Satellit 500 y Sony ICF SW 7600 G, Antena de cable, 8 metros, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Logged at exactly same time: 6250, Radio Nacional-Malabo, 0528-0610, April 4, tune-in to lite vocals, ballads. Spanish talk. Local African music at 0551. "Radio Malabo" ID at 0601 and possible news. Poor-weak at tune-in but improved to a fair to good level by 0555. Occasional RTTY QRM (Brian Alexander, Mechanicsburg, PA, TenTec RX-340, 100 foot longwires, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 6250 GNE: R Malabo 1830 April 6. Accented Spanish or rather local language with many Spanish phrases (Jari Savolainen, Kuusankoski, Finland, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ERITREA. 5100, R. Bana, 1725, s/off 1800 April 6 with familiar Bana song. Local language (Jari Savolainen, Kuusankoski, Finland, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ETHIOPIA. 5980, Voice of Tigrey Revolution, *0355-0410, April 7, sign on with IS. Amharic talk at 0400 along with occasional Horn of Africa music. Poor. Weak with adjacent channel splatter. Threshold copy on // 6170 (Brian Alexander, PA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ETHIOPIA. 7209.91, Radio Fana, *0258-0340, April 7, IS. Opening ID announcement at 0301 & into Horn of Africa music. Amharic talk. Weak. Covered by BBC 7210 at *0300-0329*. Radio Fana audible after BBC sign off at 0329. Better signal on // 6110 (Brian Alexander, PA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ETHIOPIA [non]. 17875, R Xoriyo, Voice of the Ogadeni People, via Samara, Russia, 1400-1430, Tu/Sa, new time during A08 for Somali to the Ogaden Region of Eastern Ethiopia, via TDP. Used to be jammed by Ethiopia (Alokesh Gupta, DSWCI DX Window April 2 via DXLD) Heard at *1400-1410, Tue Mar 25, Somali ID after opening fanfare, music from the Horn of Africa, 35444, but *1405 Ethiopian jamming started and: 32442 (Anker Petersen, Denmark, ibid.) ** FRANCE. I`m hearing RFI Paris best at 1600, fair to quite well on 15605. I`m looking for other times and frequencies (Bob Thomas, Bridgeport CT, March 30, by P-mail, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GABON: http://www.africa1.com --- This extensive website is presented entirely in French; for live audio click Écoutez en direct, which opens a new window and begins playing audio, apparently in Adobe Shockwave Flash format. You can also find a few podcasts by clicking Podcast. For those who haven’t heard Africa N.1 before, it’s a mix of West African and global pop – very upbeat music, and well worth a listen (Paul E. Guise, Winnipeg, MB R3M 3J3, Click!, April ODXA Listening In via DXLD) ** GABON. 4777, R Gabon at 1820 April 6; has been most days now on until 1900 (Jari Savolainen, Kuusankoski, Finland, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 4777, Radio Gabon, *0458-0510, April 7, sign on with National Anthem. Opening French ID announcements at 0459. Possible news at 0500. Fair to good (Brian Alexander, PA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GERMANY. There has been no DRM transmission audible on 6085 so far today (April 6th) from Ismaning. The time now is 1105 UT and all is still peaceful around that frequency. Maintenance or ? ? ? Noel R. Green (NW England), dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) In HFCC it`s 24 hours, 10 kW; really was 6080-6085-6090 ** GERMANY. Deutsche Welle: http://www.dw-world.de/ --- This is the main English-language page for Deutsche Welle, one of the true powerhouses of international broadcasting. The DW site is extremely comprehensive, so we’ll just have a look at a few highlights and leave the rest for you, the reader, to explore in due time. Oh, and if you’re up for the challenge, the DW site is available in 30 different languages! Across the top of the main DW page are various “corporate” links for media users, advertisers, and the like, as well as contact information and the requisite About Us link. Thankfully, there is also a Site Map link, which is immensely helpful when working with a website of this size. Below these are two pulldown menus, marked Specials (featurettes such as Soccer > Bundesliga or Discover Germany > Travel) and Service (including Newsletters, Podcasting, and Feedback). Major headings on the left side of the page are News, Germany Info, DW-Radio, DW-TV, and Interactive: each has several sub-headings. The centre of the page is where we find news stories and current events features, while the right side is home to a “Picture of the Day”, language selector, and DW-Radio and –TV live sections. The DW-Radio and –TV live (my label, not theirs) areas are excellent, providing audio and video both live and on demand on your computer. Audio is provided in Real Media, Windows Media (two quality levels), and MP3 formats, while video comes in Real Media, Windows media (low- or high-quality for each), or the high-bandwidth, high-quality (and MS Windows only) Octoshape format. The content available in audio and video is immense, with a huge catalogue of archived material available, much of it in English. Unfortunately, I also found the DW media player didn’t work on the Nokia N810; it even caused my Mac to crash the web browser on a regular basis. Close, DW, but not quite there – maybe next year (Paul E. Guise, Winnipeg, MB, Click!, April ODXA Listening In via DXLD) ** GERMANY [non]. DW Russian service via UK on 15420 and 15690, in lieu of WBCQ: see USA [and non] ** GERMANY [non]. Heard both DW-Amharic 19 mb signals: 15410-Sri Lanka (SIO 323, better than CVC-Chile) is 1.5 seconds behind strong 15660- Kigali (which buries Voice of Russia in English), as noted 4/5 (Joe Hanlon, NJ, April 5, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GERMANY. 15470, April 3 at 1433 nice native choir of a few harmonious voices, but too soon into talk in African language mentioning Daniel, Babylon, Nebukadnezzar, etc. This is Bible Voice Broadcasting, to Sudan, but language unknown, via Jülich, 100 kW, 145 degrees at 1430-1529 (Friday -1544), per MB/DTK A-08 schedule via Wolfgang Büschel. There is no such broadcast in the WRTH 2008 BVB schedule under Canada. 15470, April 4 at 1459 with convenient ID just as I tuned in, ``Bible Voice Broadcasting``, then music. This is the shadowy service via Jülich to Sudan also heard April 3 without such a definite ID (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GERMANY. 873 AFN Frankfurt 150 kW unit OFF --- Blast knocks AFN Germany off the air on 873 kHz. --- Stars and Stripes http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=53798 (via Wolfgang Büschel, April 4, DXLD) SRG April 3rd, 2008 - 14:02 UT: This is unfortunate. Glad that everyone is out of hospital by now. Can’t recall ever reading about similar accidents. If something like that were to happen in the US, those three would be filing for a major lawsuit. But not in Germany, I’m afraid. And not against the US military, of course. The US military is running thin these days. Sadly, safety is suffering, as a result. Is the Department of Public Works a part of the US military operation in Germany? Kai Ludwig April 4th, 2008 - 21:40 UT: Yes, this is a unit or part of the units of the US Army in Germany. Concerning the “local nationals”: I understand that the US Army is simply an employer to them. Anyway a police press release says that the local German department for industry safety has been notified and will investigate. 873 is back on air since a few hours ago, but apparently at reduced power and with different audio processing, more conservative than the very aggressive multiband compression they were using before. Sounds like some kind of provisional set-up (Media Network blog via DXLD) 873 - Weaker audio than normal. Possibly a back-up transmitter? Also just music rather than talk 1800-1830 April 5 (Dan Goldfarb, Brentwood, England, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) AFN GOES BACK ON AIR AFTER POWER PANEL FIRE Stars and Stripes European edition, April 5, 2008 http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=53849 An American Forces Network transmitter that had been off the air since Tuesday resumed broadcasting Friday. The transmitter, which broadcasts the network's 873 AM signal, was brought back online at 2:30 p.m. It was knocked off the air by a fire that started during routine maintenance. Full power has not been restored. A fire in a commercial power panel caused the outage. Three people were injured in the accident. All were briefly hospitalized for observation and released, according to an AFN statement. (The transmitter is in Hessen) (via Mike Terry, April 6, dxldyg via DXLD) ** GERMANY. Zehlendorf 693 kHz now plain AM: See http://blogs.rnw.nl/medianetwork/tenders-advertised-for-three-mediumwave-frequencies-in-berlin#comment-604300 (Kai Ludwig, Germany, April 4, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GREECE. Hi John, Were you able to hear Hellenes Around World reactivated this morning? Propagation was very poor here and could not get 9420 or 15630 (Glenn Hauser to John Babbis, Sat April 5, via DXLD) Glenn: I was listening during the entire 1305-1400 UT period to 15630 but there was nothing but atmospheric noise there. It finally broke through at 1405 UT but with a male voice in Greek. There was nothing either on 9420. During The HATW time period, I jumped to the VOG web site and there were only Greek songs playing. Maybe our European friends heard something. Are you back on, Katerina? Early this UT morning [UT Sun April 6], I was listening diligently to the Voice of Greece [7475, 9420] and enjoying the half-hour program of the internationally-famous Greek artist George Dalaras singing, disk- jockey style, the songs of Mikis Theodorakis. When 0200 arrived, I was sort of expecting to hear the return of Katerina with her show "Hellenes Around The World" in English, but was disappointed when another program in Greek showed up. Does anyone know what time she is on during this A-08 broadcasting season? (John Babbis, Silver Spring MD, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Why did you think she and that show might be back? (gh, DXLD) 11645, ERA5 Athens multilingual *0500-1000* UT except Tuesdays. Alb, En, Fr, Sp, Ge/Ru sections (Wolfgang Büschel, Germany, April 6, undated A-08 logs so sometime since March 30, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GREECE. Voice of Greece (ERT): http://www.ert.gr/en/ The Voice of Greece page is reached by selecting Radio and then International ERA Network from the above page. This leads to the first of two pages in the international English-language section, providing a brief Profile of ERA International (the international radio arm of ERT; the acronyms aren’t deciphered on the website). The other option is to click Contact, which provides you with three telephone numbers in Greece – no email, no postal addresses, nada. For those interested in online radio, ERT appears to broadcast all of its stations live on the internet – just click on LiveRadio from the main ERT page, and then select any of the tiny radio logos in the following pop-up window. The music on several of the domestic stations is delightful (to my ears). For more English content, users would be best served by using the domestic ERT website, given above (Paul E. Guise, Winnipeg, MB R3M 3J3, Click!, April ODXA Listening In via DXLD) ** GREENLAND. Kalaalit Nunaata Radioa, found at http://www.knr.gl doesn’t appear to have any English content or online media, but stop by for a look at their HUGE news stories (literally). One item was entitled, “Arferit sumiissusersineqarsinnaalissagunarupt.” Couldn’t have said it better myself (Paul E. Guise, Winnipeg, MB R3M 3J3, Click!, April ODXA Listening In via DXLD) ** GUAM. KTWR, 9975, Bible story by YL, 1418 April 3 audible under skirt of WWCR 9980. Hearing this 285-degree English broadcast is possible only if WWCR has not built up to full strength (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GUATEMALA. 4799.79, Radio Buenas Nuevas, San Sabastian, 0425-0432*, April 4, Spanish religious talk. Closing ID announcements at 0430. Poor in t-storm static (Brian Alexander, Mechanicsburg, PA, TenTec RX- 340, 100 foot longwires, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** HAWAII. 13650, KWHR seldom heard in Europe, best slot is 06-07 UT, in peaks S=5 level (Wolfgang Büschel, Germany, April 6, undated A-08 logs so sometime since March 30, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** HUNGARY. Hungarian Radio – Radio Budapest: http://www.radio.hu/ As you may already know, MagyarRádió (Hungarian Radio) cancelled foreign-language programming on 1 July 2007, so there is no longer any English content at the above URL. That’s a shame, as they used to have some excellent material (Paul E. Guise, 637 Oxford Street, Winnipeg, MB R3M 3J3, Click!, April ODXA Listening In via DXLD) ** INDIA. Big open carrier with hum on 15050, April 3 at 1430. Left a receiver on this in case modulation started, but still OC at 1454, gone at 1517 recheck. Only broadcast station on 15050 is All India Radio, and Sinhala is scheduled here at 1245-1500 from Delhi, 250 kW, 174 degrees. Maybe longpath. Now all we need is some modulation. Wake up in Delhi! --- Unlike 24 hours earlier, April 4 at 1358 I could barely detect a very weak carrier on 15050, so could not tell whether the AIR Sinhala service had any modulation today. Nothing at all on April 5 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INDIA. Dear Friends, On April 5, 2008 morning I've not found AIR- Guwahati both via Shortwave 4940 kHz and also on medium wave on 729 kHz. My monitoring time was from 0100 to 0230 UT perhaps. Due to severe seasonal cyclonic storm called "BORDOLI CHILA" passing some parts of Guwahati last night might have damaged power supply lines. I found reports of extensive damage to properties of Guwahati University campus in a morning local newspaper. The University is in Jalukbari locality of Guwahati. And I think the AIR-Guwahati transmitter site is also on the same area. I've not however yet found any report of damage to AIR Transmitter site. Perhaps, the power supply lines to the site might have been damaged. However, the FM Service of AIR-Guwahati is on the air this morning as usual on 100.8 MHz. And from 0345 UT they aired a report on a cycle relay organised just outskirts of Guwahati on the occasion of 50th anniversary of Vividh Bharati Service a few days back. There has been several seasonal cyclonic storms this season in and around Guwahati and some parts of lower Assam and upper Assam past a few days. However, no report so far came to my knowledge about any damage to AIR facilities, etc. 73 & 55 Gautam Kr. Sharma, Geographical Location of Reception Place (Abhayapuri): Longitude: 26º18´20´´North, Latitude: 90º37´50´´East (via Alokesh Gupta, April 4, dx_india via DXLD) ** INDIA. 11620, AIR (Bangalore), 2154-2203, 4/1/2008, English. Indian music with many bells at the end of a talk segment. ID by woman at 2159 followed by news. Moderate signal with fading (SINPO 34322). No parallels noted today (Jim Evans, Germantown, TN, TenTec RX-340, RF Space SDR-14, 90' Random Wire, 60' PAR EF-SWL, Cumbredx mailing list via DXLD) And unblocked in A-08 by Portugal ** INDIA. 11985, AIR-Bangalore, 0225, 04/05/08, listed Kannada. South Asian instrumental music w/sparse announcer commentary between. Strong signal despite being far off Middle Eastern target area. Fair/good (Mark Schiefelbein, MO, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INDIA [and non]. 11840 Heavy FIREDRAKE music against AIR Delhi, Chinese 1130-1315 UT, also 11775 AIR Tibetan 12-1430 same jamming. 17705 AIR covered by Firedrake at 1130-1315 UT too. Also AIR Burmese 11710 1200-1315 suffered by co-channel Firedrake festival, but latter meant against CBS TWN co-channel (Wolfgang Büschel, Germany, April 6, undated A-08 logs so sometime since March 30, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INDIA. [originally posted as unID] 13770: Hello JM, Could it be All India Radio in Hindi // 9950 and others ? Jean-Michel Aubier, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 13770 All India Radio, Hindi // 7410, 9950, 12050. http://www.allindiaradio.org/schedule/wasia1.html 73 (José Miguel Romero, Spain, ibid.) Is powerhouse 500 kW AIR from Bangalore, see various frequencias listas. 300 degrees main lobe signal towards Cairo, Ibiza, Lisbon Portugal. Saludos, wb (Wolfgang Büschel, ibid.) 13770, All India Radio, 1616-1640, escuchada el 6 de abril en idioma sin identificar, probablemente hindi, locutor con presentación, locutora con comentarios, sigue siendo un misterio para mí ésta transmisión. A las 1603 se aprecia encendido el transmisor con portadora sin emisión; hasta las 1616 no se aprecia transmisión, se desconoce la hora exacta del comienzo de la emisión. Intuyo referencias a Pakistán y Malasia, también a Turkmenistán y Afganistán, locutor con entrevista a invitado, un pequeño fragmento musical y locutora conversando con niños de muy corta edad, // 7410, 9950, 12050, SINPO 45444. 73 (José Miguel Romero, Spain, ibid.) ** INDIA. 17510, AIR Delhi in BI [Indonesian or Bihari?] program, 0830-0945 UT, distorted audio, not in good shape. Same distorted AIR audio on 9950 kHz at 1730-2230 UT (Wolfgang Büschel, Germany, April 6, undated A-08 logs so sometime since March 30, DX LISTENING DIGEST) see also CHINA for jamming ** INDONESIA. 11784.88, Voice of Indonesia, 1937-2018*, April 5, tune- in to French programming with talk & local music. Into English programming at 1959 with IDs. News at 2002. Commentary. Abruptly off the air at 2018 during English talk. Fair signal (Brian Alexander, PA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) VOI, 11785 - Belting signal from 2100 to 2120 April 5. At that point the English broadcast ground to a halt, the transmitter came off air never to reappear! Instead Firedrake replaced it growing in strength (jamming Tinian RFA). (Dan Goldfarb, Brentwood, England, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) English is at 2000-2100, and see above log on same date; you mean 2000-2020? (gh, DXLD) ** IRAN. V. of Justice, Tehran, was VOIRI, English at 0130-0230 on 7235 (Bob Thomas, CT, April 1 via P-mail, DX LISTENING DIGEST) + 9495 9495, Voice of Justice at 0132, male announcer briefly, then Koran recitations, 0138 news. Fair, // 7235 good Apr 5 (Harold Sellers, ODXA Shadow Lake Radio Camp, Stouffvlle, Ontario, Eton E-1, 200 ft wire northeast, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** IRAN [and non]. Weak bubble jamming on 13850, April 4 at 1425 during Israel Radio`s only remaining SW broadcast, in Persian which was a very poor signal here. If Israel is serious about SW to Iran, they should put all available transmitters on the air at this time, not just two which are bound to be jammed (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ISRAEL, Kol Israel on shortwave in Persian today at 1400-1500 UT, noted on 11604.97 and 13850 kHz. Both suffered by Iranian bubble jamming. Strongest bubbler on 13849.86 kHz. 73 wb (Wolfgang Büschel, Stuttgart, Germany, April 4, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** IRAN. VOIRI seems to have problems with their 6200/6205 broadcasts. At 1602 9 March, heard on 6202.4 in unID language. have they moved deliberately to avoid QRM from other stations or are they using a VFO rather than crystal control? (David Gascoyne, UK, Open to Discussion, April BDXC-UK Communicaiton via DXLD) 6202.4, 1602 9 March, VOIRI, anti-US/UK talk, NA and offa t 1656, vernacular, SIO 433 (David Gascoyne, Staplehurst, Kent, HD Logbook, ibid.) We have had numerous reports of VOIRI varying 1-2 kHz, this being only one example. See also UNIDENTIFIED 6026, and: (gh, DXLD) 6201.28, odd IRIB Sirjan oscillating in Azeri at 1430-1630. 11704.94, odd IRIB Sirjan in Bengali at 0830-0927. 13789.97, IRIB Kamalabad in Arabic, 0530-1430 UT, S=5 weak only. 15201.82, odd IRIB Sirjan in Malay, 1230-1327, faulty tx oscillating 15234.94, IRIB Kamalabad in Albanian, at 0630-0727 UT (Wolfgang Büschel, Germany, April 6, undated A-08 logs so sometime since March 30, DX LISTENING DIGEST) See also LITHUANIA ** ISRAEL. CLANDESTINE FROM ISRAEL TO LEBANON AND PALESTINE Hello DXers, while checking the MW frequency of 756 kHz on 5 April 08 I noticed around 2310 UT there was a program in Arabic on that frequency around that time which made me wonder: which station is that!? I kept on listening to a program called "Songs and Stories" mainly with a Lebanese accent, hosted by a YL telling a sexy joke --- which is not accepted on the media here in this part of the world, playing Lebanese songs. Around 2355 UT the usual announcer of al Machreq radio announced the frequency they use right now, 756 kHz and FM 90.3, giving the usual times of radio al-Machrek, 8.00 to 16.00 Jerusalem time as I recall that was from 5.00 to 14.00 UT [sic]. Right after they signed off, the usual Palestinian Voice network started the transmission with the same frequency and announcing the usual times as well 7.00 to 8.00 and 16.00 to 17.00 Jerusalem time. The strange thing is hearing them around that time of the day and I was in Cairo; usually I pick them up when I'm in Alexandria by sea side. Increased output, maybe. Both websites http://www.pal-voice.org/ and http://www.almachrek.org/ didn't mention anything about the new schedule. But it was nice picking them up in that time of the day for the first time. Will see if they will be on today 6/4/08 as well. All the best from Cairo, Egypt, yours (Tarek Zeidan, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ISRAEL [and non]. 15789, het and noise at 1404 check April 3. I suppose Galei Zahal, up from nominal 15785. The only station known on 15790 is Udorn, which means Chicom jamming is likely, tho I`m not sure of service or language from IBB (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Galei Zahal again odd frequency, today on 15788.69 to .74 kHz. (Wolfgang Büschel, 1435 UT April 4, DX LISTENNG DIGEST) 15787.95, Galei Zahal in Hebrew, S=7 at 0740 UT (Wolfgang Büschel, Germany, April 6, undated A-08 logs so sometime since March 30, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ISRAEL. Re Kol Israel`s new webcasting: No reception on my Mac, e.g., using Quicktime and flip4mac (Juergen Fenn, Germany, April 3, HCDX via DXLD) http://www.intkolisrael.com/ --- After 4 seconds starts various Israel Radio programmes via Internet. MS Internet Explorer / Windows Media Player no problem. But FIREFOX need latest Adobe Flash Player 9.0.115.0 software (Wolfgang Büschel, ibid.) In other words, you need a Windows box in order to read those streams/podcasts which is very strange since the internet builds upon open standards and since Kol Israel is a public broadcaster everyone should be able to subscribe to its webcasts, regardless of the platform you use. No reception on my Mac, e.g., using Quicktime and flip4mac. So, engineers at Kol Israel, please fix this as quickly as possible. Thanks, (Jürgen Fenn, Germany, ibid.) Agree. No Safari or Firefox work on Mac OS X/Leopard (Flash and WMP both installed). The one and single browser functioning was Internet Explorer on my Boot Camp XP partition. And the audio is simply awful, in spite my broadband connection. Extremely annoying, considering they did switch off a "medium", shortwaves, which works like charm. 73s (Andy Lawendel, Italy, ibid.) Stream starts right up here (gh, DXLD) Quality problem - not really Andy. But the loudness volume level differs tremendously between the various language sections. At present I listen to a nice Sefardi-Spanish song, taken supposedly from an older tape recording - to be considered. Yiddish section plays some songs from a CD recording at present (from yesterday night schedules). 73 wb (Wolfgang Büschel, ibid.) SW jammed by IRAN: q.v. ** ITALY. Rai heard on 9 March on 657 and 900 kHz: 0100-0106 UT in B- 07 with news in Italian from the ``Italia News Center``, followed by news in French until 0112 when the melody of Notturno Italiano was played and ID in Italian ``Notturno Italiano``. No news in English and German was heard (Rumen Pankov, Sofia, Bulgaria, 13 March, Medium Wave Report, April BDXC-UK Communication via DXLD) see also SICILY ** JAPAN. 3925, Japan, R. Nikkei, Tokyo-Nagara; 06-Apr. Japanese 2117- 2127 long segments of OM and YL talks alternating some canned anmts. Getting weaker during this listening, 23332 (Lúcio Otávio Bobrówiec, Embu, SP Brasil, Sony ICF SW40 - dipole 18m, 32m, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** JAPAN [non]. Today`s Angle on NHK World Network Radio Japan, 11705 via Canada, April 4 at 1411 was a discussion of the ``General Erection`` in South Korea, hee hee. Also heard on 13630 at 1427 wrapping up language lesson with a series of Japanese syllables, almost synchronized with 11705, so can`t be Yamata direct, but another relay: yes, Rampisham UK at 62 degrees. Also came across nice slow Japanese instrumental music on 17735, at 1523 April 4, Japanese announcement at 1525. Nothing listed in PWBR `2008`. I figured such a good signal would be Sackville, which uses the frequency later for RCI, but it`s axually Issoudun, France, NHK relay at 15-17, 500 kW at 152 degrees to Africa, off the back being 332 degrees. See http://www.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/english/radio/shortwave/all.pdf 17735 was running about one word behind 9535 direct from Yamata (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** JAPAN [non]. NHK World Network Japan, 11705 via Canada, Sat April 5 tuned in late at 1421 for World Interactive with new British-accented host Sumiko, just as haiku segment was ending, with same guy as before whose name I have never caught, nor is it on http://www.nhk.or.jp/rjweekly/english/wi/index.html which has not been updated as of 1555 UT April 5, still showing former host Kei and her sidekick Junko. Sumiko`s first music selexion was Aretha Franklin, ``Natural Woman``, which helps her wake up in morning. Next repeat is at 2200. It`s incredible that NHK now has no English broadcasts at all between 1430 and 2200, missing prime-time in Mideast, Africa and Europe. This must have been for NHK`s own convenience, not their would-be listeners on three continents: no overnight shift required in Tokyo (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) NHK WORLD RELAUNCHES ITS WEBSITE The website of NHK World was relaunched on 31 March. According to the website itself, these are the core improvements: Much expanded English language content including… Easy-to-see English news video Weather information on video, too! Program search by genre on the program page A new FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) page A search engine for the NHK site (Japanese and English pages) The addresses of the English and Japanese pages have changed to: English: http://www.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/ Japanese: http://www.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/japanese/ (April 4th, 2008 - 13:20 UTC by Andy, Media Network blog via DXLD) So the World Interactive page has now been updated: http://www.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/english/radio/wi/index.html Sub-features are: World of Haiku on the first week of the month presented by Shokan (only one name given); Just for Laughs, the second week, with Kimie Oshima; and Listening Library with Yuko Aotani, on the last week. Plus photos of three of them, including the new host, but they forgot to put her name anywhere on the page! Not even hidden in the properties of the photos; Sumiko Something, I believe (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** JORDAN. 11810, Radio Jordán, 1043-1046, escuchada el 6 de abril en árabe a locutor con comentarios, locutora con posible identificación y presentación "...Doctor...", emisión de música folklórica local, SINPO 24332 (José Miguel Romero2, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) I know you mentioned in past, R. Jordan gone in that variable 1400- 1500 UT slot on 11690. I only heard them once after you said it was dropped. No English since (Bob Thomas, Bridgeport CT, March 30, by P- mail, DX LISTENING DIGEST) I also looked for it April 3, 4; nothing. See KOREA NORTH [non] below (gh, DXLD) ** KASHMIR [non]. Re 8-041, A 08 Schedule for Azad Kashmir Radio Trarkhel: Aslam, Tnx, but could you clarify ``APR 10 kW``? I guess there is another number after API instead of APR? (Glenn to Aslam Javaid, via DXLD) Hi Glenn, The 10 kW transmitter at Islamabad with call sign API-7 is reportedly off air. According to Radio Pakistan, the 10 kW transmitter at Rawalpindi with call sign APR-2 is being used for Azad Kashmir Radio Trarkhel. The number which may added will be' 2' (Aslam Javaid, Lahore, Pakistan, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** KOREA NORTH. 2850, KCBS, Pyongyang, *1958-2005, Mar 22, IS and ID's in Korean, National Anthem, 24322 (Franck Baste, St. Bonnet de Rochefort, France, DSWCI DX Window April 2 via DXLD) This frequency was verified by the Voice of Korea with a full data card with an illegible verie signer in 64 days. The package of goodies included a copy of The P`yongyang Times, two nice looking 2008 calendars, program schedules for Voice of Korea and a R Pyongyang pennant. In the accompanying personal letter they mentioned each of my previous reports in recent years and asked me to enter their upcoming writing competition (Rich D'Angelo, Wyomissing PA, DSWCI DX Window April 2 via DXLD) ** KOREA NORTH. 9335, V of Korea, 1305, 04/04/08, English. The usual format of martial music and blunt propaganda by male and female announcers. Modulation seemed rather low, but decent overall. Fair/good (Mark Schiefelbein, MO, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 13759.97, KRE, V. of Korea patriotic songs, S=8, 0810 UT. Yesterday on 13760.12 kHz instead. 15244.96, patriotic songs, in morning segment 0700-1000 UT. Yesterday 15245.07 at 0900 UT (Wolfgang Büschel, Germany, April 6, undated A-08 logs so sometime since March 30, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** KOREA NORTH [and non]. NORTH KOREA JAMS JAPANESE RADIO PROGRAMME FOR ABDUCTEES | Text of report in English by Japan's largest news agency Kyodo Tokyo, April 4: Japan confirmed on Friday North Korea's jamming of a Japanese radio programme containing messages for any surviving Japanese victims of Pyongyang's past abductions and will report it to the International Telecommunication Union on Saturday, the communications ministry said. North Korea was confirmed jamming the programme "Shiokaze" with radio waves on the same frequency between 5.25 a.m. and 6.07 a.m. Friday, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications said. It is the fourth time North Korea has jammed the programme after once in March last year and twice in November. The interference is a violation of the ITU's radio-frequency transmission rules and thus will be reported to the Geneva-based UN body, the ministry said. "Shiokaze" was launched in March last year to send messages from family members of people who were possibly abducted by Pyongyang and are still residing in the country, for 30 minutes from 5.30 a.m. daily in Japanese, Korean, Chinese and English. Source: Kyodo News Service, Tokyo, in English 1414 gmt 4 Apr 08 (via BBCM via DXLD) So this jamming is quite occasional, and the programs are quite repetitious, anyway (Glenn Hauser, DXLD) ** KOREA NORTH [non]. 7510, Free North Korea R., Mar 20 *2000-2010, 35333, Korean, 2000 sign on with opening music, ID, Opening announce, Talk. 9630, North Korea Reform R.. Mar 20 *1200-1207, 35433-33433, Korean, 1200 sign on with opening music, ID, Opening announce, Talk. 9630, North Korea Reform R., Mar 25 *1200-1208, 44444, Korean, 1200 sign on with opening music, ID, Opening announce, Talk. 9630, North Korea Reform R., Mar 26 *1200-1211, 35433-45444, Korean, 1200 sign on with opening music, ID, Opening announce, Talk. 9630, North Korea Reform R., Mar 28 *1200-1210, 45444-44444, Korean, 1200 sign on with opening music, ID, Opening announce, Talk. 9630, North Korea Reform R., Mar 29 *1200-1210, 43443-43433, Korean, 1200 sign on with opening music, ID, Opening announce, Talk. 9630, North Korea Reform R., Mar 31 *1200-1211, 45444, Korean, 1200 sign on with opening music, ID, Opening announce, Talk. 9930, Free North Korea R., Mar 20 *1300-1311 45444 Korean, 1300 sign on with opening music, ID, Opening announce, Talk. 9930, Free North Korea R., Mar 24 *1300-1307, 35433-45444, Korean, 1300 sign on with opening music, ID, Opening announce, Talk. 9930, Free North Korea R., Mar 28 *1300-1310, 45444, Korean, 1300 sign on with opening music, ID, Opening announce, Talk. 9930, Free North Korea R., Mar 31 *1300-1310, 44444, Korean, 1300 sign on with opening music, ID, Opening announce, Talk. 9940, V. of Wilderness, Mar 20 *1300-1313, 44444, Korean, 1300 sign on with IS, Opening music, Opening announce, Chorus music, Talk. 9940, V. of Wilderness, Mar 28 *1300-1305, 23332, Korean, 1300 sign on with IS, Opening announce, Chorus music. 9940, V. of Wilderness, Mar 31 *1300-1305, 23332-22332, Korean, 1300 sign on with IS, Opening music, Chorus music, Talk. 9950, R. Free Chosun, Mar 26 *1200-1210, 45444, Korean, 1200 sign on with opening music, ID, Opening announce, Talk. 9950, R. Free Chosun, Mar 28 *1200-1206, 35433, Korean, 1200 sign on with opening music, ID, Opening announce, Talk. 9950, R. Free Chosun, Mar 29 *1200-1212, 45433-45444, Korean, 1200 sign on with opening music, ID, Opening announce, Talk, // 15755 kHz. 9950, R. Free Chosun, Mar 29 1335-1350, 45444-35433, Korean, Talk, ID at 1335. 15755, R. Free Chosun, Mar 30 1251-1300*, 44444, Korean, Talk, ID at 1258 and 1259, Closing music, 1300 sign off (all: Kouji Hashimoto, Japan, Japan Premium via DXLD) Note that some of the above logs are in B-07, others in A-08 starting March 30 (gh, DXLD) ** KOREA NORTH [non]. 6020, Shiokaze/Sea Breeze via Yamata, Japan, *1400-1415, April 4 (Fri.), in English, piano IS, ID, "New frequencies are 6045 kHz, Japanese Time, from 5:30 to 6:00 in the morning and 6020 kHz from 11:00 to 11:30 in the night", segments "Today`s News Flash" and "Today`s News on North Korea Issues", fair (Ron Howard, CA, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Audio clip has been posted. ** KOREA NORTH [non]. 6020, Shiokaze/Sea Breeze (via Yamata) 1401-1406 4 April, Friday evening English broadcast with URL/mailing address and "This is the Shiokaze/Sea Breeze radio program, from Tokyo, Japan", then M with another ID & new schedule info into "today's news on North Korean issues" (news items from AP, Kyoto, etc.) (Dan Sheedy, CA, G5/5m "vegan special" silly wire, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** KOREA NORTH [non]. A08 Sched. for North Korea Furusato no Kaze 1430-1500 11775 (Japanese) via DRW 1600-1630 9780 (Japanese) via TWN JSR Shiokaze 1400-1430 6020 (Japanese/Korean/English/Chinese) via YAM 2030-2100 6045 (Japanese/Korean/English/Chinese) via YAM Anti-jamming alternative freq. 1400-1430 6005, 6015, 6075 2030-2100 5965, 6005, 6020 Free North Korea Radio (Korean) 1000-1100 9490 via TWN 1300-1400 9930 via HWA(KWHR) (M-F) 2000-2030 7510 via ERV 2030-2100 9645 via TWN Open Radio for North Korea (Korean) 2100-2200 9950 via ERV Radio Free Chosun (Korean) 1200-1300 15755 via ERV 1330-1400 9950 via TWN CMI: Voice of Wilderness (Korean) 1300-1400 15710 via ERV 2000-2030 9795 via TWN North Korea Reform Radio (Korean) 1200-1230 9630 via TWN de NDXC (S. Hasegawa, NDXC-HQ, April 3, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) DRW = Darwin, Australia; ERV = Gavar, ARMENIA; TWN = Taiwan RFNK largely reinforces a broadcast time --- Radio Free North Korea was able to confirm broadcast of 5.5 hours / day. Added: 1330-1430 15755 kHz TJK [TAJIKISTAN] 1430-1530 11560 kHz TJK 1900-1930 9785 kHz TWN de Hiroshi (S. Hasegawa, NDXC-HQ, Japan, April 5, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** KOREA NORTH [non]. R. Jordan still missing from 11690 where French and English used to be, April 4 at 1513 --- just something in Korean mixing with the RTTY, which would be one of the JCI clandestine transmissions from Japan via Darwin at 3 degrees, but not sure which one. As in DXLD 8-029, when other frequencies or sites were involved; this `enforcement group` sounds ominous: ``Japan Center for Intercultural Communications, JCIC is an enforcement group of Furusato no Kaze on 9780 at 1600-1630 UT and Wind of Nippon / Ilubon-e Baaram on 9820 at 1700-1730 (S. Hasegawa, NDXC, Sunday, March 02, 2008 via Büschel, ibid.)``. 15710, Korean talk at 1352 April 4. The Gavar, Armenia site is registered here, which recently started carrying clandestine services to North Korea, but which one is this? There was no het, but a SAH from a much weaker station, Cairo? As Wolfgang Büschel points out, WHRA is also scheduled here, but it seems unlikely that Armenia would be the dominant signal here if WHRA is really on. His recording at 1300 had a SAH of about 220/minute (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 15710 in A08, 1300-1400 UT: three broadcaters on air. R Cairo in Indonesian mostly ahead but much distorted audio here in Germany. But sometimes also equal signal level of R Cairo Radio Free Chosun (Korean) 1200-1300 15755 via ERV and another 3rd station with music songs in background. Latter is likely NoKorean music jammer ? [or WHRA USA co-channel?, but latter seems too weak] 73 wb (Wolfgang Büschel, Germany, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Re 15710 mess at 13-14 UT: So if R. Free Chosun is on 15755 at 12-13 via ERV, what Korean service is on 15710 at 13-14 via ERV? (Glenn, ibid.) Aoki says: 15710 Voice of Wilderness 1300-1400 1234567 Korean 300 65 Yerevan- Gavar ARM CMI a08 VT 15755 Radio Free Chosun 1200-1300 1234567 Korean 300 65 Yerevan- Gavar ARM RFC a08 Identical technical data, except time, and #. Another opposite broadcaster against North Korea? Language is 100% Korean. 15710 1300-1400 43 ERV 300 65 0 238 ARM NEW TRW 15755 1200-1300 43 ERV 300 65 0 238 ARM NEW TRW What means CMI ? Cornerstone Ministries International from Tustin CA http://www.cornerstone.or.kr/public/index.asp?CurrentCatID=C19595796428513131 see WRTH p488/489 Sei-ichi in dxld 7-145 Cornerstone Ministries International-Bukhan Seongyo Bangsong http://www.cornerstone.or.kr/public/index.asp?CurrentCatID=C19595796428513131&ChangeSetID=default 1300-1330 Korean 9940 TWN 2000-2030 Korean 9795 TWN Eibi in November 2007: 1300 1330 CLA CMI Voice of Wilderness K KRE 9940/TWN 2000 2030 CLA CMI Voice of Wilderness K KRE 9795/TWN Interval signal http://www.intervalsignals.net/countries/korea_north.htm 73 wolfy (Wolfgang Büschel, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** KOREA SOUTH [non]. Not sure if it`s permanent, but last night CBC Radio Overnight replaced Voice of Russia programming with KBS World programming in the second half of hour 3. KBS WORLD Korean News "Worldwide Friendship" http://world.kbs.co.kr/english/radio/ News and Letters from the listeners. Discovering Korea. Questions about Korean culture from the listeners. http://www.cbc.ca/overnight/latestshow.html (Fred Waterer, April 6, ODXA yg via DXLD) ** KURDISTAN. 3913.5, R Voice of Kurdistan, No. Iraq, 0300-0310, Mar 24, Kurdish talk about Kurdistan, fanfare; clear signal because the jammer was still on 3934! 44444 (Anker Petersen, Skovlunde, Denmark, DSWCI DX Window April 2 via DXLD) ** KUWAIT. 11990, Radio Kuwait at 1833, man with news, IDs. 1838 program lineup and into program of pop music. Very good Apr 4 (Harold Sellers, ODXA Shadow Lake Radio Camp, Stouffvlle, Ontario, Eton E-1, 200 ft wire northeast, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** LAOS. 6130, Lao National Radio, 1412-1427, April 5, for the second consecutive Sat., in English and assume Laotian. "Hello I am Elizabeth Moore. Welcome to Functioning in Business English", "Functioning in Business is an intermediate level business English course with a focus on American business practices and culture", "Todays interview: introduction part 3. This program focuses on business English", interview with Charles Blake who works for International Robotics, fair-poor, transmitter briefly cutting in and out a number of times (Ron Howard, CA, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) see also UNIDENTIFIED ** LAOS. LAO NATIONAL RADIO EXTERNAL SERVICE AVAILABLE ONLINE The external service of state broadcaster Lao National Radio has now made its English and Lao programmes available on its website at http://www.lnr.org.la The broadcaster has had some audio content available on its website for some time, however consisting of just specific news items in English, Lao, Hmong and French. This remains the case for the latter two languages, but now the entire English and Lao programmes for the current and previous few days are available on demand. These appear to be M-F only. It’s not clear if the station still broadcasts on shortwave. Only their 97.25 MHz FM frequency is announced in the English programme, but the 7145 kHz shortwave frequency is still mentioned in their ‘About Us’ page. (Source: Dave Kernick, Interval Signals Online) (April 3rd, 2008 - 10:43 UTC by Andy, Media Network blog via DXLD) ** LAOS [non]. 11655, Suab Xaa Moo Zoo, Mar 30 *2330-2340, 45444, Hmong, 2330 sign on with opening music, Opening announce, Music and talk. 11655, Suab Xaa Moo Zoo, Mar 31 *2330-2345, 45444, Hmong, 2330 sign on with opening music, Opening announce, Music and talk (Kouji Hashimoto, Japan, Japan Premium via DXLD) ** LIBERIA. 4760, ELWA (Monrovia), *0556-0603, 4/2/2008, English (?). Interval signal at 0556 followed by talk by man at 0558. Very weak signal with low audio and brutal CODAR interference. Fortunately, IS provided the ID. Haven't heard them since January (Jim Evans, Germantown, TN, TenTec RX-340, RF Space SDR-14, 90' Random Wire, 60' PAR EF-SWL, Cumbredx mailing list via DXLD) 4760, ELWA, 2245-2300 April 3. Noted a steady diet of instrumental music, mainly organ, which sounded religious. At 2258, a male gives ID in English which is followed with the National Anthem, then off the air. Signal was fair (Chuck Bolland, Clewiston, Florida, NRD545, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** LIBYA. UNIDENTIFIED, 17600 broadcast in most likely Swahili / E African language noted here at present 1330-1340 UT April 4. Plays a lot of music in between. S=7 signal level in Southwestern Germany. [Later:] Is Voice of Africa, noted ID by female announcer at 1353 UT from Sabrata, LBY. ex 1200-1700 17725, now tentatively replaced by 17600, in \\ 21695 12-16 UT, but latter much weaker here, just above threshhold (Wolfgang Bueschel, Germany, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Hello Wolfi. 17600 Voice of África, 1348-1355, escuchada el 4 de abril en idioma swahili a locutora con ID "Voice of África, Libia", emisión de música afro, SINPO 33343. 73 (José Miguel Romero, Spain, ibid.) ** LITHUANIA. 6180, IRIB Sitkunai-LTU relay in German, 1730-1827 UT, S=9+20 dB powerhouse. Also 7260 IRIB Sitkunai, French 1830, English 1930-2027. Spanish on 6055 kHz 2030-2127 UT. 6145 IRIB Sitkunai-LTU in Russian 1430-1527 UT. From 1530-1730 6145 kHz too R Racja in Belarussian language. Also R Liberty Tatar program via LTU on 9635 kHz at 05-06 UT, S=4 signal only on back lobe. 11670, IRIB in Italian via Sitkunai-LTU relay S=7 at 0700 UT. (Wolfgang Büschel, Germany, April 6, undated A-08 logs so sometime since March 30, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MALAYSIA/SARAWAK. RE: DXLD 8-040: Limbang FM Hi Glenn, Here is an update (April 3) from Alan Davies: The schedule for Wai FM on their website agrees that Wai FM relays the Iban programme from Limbang at 1315 until 1400 following a relay of the news from KL and a short segment called "Pemerindang Malam" (I think that would mean "Night Entertainment"). However the Wai FM schedule says this relay is now every day Mon-Fri, rather than just Mon and Thurs as the Limbang FM website suggests. [Am happy to see that this correctly corresponds to my reception of April 1 (Tue.) from 1325-1401, with several clear "Limbang" IDs at 1400. Ron] The latest Wai FM schedule is at http://www2.rtm.net.my/rtmsarawak/WAI_FM/program_jadual/program_jadual.htm and the detailed schedule pops up when you click on one of the days of the week from Isnin (Monday) to Ahad (Sunday). The segment at 2115-2200 local time (1315-1400 UTC) is entitled "Berita ari Limbang (Sumbangan dari Limbang)" (berita ari = news of the day, sumbangan dari = contribution from). Best wishes, Alan (via Ron Howard, CA, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MALAYSIA. 7295, Traxx-FM (via RTM) 1336+ 6 April, "Hot Tracks" music program with selections from new Boyz2Men compilation CD, jingle: "Xperience the Xcitement on Traxx" (Dan Sheedy, CA, R75/EF102040, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MALI. 9635, RTVM, Bamako, *0800-0840, April 4, sign on with French ID announcements. Short bit of local string music. French and vernacular talk after 0801. Some exotic local music at 0830 and vernacular talk. Fair to good signal (Brian Alexander, Mechanicsburg, PA, TenTec RX-340, 100 foot longwires, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MAYOTTE. 1458 MW, Pamandzi. I was very pleased with a letter I got from the RFO outlet over there in Mayotte. A full data long reply in French for my report also being in French was received from M. Christophe Marquand, Directeure de l’antenne radio at Reseau France d’outre Mer, 1 rue de Jardin, BP 103, 97615 Pamandzi, Mayotte, France. They also claim to broadcast on 91,00 and 92,00 MHz FM (who ever might listen to them in East Africa or the Indian Ocean’s islands). The verie came in a huge envelope containing the letter itself, some stickers, some buttons as well as a M-sized T-Shirt in white with a print “20 ans RFO Mayotte” – a gift to my wife ‘cause me I am an XXL, hihi (Stefan Schliephacke, Frankfurt am Main, Germany, DSWCI DX Window April 2 via DXLD) ** MOROCCO. 15335, RTM Briech outlet in Arabic. Powerhouse S=9+30 dB at 11-15 UT. It's a pity that US government decided to dismantle Briech transmitter site after only 12 years usage. \\ weaker RTM Nador 15340. ID "Huna Rabat" (Wolfgang Büschel, Germany, April 6, undated A- 08 logs so sometime since March 30, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Also good here in Arabic, 1430 April 6, 15340 // 15345, stronger on the lower one, with 5 kHz het --- Moroccans vs Moroccans! (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** NETHERLANDS [non]. 15535, GERMANY, Radio Netherlands via Wertachtal, “Bridges with Africa” ending at 1855. ID, freqs. Good Apr 4 (Harold Sellers, ODXA Shadow Lake Radio Camp, Stouffvlle, Ontario, Eton E-1, 200 ft wire northeast, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 6225, RNW (Bonaire) 0505 4 April, slightly distorted Dutch broadcast // 6165, heard first on 3 April at 0513 with the G5 & thought to be an internal glitch, but also heard on the Icom this night, so apparently it's not a receiver goof. Ideas? (Dan Sheedy, CA, R75/EF102040, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Sure, leapfrog over another Bonaire transmitter with NHK in Spanish at 0500-0530 on 6195; and same at 0400-0430 when 6165 is in English (gh, DXLD) See also PHILIPPINES; USA [non] ** NETHERLANDS. RADIO NETHERLANDS WORLDWIDE STARTS LIVE MOBILE REPORTING --- Written by Florence Laout Wednesday, 02 April 2008 Correspondents of Radio Netherlands Worldwide (RNW) around the globe are now working with ‘LUCI live two’, the software application for live radio reporting. From the most remote regions, the news can be delivered simply and live, and therefore fast, from a mobile phone or laptop computer. Radio Netherlands Worldwide is the first Dutch broadcaster to start using this innovative technology on a large scale. What’s more, the application is also suitable for use on websites and blogs, and therefore fits in perfectly with the cross- media strategy of RNW. . . http://www.freepressreleases.co.uk/Press_Releases/Media/Radio_Netherlands_Worldwide_starts_live_mobile_reporting_2008040215958/ (via Dave White, April 3, DXLD) [part II continued as DXLD 8-043] ###