DX LISTENING DIGEST 8-045, April 10, 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 SHORTWAVE AIRINGS OF WORLD OF RADIO 1403 Thu 0530 WRMI 9955 Thu 1430 WRMI 9955 Thu 2200 WRMI 9955 Thu 2330 WBCQ 7415 Fri 0800 WRMI 9955 Fri 2030 WWCR1 15825 Fri 2230 WBCQ 5110-CUSB Sat 0800 WRMI 9955 Sat 1630 WWCR3 12160 Sun 0230 WWCR3 5070 Sun 0630 WWCR1 3215 Sun 0800 WRMI 9955 Sun 1515 WRMI 9955 Mon 0300 WBCQ 9330-CLSB [irregular] Mon 0415 WBCQ 7415 [time varies] Tue 1100 WRMI 9955 Tue 1530 WRMI 9955 Wed 1130 WRMI 9955 Wed 2300 WBCQ 15420-CUSB [NEW, but returned to 17495-CUSB] 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 ** AFGHANISTAN. SHORTWAVE VERSUS BLIMPS. In most rural areas of Afghanistan, there are no landline phones or shortwave or any way other devices to communicate quickly. So Taliban militants, who rely on poor communication in rural areas, have recently been attacking cell phone facilities and confiscating phones, stripping locals of the chance to alert U.S. soldiers to their movements. ... [There is a plan] for Afghanistan, where the U.S. military would drop cheap cell phones that could also receive radio broadcasts in Taliban-dominated areas. U.S. psychological operations aircraft or blimps would transmit programming that these cell phones can receive — weather reports, health and farming updates, religious messages from moderate imams and local and national news." Fox News, 10 April 2008 (via kimandrewelliott.com via DXLD) The article is wrong about shortwave. Shortwave broadcasts reach all the nooks and crannies of Afghanistan -- for those who have shortwave radios. Transmissions from aircraft or blimps would be clearer than shortwave within the footprint of those aircraft. But short- to medium-distance shortwave transmissions on frequencies of 6 megahertz and below are fairly reliable and would require only one or two land- based transmitter sites within Afghanistan. Listeners would probably have to switch from daytime to nighttime frequencies. Posted: 10 Apr 2008 (Kim Andrew Elliott, ibid.) ** ALBANIA. R. Tirana, English to NAm, as monitored: 0030-0042 variable, 9390 fair/noisy 0145-0158 9390 good/noisy 0230-0300 & 0330-0400 7425, both very good 1430-1500 13640 poor/fair 2000-2030 13600 [no quality rating given] (Bob Thomas, Bridgeport CT, April 2 via P-mail, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ALGERIA [non]. 7260, 0540-0600* 31.03, R Algérienne, via Skelton UK, Arabic Holy Qur'an programme with religious talks about Islam and songs 35444 // 7150 from unknown site to -0557* (45544) (Anker Petersen, AOR AR7030 with 28 m longwire in Skovlunde, Denmark, via Dario Monferini, playdx yg via DXLD) ** ARGENTINA. 5835, 0102 30/03, R. Nacional da Argentina, General Pacheco, OM, anúncios, SS 45333 5840, 0050 06/04, R. Nacional da Argentina, General Pacheco, YL, mx tango, SS 45333 (Rubens Ferraz Pedroso; Bandeirantes - Paraná - Brasil, radioescutas yg via DXLD) So frequency is flexible (gh) ** ARGENTINA. RAE – RADIODIFUSIÓN ARGENTINA AL EXTERIOR --- I must confess that I have long considered RAE one of those “romantic” shortwave broadcasters that infrequently can be easily heard in my admittedly casual setup here in Eastern Pennsylvania. Even at French Creek DXPeditions their signal is rarely, if ever, rocking-chair quality. RAE has now begun streaming live audio, and, twice a day, five days a week, you can catch an hour of English programming in the live stream. The programming itself is a leisurely blend of news, “folkloric and samba [sic, surely means tango]” music, and one or more feature programs. What’s different about RAE’s approach is that the hour-long program isn’t divided into specific segments – as most broadcasters do – it’s instead woven together – first, you’ll hear news headlines, followed by a song, then the first news story in detail, followed by another song or two, then more news, et cetera. The music – always native Argentinean music – is sufficiently exotic to enhance the quality of the programming, not take away from it. I haven’t been listening often enough yet to sort out the weekly pattern of programming segments, but the program for Monday, March 24th (heard 0200 3/25) featured a segment on birding as a tourism opportunity. The programming isn’t offered for on-demand streaming or downloading, but, armed with the right software, you can capture the audio to your computer and then save it to a portable music player. Those of you who enjoy listening to live streaming audio via a PC or an Internet Radio can hear a mix of languages throughout the day in the live audio stream. To listen to RAE’s streaming audio via your PC, visit http://www.radionacional.gov.ar/rae/rae.asp and click on the link. You can see RAE’s language (and frequency) schedule by clicking on the link on that same page; English is offered Mondays-Fridays at 1800 UT, and Tuesdays-Saturdays at 0200. If you are listening via WiFi Internet audio, RAE may not yet be programmed in the station database portal your receiver uses; in that case, the actual streaming URL is mms://rae.telecomdatacenter.com.ar/RAE Note that it’s not http:// --- it’s the mms:// protocol. RAE does appear in the Reciva portal, for those whose receivers utilize their database (Richard Cuff, Easy Listening, April NASWA Journal via DXLD) DIRECCIÓN RAE --- Estimados: Según informaciones obtenidas, y confirmadas, Marcela Campos ha abandonado la dirección de RAE, Radiodifusión Argentina Al Exterior. Interinamente ha asumido la dirección la Licenciada Susana Cuestas, pero se esperan algunos cambios en la emisora próximamente (como fue señalado en un mail que les reenvié anteriormente). De momento en el nuevo sitio web de la Radio Nacional Argentina no aparece ni la historia ni la programación de RAE, sólo un enlace para escucharla por internet (al parecer en las horas en que no transmite RAE conectan con Radio Nacional) Saludos, (Eduardo Peñailillo, Chile, April 8, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Estimado Sr. Eduardo Peñailillo: Aquí va adjunto el esquema actual en vigencia de RAE; pronto quizás van a existir cambios en la programación por haber cambiado la Dirección de la emisora. Pero, mientras tanto, está en vigencia el adjunto aquí. Saludos, (Gabriel Iván Barrera, Actualidad DX, via Eduardo, DXLD) Viz.: [looks same to me as always, but at least is currently dated] HORARIOS Y FRECUENCIAS – TIMETABLES & FREQUENCIES A-08 25/03/08 al 25/10/07 A-08 25/03/08 to 25/10/08 6060 kHz Banda de 49 metros --- 11710 kHz Banda de 25 metros 9690 kHz Banda de 31 metros --- 15345 kHz Banda de 19 metros HORA LOCAL U.T.C. IDIOMA FRECUENCIA DESTINO Transmisión de Lunes a Viernes (Mondays to Fridays). – 07.00-09.00 1000-1200 JAPONÉS 11710 LEJANO ORIENTE 09.00-11.00 1200-1400 CASTELLANO 11710 AMÉRICA 15.00-16.00 1800-1900 INGLÉS 9690–15345 EUROPA 16.00-17.00 1900-2000 ITALIANO 9690-15345 EUROPA 17.00-18.00 2000-2100 FRANCÉS 9690-15345 EUROPA/N.AFRICA 18.00-19.00 2100-2200 ALEMÁN 9690-15345 EUROPA/N.AFRICA 19.00-21.00 2200-2400 CASTELLANO 6060-11710-15345 EUROPA/N.AFRICA Y AMÉRICA 21.00-23.00 0000-0200 PORTUGUÉS 11710 AMÉRICA 23.00-24.00 0200-0300 INGLÉS 11710 AMÉRICA 00.00-01.00 0300-0400 FRANCÉS 11710 AMÉRICA - Transmisión LRA 1 Radio Nacional Buenos Aires, AM 870 kHz. – Transmisión Sábados Fcias.: 6060 y 15345 kHz de 17.00 a 23.30 H.L (2000 a 0230 UT) / FREC. 11710 de 17.00 a 19.00 (2000 a 2200 UT) Domingos Fcias.: 6060 y 15345 kHz, de 15.00 a 24.00 H.L (1800 a 0300 UT) / señal Radio Nacional AM 870 kHz / FREC. 11710 de 1500 a 2200 (1800 a 0100 UT) On the air Saturdays on 6060 & 15345 kHz: 17.00 & 23.30 (2000 & 0230 UT) Fr. 11710: 17.00 & 19.00 (2000 & 2300 UT) On the air Sundays on 6060 & 15345 kHz.: 1400 a 0300 UT: signal Radio Nacional AM 870 KHz. Rr. 11710 15.00 & 22.00 (1800 & 0100 UT) Telefax RAE 54 11 4325 6368. Casilla de correo 555 – C1000WAF Buenos Aires – República Argentina. Correo electrónico: rae @ radionacional.gov.ar y barrera @ arg.sicoar.com (via Barrera, ibid.) ** ASIA [non]. USA [non] A-08 RFA Daily Broadcast Frequencies. All times in UT. # new transmissions. Burmese now additional +2 hrs, Tibetan +2 hrs. Burmese (6 hours daily) 0030-0130 13820IRA, 13865TIN, 17835SAI 0300-0400#11605KWT/IRA 17830TIN 1230-1330 9320IRA, 9455TIN, 13675TIN 1330-1400 9320TIN, 9475TIN, 11540TIN 1400-1430 9320TIN, 11540TIN 1630-1730# 7505TIN, 9305IRA 1730-1830# 7505IRA, 9300TIN Cantonese (2 hours daily) 1400-1500 7280TIN, 11595SAI 2200-2300 9355SAI, 11715TIN, 11785TIN Khmer (2 hours daily) 1230-1330 11870TIN, 15525IRA 2230-2330 7580TIN, 13740IRA Korean (5 hours daily) 1500-1600 1350 , 5870IRA, 7210IRK, 7490TIN 1600-1700 1350 , 5870TIN, 7210IRK, 7490IRA/TIN 1700-1800 1350 , 5870TIN, 7465TIN, 9370IRA 1800-1900 1350 , 5870TIN, 7210TIN, 7465TIN 2100-2200 1350 , 7460 , 9385TIN, 9770TIN, 12075SAI Lao (2 hours daily) 0000-0100 15545TIN, 15690IRA 1100-1200 9355SAI, 15560IRA Mandarin (12 hours daily) 0300-0600 13760TIN, 15130TIN, 15635IRK, 15680TIN, 17615SAI, 17880SAI, 21550TIN, 21690TIN 0600-0700 13760TIN, 15165TIN, 15635IRK, 15680TIN, 17615SAI, 17880SAI, 21550TIN 1500-1600 9455SAI, 9905PAL, 11540TIN, 12005TIN, 12025SAI, 13675TIN, 15495TIN 1600-1700 9455SAI, 9905PAL, 11540TIN, 11795 , 12025SAI, 13675TIN, 15530TIN 1700-1800 7260TIN, 7280TIN, 9355SAI, 9455SAI, 9540TIN, 9905PAL, 11540TIN, 11795 , 13625TIN 1800-1900 7280TIN, 7355TWN, 9355SAI, 9455SAI, 9540TIN, 9865TIN, 11540SAI, 11700 , 13625TIN 1900-2000 1098TWN, 7260TIN, 7355TWN, 9355SAI, 9455SAI, 9850TIN, 9865TIN, 9905PAL, 11700 , 11785TIN, 13625TIN, 15510TIN 2000-2100 1098TWN, 7260TIN, 7355TWN, 9355SAI, 9455SAI, 9850TIN, 9905PAL, 11700 , 11740TIN, 11785TIN, 13625TIN 2100-2200 1098TWN, 7105TIN, 7355TWN, 9850TIN, 9905PAL, 11740TIN, 11935TIN, 13625TIN 2300-0000 7540 , 11760TIN, 11785TIN, 15430TIN, 15485SAI, 15585TIN Tibetan (10 hours daily) 0100-0300 9365KWT, 11695UAE, 11975WER, 15225TIN, 17730 0600-0700 17510 , 17780KWT, 21500TIN, 21690UAE 1000-1100#15460LAM, 17750KWT, 21510KWT 1100-1200 7470 , 13830 , 15375UAE, 17750KWT 1200-1400 7470 , 11590KWT, 11605TIN, 13830 , 15375UAE 1500-1600 9370 , 11550KWT, 11585TIN, 11795UAE 2200-2300# 5865TIN, 7500TIN, 9880LAM 2300-0000 7470 , 7500KWT, 9805UAE, 9875TIN Uyghur (2 hours daily) 0100-0200 9350 , 9490LTU, 11895UAE, 11945UAE, 17640TIN 1600-1700 9350IRA, 9370 , 9555UAE, 11750IRA Vietnamese (2 hours daily) 0000-0030 7520IRA, 11580 , 11605TWN, 13740SAI, 15535VLD, 15560TIN 1400-1500 5855 , 9455SAI, 9715TIN, 11605TWN, 11680 , 12140IRA 2330-2400 7525 , 11580 , 11605TWN, 13740SAI, 15535VLD, 15560TIN (Radio Free Asia website, completed by Gordon Brown, UK, NWDXC April 4, BC-DX via DXLD) Obviously with some sites censored; do the Chicom really have no other way of knowing? Some of us who do know may fill in the blanx ourselves (gh, DXLD) ** AUSTRALIA. On Wednesday April 9, the RA program at 1330, Rural Reporter, ended early enough, at 1357 for a 1-minute RA frequency change announcement by Roger Broadbent, as I was listening to the best frequency, 9580 before it cut off at 1358*. This is not the case on Thursdays, when the 5-minute Perspective commentary at 1355 is always cut off in the middle at 1358 from that frequency, without any warning, as happened again April 10. On April 9, said three or four 6 MHz frequencies closing and three or four 6-7 MHz about to open at 1400, but NOT mentioned is 9590, which is already on the air and continues. There could be others. What is the point of omitting frequencies in the latter category, which also carry the QSY announcement? At 1425, I found 7240 doing well and most hams avoiding it; at 1426 also on 5995 which I at first thought was something non-English, but it turned out to be poetry (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BOLIVIA. 4781, Bolivia, R Tacana, Tumupasa; 08-Apr. Spanish 1015 Andean music, 1018 OM talks, 1022 Andean music, time announcements by OM, "seis de la mañana y veinticinco minutooooos" (0625 AM) (some Bolivian announcers like to enhance the last word of a sentence), 1027 OM talks and ads. Almost unreadable, weak 23322 (Lúcio Otávio Bobrówiec, Embu SP, Brasil, Sony ICF SW40 - dipole 18m, 32m, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BRAZIL. 11915, Rádio Gaúcha, Porto Alegre. Programação esportiva com comentários sobre o jogo Sapucaense x Inter de SM, pelo campeonato gaúcho, com a participação do presidente do Sapucaense: Paulo Porto. Em 06/04/08, entre 1315 e 1320 UT. Sinpo: 45333 (GEORGE HENRIQUE, BRASÍLIA-DF, BRASIL, SANGEAN ATS 909, MOTOGLOBE DIGITAL, ANTENA LOOP BLINDADA, @tividade DX via DXLD) 11915, Radio Gaúcha, Porto Alegre, 1010-1023, 08-04, locutor, portugués, comentarios, identificación: "Radio Gaúcha". 24322. (Manuel Méndez, Spain, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Hoje, a propagação está dando uma colher de chá nos 25 metros. Estou capitando, com bons sinais, o Rádio Gaúcha de Porto Alegre, pelo 11915 kHz. Locutores falando sobre a União Européia. 73 (PY1PDF/PX1W6049 JACKSON, Grid Locator: GG87le, São Gonçalo - RJ QSL CARD: http://www.qrz.com/py1pdf Site: http://www.afrr.qsl.br April 10, dxclubepr yg via DXLD) Don`t recall seeing this one reported for quite some time; so was it inactive, then reactivated, prompted by SBGs? Or did I miss it in one of Carlos Gonçalves` lengthy Brazilian log reports? (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BURMA [non]. 9490, *2330-2340, CLANDESTINE, 31.03, Democratic Voice of Burma, via Wertachtal, Germany Burmese ID mentioning Myanmar, talk - noisy waveband, 25232. New 15480, *1430-1500, CLANDESTINE, 01.04, Democratic Voice of Burma, via Gavar, Armenia. Burmese news, interview - A08 frequency 45444 // Madagascar relay on 17625 delayed about 3 seconds (35323) (Anker Petersen, AOR AR7030 with 28 m longwire in Skovlunde, Denmark, via Dario Monferini, playdx yg via DXLD) ** CANADA. NHK R. Japan, via Sackville, 11705, cut on late April 9 at *1400:20 with news headlines already in progress. Is this transmitter being retuned from another frequency right up to 1400? A different problem the next day, April 10. Listened to part of the broadcast about Noh performance combined with Maya Plisetskaya`s ballet, but at 1425 I noticed that there was no audio, just open carrier. Fill music kicked in from RCI Master Control in Montreal at 1426, our beloved harmonica CD no longer heard except when something goes wrong, like losing the program feed from Tokyo. This lasted until 1429, when Sackville normally cuts the frequency off abruptly, but they must have been sidetracked by today`s anomaly, since this time it stayed on another full minute until 1430* with RCI IS and IDs (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CANADA. Stacy Foster at CBA has posted some pictures of the final sign off. See: http://www.cbc.ca/informationmorningmoncton/events.html and follow the link. Drying my tears, (Karl Zuk, N2KZ, IRCA via DXLD) Viz., + 3 illustrations: AM Switch Off --- Monday, April 7 was a nostalgic day here at CBC. It marked the end of an era on the AM dial. Although the FM signal at 106.1 was officially launched in early January, the AM signal was still broadcasting. As of Monday, though, 1070 AM is no more. Reporter Vanessa Blanch was at the site of the AM transmitter with Information Morning's old host Brent Taylor and CBC Technician Jean Babineau to mark the occasion. At about 8:36, Brent and Vanessa flicked the switch and silenced the AM transmitter. Here is some interesting history about the AM transmitter: CBA Moncton has been on the air since 1939 The station originally started broadcasting at AM 960, moved to 1050, and eventually settled in at 1070 on March 29, 1941 The original city of license was Sackville, where the AM transmitter site was located The city of license changed to Moncton in 1968 when the transmitter site moved (via DXLD) Bye Bye CBA --- Here's a bit after the CBA shut down http://www.cbc.ca/informationmorningmoncton/ "Join us on a tour of CBC's old AM transmitter site." http://cbc.ca/informationmorningmoncton/media/2008040800032ebb.ram I listened their web stream Monday when the shutdown was suppose to happen at 0700 local as they often announced it. At that time nothing happened and I finally stopped at 0720, it seems that the shutdown happened later. So I wonder has anyone made a recording around that moment? A sad moment since CBA often made it through to Wiesbaden central Germany, and was a good indicator (Jurgen Bartels http://dx.3sdesign.de http://www.nordsee-ferienwohnung-burhave.de - Vacation home at Northsea MWDX yg via DXLD) "The present, err just past, site on Dover Road in Moncton" --- Aha? Hitting this into Google Maps indeed brings up an aerial image where the transmitter can be seen, interesting because no terrestrial photos of it appear to be online, despite all the publicity: http://maps.google.de/maps?f=q&hl=de&geocode=&q=dover+road,+moncton&sll=51.124213,10.546875&sspn=10.058836,20.566406&ie=UTF8&ll=46.034037,-64.686449&spn=0.00543,0.010042&t=h&z=17 Concerning the morse codes and sweep tones that were not broadcast: Was it agreed with an engineer ("The engineer is looking into all of this - he thought something went awry but wasn't yet certain what or how or if.") and programming saw no reason to annoy their regular listeners (on FM now, of course) with this stuff? (Kai Ludwig, Germany, April 10, DX LISTENING DIGEST) See also U S A for another 1070 kHz station uncovered ** CANADA. Another AM flip --- CKKW Kitchener, Ontario [1090 kHz] http://www.crtc.gc.ca/archive/ENG/Hearings/2008/n2008-2-3.htm 28. Kitchener, Ontario Application No. 2007-1504-7 --- Application by CTV Limited to convert radio station CKKW Kitchener from the AM band to the FM band. The new station would operate on frequency 99.5 MHz (channel 258 B1) with an average effective radiated power of 2,100 watts (maximum effective radiated power of 5,000 watts/antenna height of 102 metres). The applicant is requesting permission to simulcast the programming of the new FM station on CKKW for a period of 3 months from the date of implementation of the new station. The applicant is also requesting, pursuant to sections 9(1)(e) and 24(1) of the Broadcasting Act, the revocation of the licence of CKKW effective at the end of the simulcast period. The applicant proposes to maintain CKKW’s current Oldies music format on the proposed FM station. The Commission may withdraw this application from the public hearing if it is not advised by the Department of Industry, at least twenty days prior to the hearing, that the application is technically acceptable. This application requires the issuance of a new licence (CRTC via Ricky Leong and Dean McIntyre, AB, April 10, DXLD) ** CHILE. Interesante listado de concesiones de emisoras de radio que se extinguen sus concesiones en Chile: http://www.subtel.cl/prontus_subtel/site/artic/20080328/asocfile/20080328093819/concesiones_extinguen_web_01042008.xls 73 (José Miguel Romero, Spain, April 9, DX LISTENING DIGEST) There are 368 listings, almost all of the AM or FM, and BTW each FM station has an XQ- callsign followed by another letter and three numbers. I`ll bet they never; well, hardly ever; announce same on air. The only SW stations in the list of expiring licenses are: SEÑAL REG CIUDAD FREC PRIN CONCESIONARIA ACTUAL RUT DEC. OTORGA FECHA CE-606A 11 COYHAIQUE 6065.0 ALVARO GUILLARD PEREZ-VILLAMIL 04.965.598- 3 63 04/13/89 CE-609 9 TEMUCO 6090.0 SOC. DE DIFUSION Y PUBLICIDAD ESPERANZA LTDA 89811600K 87 05/16/89 CE-608 11 COYHAIQUE 6080.0 SOC. RADIODIFUSORA PATAGONIA CHILENA LTDA. 86.030.100-8 123 07/14/80 CE-603 11 COYHAIQUE 6030.0 VICARIATO APOSTOLICO DE AYSEN 81.576.300- 9141 12/29/83 (via Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CHINA. 3950, *2330-2340, 02-04, Xinjiang PBS, Urumqi, ID in Chinese and English: "Xinjiang renmin kwangpo dientai - China Xinjiang People's Radio Station", announced schedule, ad, 55444 heard // 5060 and 5960, but Firedrake on // 7310 (Anker Petersen, AOR AR7030 with 28 m longwire in Skovlunde, Denmark, via Dario Monferini, playdx yg via DXLD) ** CUBA. Re 8-044: 2342 4/2/08, RHC English 12000 (Noble West, Clinton TN, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** DOMINICAN REPUBLIC. 5009.78, R. Pueblo, 2306-0005*, Apr 7, Spanish. Announcer between ballads. Several R. Pueblo ID announcements including tentative IDs for R. Cristal International. Weak but clear (Scott R. Barbour, Jr., Intervale, NH, R8, R75, NIR10, MLB1, 200' Beverages, 60M dipole, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Hi Scott, One Dominican may be relaying the other as have heard both IDs. Is anyone close enough to log the sign on time of 5009.70 Radio Pueblo/Cristal? Dominicans on Medium wave are fairly common in southeast Florida. Bob Wilkner, NASWA via DXLD) see UNIDENTIFIED 1640 ** ECUADOR. Amateur video of HCJB compound on YouTube. http://youtube.com/watch?v=jyngTLB-KpE&feature=related Auf http://www.youtube.com ist unter dem genannten Link ein ca. 3 Min. Video von "Working Visitors" eingestellt worden. Es wird in einem [HCJB German section] Gebaeude gefilmt und es faellt der Satz "Wir sind hier in der deutschen Abteilung". Anschliessend wird aussen gefilmt. Diese Filmaufnahme zeigt auch eindeutig den Innenhof von Radio HCJB, da man teilweise die Sat-Antennen sieht. Viel Spass beim anschauen (Florian Usner, Germany, A-DX Apr 3 via BC-DX via DXLD) ** ECUADOR. DRM buzz, 15345-15350-15355, April 10 at 1253; what could that be? Zero analog reception from Europe at this time on 19m. Seems HCJB has used this before. Yes, German DRM now scheduled at 1100-1300, 35 degrees with 4 kW, but presumably high-gain antenna if they haven`t dismantled it yet. Gone at 1329 recheck. Was not aware they had changed to these frequencies (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ERITREA [and non]. ERITREAN OPPOSITION BEGINS TV BROADCASTS WITH HELP FROM ETHIOPIA Eritrean opposition groups are beaming television programmes into the country using technical facilities provided by the state television network in neighbouring Ethiopia. The transmissions began in late February. They are produced by the Eritrean Democratic Alliance (EDA), an umbrella of 13 opposition groups in exile formed in January 2005. The opposition broadcast calls itself "Television Dehai Eritrea". Dehai is a Tigrinya word that can mean voice, news or information. In Arabic, the name "Television Akbar [News] Eritrea" is used. A spokesman for the Eritrean opposition, Mengisteab Asmerom, was reported by the Kenyan Daily Nation newspaper on 29 February as saying: "The aim of the programme is to expose the increasingly dictatorial Eritrean regime to Eritreans both at home and in exile." The 30-minute programmes go out four nights a week in Eritrea's two main languages - in Tigrinya on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and in Arabic on Wednesdays and Fridays. The programming mostly consists of a string of scathing commentaries on the "dictatorial" government of Eritrean President Isayas Afewerki, urging the people and opposition forces to rise up against "the shackles of a dictator". Apart from these commentaries, and musical interludes, BBC Monitoring has not observed any other programming, such as news bulletins. Objectives Introducing the broadcast on 28 February, the announcer said: "Television Dehai Eritrea is a forum that gets all nationalists to struggle against the dictatorial PFDJ [People's Front for Democracy and Justice] regime. Television Dehai Eritrea is a forum for forces who struggle for change and democracy, and reflects the desire of the country and the people while enhancing nationalism. Television Dehai Eritrea is a broadcast which reflects the opinion of the people and exposes the atrocities being perpetrated by the PFDJ regime to the world. Television Dehai Eritrea is a forum for struggle for all citizens, political forces and civil associations that are interested in the prevalence of peace and democracy in our country." Scathing commentaries broadcast on 28 February The 28 February broadcast began with a programme announcement while showing file footage of the Eritrean capital, Asmara, followed by a commentary on the current situation in the country entitled: "For how long under the shackles of a dictator?". The commentary said that, after all the sacrifices they had paid, the Eritrean people had not benefited from the independence that was achieved at the cost of the lives of many citizens. "All the atrocities that were perpetrated against Eritreans during the [Ethiopian] colonial time continued after independence at a worse level." It added: "The promise to martyrs was broken; Eritreans were exiled again and subjected to arrests, forcible military service, death and human rights violations". Eritreans were now "under slavery", the commentary declared. While the commentary was being read, file footage of Asmara was shown, along with that of Eritrean youths in refugee camps in neighbouring countries. The commentary said it was unthinkable that the Eritrean people would embrace the "dictatorial" administration of the PFDJ, adding that "the regime, whose downfall is inevitable, should be removed before it caused more damage and destruction". It then exhorted the people to "rise up in unison and liberate the Eritrea that has been turned into a prison". There was an interlude of a love song before another commentary, entitled "A collective struggle for the revival of Eritrea is being sought as the life of the PFDJ regime nears its end", was broadcast. The commentary said that, thanks to the PFDJ, the "aspirations of the Eritrean people after independence evaporated immediately and were replaced with turmoil and unjustifiable wars". It said that while Eritreans awaited the construction of hospitals, schools and other development institutions, the PFDJ regime opted for a "chauvinistic strategy of building new military training camps and prisons". It said Eritrea had not only been isolated but had also become "a country identified with the destabilization of regional peace". It was thus imperative for the "abusive PFDJ regime to be removed". It added that the removal of the regime should primarily be the responsibility of the Eritrean people themselves. File footage of the port of Eritrean port of Massawa; heavy artillery firing on a battlefield; Asmara; Eritreans at a refugee camp in a neighbouring country; a still picture of President Isayas Afewerki; and a map of Eritrean were shown while the commentary was being read. This was followed by an old patriotic song. The broadcast ended with a programme announcement and a brief statement on the objectives of broadcast, followed by a repeat of the first commentary of the day, and a love song. Broadcasts in March The broadcasts on 6 and 13 March were repeats of that of 28 February, with the only change being in the songs played. The broadcast on 20 March began with the usual programme announcement and a brief statement on the objectives of the broadcast, followed by a commentary entitled: "It is the PFDJ's characteristic to fault others while concealing its own shortcomings". The commentary castigated the ruling party for launching wars against neighbouring Sudan, Yemen, Djibouti and Ethiopia to divert the attention of the Eritrean people in order to "prolong its clinging to power". It said the PFDJ ruled by "terrorizing" the people and "violating their human and democratic rights", while pretending to be a democratic regime that respected the rights of its people. It also accused the PFDJ of insulting other governments. It said the PFDJ "belittles" the election experiences of Ethiopia and Kenya at a time when the ruling party itself "has slammed the door to elections and multi-partyism in Eritrea". The commentary also accused the PFDJ of disparaging these regional countries' relations with the West, at a time when Eritrea itself was isolated because of the ruling party's "imprudent" foreign policy. The commentary concluded that it was time the Eritrean people told the "contemptuous" regime that "enough is enough". Another commentary on 20 March described the ruling party as a sinking ship which had lost direction while sailing without a skilled crew or a compass. It described the PFDJ as a vessel owned by a few people that had drowned its occupants, one after the other, over the last 17 years. It concluded by forecasting that the ship would end up in the Bermuda Triangle. The third commentary of the day was entitled "Eritrea's revival is in the hands of its people". The commentary said peace in Eritrea remained a pipe dream. National service had turned into "endless forcible conscription" and it was Eritreans' national obligation to seek immediate solution to the "serious problems" they were facing. Unlike in previous programmes, the readers of the three commentaries on 20 March appeared on screen. The broadcast on 27 March was a repeat of that of 20 March, with the only change noted being in the songs played. Jamming by Eritrean authorities Television Dehai Eritrea is transmitted via the Arabsat satellite channel of state-owned Ethiopian TV (ETV), the only television station in the country, at 10 p.m. local time (1900 gmt). The programmes are then aired via ETV's relay transmitter in Mekele (northern Ethiopia) at 1930 gmt. Signals from this terrestrial relay might be viewable in Eritrea. An Eritrean opposition website, awate.com, said on 5 March that the Eritrean authorities were trying to jam the opposition satellite TV transmissions. Eritrea has been targeted for some years by a variety of opposition radio broadcasts beamed into the country from abroad, including from Ethiopia. A number of opposition websites are also active. But this is thought to be the first time that the Eritrean opposition has used television broadcasts. Relations between Eritrea and Ethiopia have remained poor since they fought a border war in 1998-2000. The two countries maintain an active media campaign against each other, including the use of hostile radio broadcasts. Source: BBC Monitoring research Feb-Mar 08 (via DXLD) ** ERITREA [and non]. Hi Glenn, here's my collection of unIDs this afternoon === ERITREA vs. ETHIOPIA at 1600, April 9: 5100 weak carrier, strong noise; 7999.4 weak carrier, same noise, 7100 empty, 7175 unid weak/fair signal and some noise also (Thorsten Hallmann, Münster, Germany, http://www.africalist.de.ms April 9, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ETHIOPIA. 9560.220 --- Der franzoesische Dienst von Radio Ethiopia ist derzeit 1715 UT recht ungestoert auf 9560.220 zu hoeren. Der Sender wandert aber alleine in den letzten 4 Minuten zwischen 9560.490 und 9560.170 kHz herum (Christoph Ratzer, Austria, OE2CRM, Apr 6, BC- DX via DXLD) ** FINLAND. 6170, 1205-1210 Sat 05.04, Scandinavian Weekend R, Virrat Finnish talk and pop music on a clear channel, but very weak! 25322. The only time it was audible in Denmark that weekend! (Anker Petersen, AOR AR7030 with 28 m longwire in Skovlunde, Denmark, via Dario Monferini, playdx yg via DXLD) ** FRANCE. AWR moved transmissions from Wertachtal to Issoudun, 1630- 1700 in Somali, 1730-1800 in Oromo on 17575, 250 kW, 135 degrees (Glenn Hauser, April 9, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** FRANCE. Radio France International A-08 Schedule from website April 8, 2008 (1) 30 Mar. 08 to 06 Sept. 08 (2) 07 Sept. 08 to 26 Oct. 08 From: Taiwan TWN China CHN Russia RUS Meyerton MEY French Guiana GUF English 0400-0430 9805 11995 to E. Af. 0500-0530 13680 15160(1) 11995(2) to E. Af. 0600-0630 15160 17800 to E. Af. 11725(1) 9765(2) to C. and W. Af. 0700-0730 13675 to C. and W. Af. 1200-1230 21620 (excluding 04 May to 07 Sept.) 17800 (for 04 May to 07 Sept.) to E. Af. 1600-1700 15605 to C. and W. Af. 17605 to E. Af. [N.B. – anyone confirm this? --- gh] French Zone 4 West Africa 0600-0700 9790 11700 7135(2) 0700-0800 11700 13695 0800-1000 13675 15300 1000-1130 15300 1200-1700 15300 1700-1900 13695 17620GUF 1900-2200 9790 17620GUF Zone 5 West Africa 0500-0600 9790 11700(1) 7135(2) 0600-0700 11700 13695(1) 9790(2) 0700-0800 15300 0800-1000 15300 17620 1000-1130 15300 1200-1400 15300 17620 1400-1600 15300 1600-1700 15300 17620 1700-2000 13695 15300 2000-2100 11995 Zone 6 Central Africa 0400-0500 7135 9790 0500-0600 15300(1) 11700(2) 0600-0700 13675 15300 0700-0800 15170MEY 15300 17850 0800-0900 17850 1100-1200 17525MEY 1200-1330 17850 1600-1700 17850 1700-1800 15300 17850 1800-1900 11705 15300 1900-2000 9790 11705 2000-2200 7160MEY Zone 8 East Africa 0400-0500 11700 0500-0600 13695 Zone 14 Southeast Asia 1300-1400 684CHN (excluding 01 Apr. to 15 July) 1600-1700 1296CHN Météo Marine 1130-1200 15300 to W. Af. 13640GUF to N.Am. 6175 to N. Atlantic 17800 (excluding 04 May to 07 Sept.) 15365 (for 04 May to 07 Sept.) to C. Am. and Carib. Hausa (to West and Central Africa) 0600-0630 9805 11995(1) 7220(2) 0700-0730 11830 15315 1600-1700 15315 Lao (to Southeast Asia) 1100-1130 15265TWN 15680TWN (Mon.to Fri.) Mandarin (to China and Korean Peninsula) 0930-1030 7325TWN 11875TWN 12025RUS 1200-1300 9650TWN 1503TWN 2200-2300 12005RUS 12045RUS 747TWN 1098TWN 2300-2400 9955TWN 11665TWN 747TWN Persian (to Near and Middle East) 1430-1500 15340 17850 1700-1800 11695(1) 9675(2) Portuguese 0600-0700 11830MEY to C. Af. 0700-0730 11995 to C. Af. 1700-1800 11755 to W. Af. Russian (to Eastern and Central Europe) 1300-1330 15160 17805 1500-1530 15345 13630(1) 11665(2) 1800-1900 9805 11670(1) 7135(2) Spanish (to Central America, Caribbean and Colombia) 1000-1030 5970 9825 1200-1230 15515GUF 2100-2130 17630GUF 0100-0130 5995GUF Vietnamese (to Southeast Asia) 1400-1500 7380TWN 1500-1600 15265TWN 1296CHN (via Bernie O'Shea, Ottawa, Ontario, April 9, WORLD OF RADIO 1403, DX LISTENING DIGEST) RFI via SOUTH AFRICA: see SOMALIA [non]. You`ll find out why when you get there (gh) ** GABON. New [sic], 4777, 1740-1900*, 03.04, R dif. TV Gabonaise, Melen, Libreville, French talk, songs, ID's: "Radio Gabon... Libreville", messages, comments - late broadcast abrupt s/off in mid- sentence! 44333 (Anker Petersen, AOR AR7030 with 28 m longwire in Skovlunde, Denmark, via Dario Monferini, playdx yg via DXLD) ** GERMANY [and non]. Re 8-044, 6080-6085-6090 DRM: Yes, it was back on air on Tuesday April 8. So once again about 20 kHz of the 6 MHz band is made useless for AM broadcasting (6080-6100) in western Europe. While Ismaning was off, I found a loud signal from BBC A'Seela with Persian, plus a unID co-channel on 6090. The Beeb continued past 1800 despite the listing for an 1800 close down in the BBC sched sent out by Alokesh Gupta. HFCC says a change of site to Nakhon at 1800- 1900. And on 6085 there was another unidentified - too weak to copy anything - while 6080 had the usual Minsk at this time plus an unID co-channel. Earlier in the day Bro. Scott was loudly heard on 6090 around 0630 and VOA in English via SAO on 6080 weak under Minsk (N. R. Green (N. W. England), April 9, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GERMANY [non]. I hear DW English at 2000 on 11805 [sic], 15205, very well. Just barely audible on 7130 and 11795. At 2100, good to very good, English on 9735, 11805, 15205 (Bob Thomas, Bridgeport CT, April 2 via P-mail, DX LISTENING DIGEST) I think he means 11865, not 11805; heard on 11865, not 11805 here during the 20 UT hour April 9. At 20 it`s Rampisham, 21 Rwanda. 11805 is not on the schedule for DW (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GERMANY [non]. REDUCED DWL GERMAN SERVICE, FROM APRIL 2008: Der Monat April oder genauer gesagt, die Umstellung auf die Sommerzeit, bringen einige Veraenderungen mit sich. Im Zuge der Neustrukturierung unseres Programms werden Sendungen wie "Reporter unterwegs", "Feature", "Kurznachrichten" "Hoererforum", "Hoererforum- Spezial", usw. durch andere Formate ersetzt. http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,2144,3203834,00.html http://www.dw-world.de/popups/popup_pdf/0,,2828409,00.pdf (Wolfgang Büschel, Apr 8, BC-DX via DXLD) The German journalists union DJV has issued a press release about current developments at Deutsche Welle, headed "preserve the voice of the freedom". http://www.djv.de/SingleNews.20.0.html?&tx_ttnews[tt_news]=1314&tx_ttnews[backPid]=18&cHash=7f1525eb76 Summary: A refocussing on the internet at the expenses of shortwave broadcasting violates the DW law which requires to address a broad audience. The recent events in Tibet show how important the work of DW is especially in such censored media markets. It is easier to block access to websites than to make shortwave broadcasts entirely inaudible. A large-scale distribution is no longer ensured if DW's planned multimedia strategy focuses on the internet only. At present DW extends its online services at the expenses of its proven core business. In the medium term DW will abandon the important shortwave medium and address so-called multiplicators only. --- With the beginning of the A08 season the German radio program had been severely curtailed; insiders consider the situation as the beginning a slow death. Rumours circulate about an imminent closure of the remaining radio programs for eastern and southeastern Europe after most of them had been taken off shortwave at yearend 2006, when DW abandoned the Wertachtal transmitters. DW radio will be merged with the online department. A so-called multiplatform strategy changes the target audience definitions, as pointed out in the DJV release. In the case of Chinese there are now "multiplicators and future multiplicators", and it is planned to take Chinese off shortwave no later than in 2013. The plans for the Persian service are similar (Kai Ludwig, Germany, April 10, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GREECE. Re 8-042, why might Hellenes Around the World be coming back in A-08? --- Glenn: I looked at my Voice of Greece Program Schedule for A-07 and it had HATW listed at 1305-1400 UT on Saturday. Since the A-08 frequencies were the same as the A-07 ones, maybe it was just a fond hope that she would be back on. At one time, she also had a repeat on Sunday at 0200-0300 UT. Last time that I heard from Katerina, she was busy at the family store since her brother was doing his term of service with the Greek Army. The Voice of Greece's "Greek in Style," with Angeliki Timms doing the introductions in English to classical Greek songs, was heard on Sunday from 2305 to 2400 UT on 7475; nothing on 9420 or 15650. Regards, (John Babbis, Maryland, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ARE YOU BACK ON VOICE OF GREECE? Good afternoon, Katerina: I hope that you and your family are all right. I have been searching on the short-wave frequencies of The Voice of Greece for your program "Hellenes Around rhe World" without any success so far. Are you on the air, or will you be returning there soon? Glenn Hauser and I have been wondering where you are. Kali sarakosti, (John Babbis, Silver Spring, MD, USA, April 8, via DXLD) Dearest Babbis, Greetings from Greece. I am now working for the ERT WORLD program, the satellite TV program of ERT and I present the news and the omogeneia newspapers and magazines on the televised program ODYSSEY every Friday from 10-12 pm, Greek time. I am also involved in another production entitled EDO ATHENA, a daily half hour show for Greeks Abroad. I left the Voice of Greece last October unofficially and officially in December. Please stay in touch and if there is anything I can do let me know. Se filo, (Katerina Thanasoula to John Babbis, via DXLD) Dear Katerina: Thank you for your response. I wish you well in your present and future endeavors. We will miss your programs on short wave; but, as my great-grandnephew Daniel says: "That's the way the world works!" First, The Voice of Greece dropped the Mathete Ellinika lessons in English; then, the news in English, and now your program in English "Hellenes Around the World," The next to go will probably be "Greeks In Style!" (John Babbis, via DX LISTENING DIGEST) I am going to propose a 15-minute program in English for the television, so maybe we have a chance to do something (Katerina Thanasoula, via Babbis, ibid.) ** GUATEMALA. 4799.8, R. Buenas Nuevas, 0238-0300, Apr 8, Spanish. OM with talk between ballads; full ID at 0300. Weak (Scott R. Barbour, Jr., Intervale, NH, R8, R75, NIR10, MLB1, 200' Beverages, 60M dipole, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** HAWAII. Thu April 10 at 1301 on 12130, Pep Boys commercial, in English, which struck me as slightly out of place; it was within IRN`s so-called but slanted ``News``, beloved of World Harvest Radio. Are there really Pep Boys stores in the designated target areas of eastern China, SE Asia, western Indonesia? Could be, but I bet they don`t know they are advertising on KWHR, and does the four-tires-for-the-price- of-three promotion apply there? Per FCC, KWHR is on 12130 M-F at 1200-1300, and Sat/Sun extended to 1400, until 5 October 2008, an odd date. How do they know that now? Some contract expires? HFCC agrees on the scheduling and adds that all this is supposed to be in Vietnamese. Perhaps KWHR didn`t get the transmitter turned off in time, as it was absent when rechecked at 1327, just two-tone CODAR dominating the frequency, so does that mean two CODARs clashing? However, the Angel 3 schedule at http://www.whr.org/customcf/dsp_schedule_read.cfm?Search=Angel3 on the contrary shows the only Vietnamese on 12130 is at 1200-1300 Wednesdays only, Hoa-Mai Radio, by Nguyen Cong-Bang. IRN news is indeed scheduled M-F at 1300-1305, and the frequency is supposed to remain on air until 1400 daily with nothing but English gospel huxters, LeSEA music fill programs, etc., then changing to 9930 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST ** INDIA. 4970, *0023-0035, 31.03, AIR Shillong, Hindi announcement after AIR IS and song, news 15222. 4990, *0023-0035, 31.03, AIR Itanagar, Hindi announcement after AIR IS and song, Indian songs 15121 (Anker Petersen, AOR AR7030, with a 28 m longwire, Skovlunde, Denmark, via Dario Monferini, playdx yg via DXLD) ** INTERNATIONAL VACCUUM [and non]. DTH's everywhere. "It seems every time I talk to people at the show [SatCom Africa], I am being told about a new DTH platform emerging somewhere. I am losing track!!! New DTH platforms are sprouting up in Africa, Asia and eastern Europe, in particular. It promises to be interesting to see which ones can build a profitable business." Mark Holmes, Satellite Today blog, 9 September 2008. (kimandrewelliott.com via DXLD) DTH, as in direct-to-home satellite platforms. International broadcasters should take note. Those complacently broadcasting to Africa on shortwave and not investigating DTH options may suddenly find themselves without their customary audiences. Posted: 10 Apr 2008 (Kim Andrew Elliott, ibid.) ** ISRAEL. Kol Israel --- This is a case, like that of RAI Italy last year, of an international broadcaster giving up shortwave altogether. The shutting down of Kol Israel’s various shortwave broadcasts had been threatened for years, but this year it happened (save for a last- minute reprieve). At least Kol Israel’s Farsi broadcasts were given the funding to remain on the air. And that means that Kol Israel must keep at least one transmitter in good working order, along with at least one engineer who knows how to operate it and maintain it. I remember listening to Israel’s home service shortwave relays during the first Gulf War. This was during Iraq’s Scud missile attacks on Israel. Often shortwave is advertised as a way to “hear news while it’s happening.” Usually that’s not the case, but during that listening to Israel in 1991, I heard the warning signals, the directions to listeners to put on their gas masks, or to take them off, and other urgent information. If a similar crisis occurs in Israel, I guess we’ll all have to log into an internet audio stream. But if we all do it, the infamous “net congestion” could cut off access to the audio. With shortwave we had poor signal strength, fading, interference, but never net congestion (Kim Andrew Elliott, Kim`s Column, April NASWA Journal via DXLD) ** ISRAEL. ISRAEL RADIO SCHEDULE ON IBA'S WEBSITE --- The Israel Radio shortwave schedule (Persian) is now on the official IBA website: http://www.iba.org.il/reception Direct URL: http://www.iba.org.il/reception/index.asp?classto=Shortwaves == BROADCASTERS TO GATHER IN TA TO SPEAK UP FOR PUBLIC RADIO http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1207486216326&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull A few quotes: "The conference, a joint venture of the Israel Broadcasting Authority, the Tel Aviv Journalists Association and the University of Haifa, is intended to stress the need to maintain public radio..." "It is still not certain how many employees will be given early retirement or fired, but it looks as if some 300 to 350 employees will be let go, about half the original figure projected..." "Yet while Gavish has been issuing doomsday calls, the IBA has been introducing new programs - more television than radio, but new programs nonetheless - and has found ways to involve the public in its recent nostalgia programs. It has also published a 70th anniversary book about Israel Radio, which was founded in 1936 as the Palestine Broadcasting Service." == The book is in Hebrew and is available at http://sales.iba.org.il (Doni Rosenzweig, April 10, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ISRAEL. JERUSALEM “PEACE RADIO” STAFF UNDER HOUSE ARREST An Israeli court today placed under house arrest seven employees of an English-language radio station set up to foster dialogue between Israelis and Palestinians. The Ministry of Communications shut the South African-backed RAM FM’s Jerusalem studio on Monday, saying it did not have a licence to broadcast. RAM FM has denied it was breaking the law. Seven employees including journalists and technicians were initially detained for about 24 hours. The Jerusalem magistrates court released them on bail but put them under a week’s house arrest while police continue to investigate. “They were accused of establishing and operating a broadcast station without a permit … obviously we have denied the allegations,” said the station’s lawyer Asher Rabinowitz. Set up a year ago with backing from a South African station that aimed to foster racial reconciliation after apartheid, RAM FM says it hopes its mix of phone-ins, music and news can help build links over the airwaves between Israelis and Palestinians. The Jerusalem Foreign Press Association called the detention of the staff “absurd”. A senior government official said the RAM FM arrests were not politically motivated and related purely to the licence issue. The station continued to broadcast out of its main studio in the Palestinian West Bank city of Ramallah. Israel has been trying to police broadcasting frequencies more strictly. Pirate stations have been accused of interfering with air traffic control radios at the country’s main airport (Source: Reuters April 8th, 2008 - 14:15 UTC by Andy, Media Network blog via DXLD) Here’s more detailed reporting: http://www.americanchronicle.com/articles/57891 (SRG, ibid.) ** KASHMIR [non]. New 4790.0, 0120-0145, PAKISTAN, 04.04, R Pakistan, Rewat, Islamabad. Kashmiri announcement, folksongs, talk - back from winterfrequency: 3975. 44444 (Anker Petersen, AOR AR7030 with 28 m longwire, Skovlunde, Denmark, via Dario Monferini, playdx yg via DXLD) ** KOREA NORTH [non]. Japanese station for DPRK via Darwin heard in Europe --- Using the Shortwave Log webreceiver in Italy I noted Furusato no Kaze (for North Korea via Darwin site) with a woman talking in Japanese; good level on 11775 at 1442 4/10. In the US we would not be able to listen due to Defunct Gene Scott via Anguilla on this frequency (Joe Hanlon, NJ, April 10, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** LAOS. Re DXLD 8-043 - UNID: 6130, Lao National Radio, 1157:30, April 9, clearly heard the usual gong rung slowly seven times, but unusual for them to be this far off from 1200 (Ron Howard, CA, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1403, DX LISTENING DIGEST) See also TIBET ** LATVIA. Relays this weekend via 9290 kHz Sat April 12th Latvia Today 0700-0800 UT Sun April 13th Q 103 1300-1400 UT [what an anonymous call, no good for SW] Latvia Today 1400-1500 UT Good listening 73s (Tom Taylor, April 10, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** LITHUANIA. R. Vilnius, English half-hour to NAm: I just about hear it on 9875 at 2330 with co-channel in Chinese masking it. If on 11690 at 0030, Chinese music covers them (Bob Thomas, Bridgeport CT, April 2 via P-mail, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 9875 at 23-24 is RFA Tibetan via Tinian, so heavily jammed. 11690 at 00-01 is VOA Tibetan via Thailand, more heavy jamming. Too bad for the Lithuanians! They should break relations with China (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MACAU. Re 8-044, R. Vila Verde with English ID: ID is not so new - there's a clip recorded August 2006 with English ID on the Interval Signals Online, on the 'Macau' page, naturally! Check it out on http://www.intervalsignals.net Kind regards, (Dave Kernick, Interval Signals Online, April 9, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MEXICO [and non]. Escuchada 9 de abril 2008 aquí en la Ciudad de México a las 2230 UT de nuevo XEXQ onda corta Radio Universidad de San Luis Potosí en los 6045 kHz, con un SINPO de 3, con programa de música clásica; quizá no tan clara la recepción como se escuchaba hasta hace un par de meses que dejó de transmitir por problemas técnicos. 73´s (Julián Santiago D. de B., DF, April 9, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Julián, Muy bien, voy a buscarla, aunque el ruido de verano llega cada vez peor. Alguna noticia sobre Unam, ausente de 9599 por unas dos semanas? 73, (Glenn to Julián via DXLD) De nuevo escucho con un SINPO de 3 a XEXQ (1500 UTC); efectivamente R. UNAM fuera del aire por más de diez días. Hoy buscaré al Ing. Mejía y si hay noticias lo informo. Saludos, (Julián Santiago Díez de Bonilla, DF, April 10, DX LISGTENING DIGEST) Tnx to a tip from Julian Santiago D. de B. that XEXQ had reactivated after a couple months, weaker than before in the DF, first heard at 2230 April 9, I barely heard it again the next morning at 1252 check with fair carrier but very low modulation, and traditional fast SAH with some weak Asian station. At 1316 recheck, still with the SAH, classical music could be detected, clinching the circumstantial ID. Julián was hearing it again at 1500 with a SINPO of 3-, but pulling it in the daytime here will be problematical with T-storm noise, higher sun angle, and only 250 watts. It remains to be seen if XEXQ stays on all night, as they have sometimes in the past rather than some 16 hours a day, per the official schedule. Aoki shows 1100-0400, but I don`t think they have ever been reported before 1200, unless they left the transmitter on all-night. In A-08, which times will be best and worst for possible reception of this very weak station, as far as QRM from other 6045 stations? Based on HFCC and Aoki: Avoid: 0500-0530 VOA Ascension, Hausa 0600-0630 KBS Sackville, Spanish [tho we have heard its SAH at times] 0900-1000 DTK Wertachtal Sundays, Hamburger Lokalradio, German 0900-1600 Huhhot, Inner Mongolia 1000-1500 VOR Vladivostok [in HFCC, not Aoki, so not really on?] 2150-0110 Huhhot, Inner Mongolia [unlikely to bother much then if at all] Vlad or Huhhot must be the source of the SAH when I was hearing XEXQ, but we can almost live with it (or rather, we have to). Delhi, India is registered for 0115-0230, 1315-1930, but there are a lot of wooden entries for that, so may not really be on those hours. According to http://www.dxasia.info/india-frequency AIR 6045 does not really come up until 1430. And http://www.dxasia.info/india-regional shows there are no AIR regional services on 6045. Is Zimbabwe really on 6045, 24 hours, as in Aoki? Watch out for that and compare to 3396. There are some other 6045 stations during North American daytime, overlooked here. I won`t attempt to evaluate the adjacent channel QRM from all the operations on 6040 and 6050. But worst times from 6040 should be: 0130-0200 VOA Greenville Special English Tue-Sat 0230-0400 Vatican via Sackville 0957-1157 CRI via Sackville So the best windows for XEXQ should be: 1157-fade-out fade-in until 0130 Tue-Sat 0200-0230 Tue-Sat fade-in until 0230 Sun, Mon 0400-0500 and if still on air this late: 0530-0600, 0630-???? (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MOLDOVA [non]. See ROMANIA ** MOROCCO. April 9 at 1345, not much making it from Europe on 19m, but presumed RTM on 15340 with Arabic vocal music; not audible on 15335 or 15345, but there was a carrier detectable on 15335 and not 15345 at this hour. I previously remarked after Noel Green`s and Wolfgang Büschel`s logs that I had also heard it on 15340//15345, but my FRG-7 parallax must have been off again, really 15335//15340 --- altho Morocco does use 15345 later in the day to the detriment of Argentina. At 1345 and still at 1419, 15340 was bothered by overload from RHC 15370. Per Aoki, this is how it breaks down for RTV MAROCAINE in Arabic: 15335 1100-1500 1234567 250 27 Tanger-Briech MRC 0550W 3545N RTV a07 15340 0900-1500 1234567 250 110 Nador MRC 0255W 3502N RTV 15345 1500-2200 1234567 250 110 Nador MRC 0255W 3502N RTV but this may not be up-to-date as MRC does not participate in HFCC, and A-08 info is not available (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Solar-terrestrial indices for 08 April follow. Solar flux 70 and mid- latitude A-index 10. The mid-latitude K-index at 1200 UTC on 09 April was 3 (39 nT). Solar-terrestrial indices for 08 April follow. Solar flux 70 and mid-latitude A-index 10. The mid-latitude K-index at 1500 UTC on 09 April was 2 (10 nT). No space weather storms were observed for the past 24 hours. No space weather storms are expected for the next 24 hours (SWPC via DXLD) ** NETHERLANDS ANTILLES. Re 8-042, Bonaire leapfrog 6165 over 6195 on 6225: Thanks Wolfy & Glenn for the help. The 6135 spur heard 0505 8 April, and gone after 0530* of NHK (Bonaire) (Dan Sheedy, CA, R75/EF102040, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** NEW ZEALAND. RNZI Web Freq Info --- Hi Glenn, Re your comments about the frequency schedule - we will try to make changes more obvious. The web design is going to be redesigned but I do not know when. DRM is used for point to point relay and Island stations are the main users and the very few who have DRM receivers. Regards (Adrian Sainsbury, RNZI, April 8, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Very good. See you have already done that. Are you aware that the `wrong` frequency on AM has been in use sporadically the past week in the 11-13 UT period? People have been reported 7145 instead of 9655. At least one day, 9655 stayed on until 1400, before 6095 came up. Problems with programming the automation, timezone mixup, or ?? 73, (Glenn to Adrian, via DXLD) Thank you for mentioning it, yes I was aware the AM TX did not switch to 9655. The computer schedules were correctly loaded, an investigation still in progress. Regards (Adrian Sainsbury, RNZI, April 11, DX LISTENING DIGEST) RNZI. Noticed today, April 9, that they have changed the date for the current schedule on website from "30 Mar. to 07 Sept." to "30 Mar. to 03 May". So more changes possible next month (Bernie O'Shea, Ottawa, Ontario, DX LISTENING DIGEST) e.g., Adrian said 9615 will return (gh) ** NIGERIA. Voice of Nigeria --- Add these folks to the streaming audio list as well. Their website and streaming audio links are very much a hit-or-miss proposition; while on-demand audio links are shown, the latest edition of one of them appears to be from December 26th, 2007 – not exactly the latest news. The English language program schedule page on the VON website is also blank. The Voice of Nigeria appears to use a Flash-based radio player; if you are capturing audio for later listening, you may need to take the audio through your sound mixer instead of directly capturing the stream, based on the recording software you use. For what it’s worth, Applian’s Replay Media Catcher handles Flash audio and video very nicely. The Voice of Nigeria’s web URL is http://www.voiceofnigeria.org/ (Richard Cuff, Easy Listening, April NASWA Journal via DXLD) ** NORTH AMERICA. Subject: TCS Sunday Evening *2230- ? Good evening, radio friends! The Crystal Ship will be on the air this evening, commencing around 2230 UT, on 6700 kHz. A parallel frequency of 5385 kHz will join the transmission by 0000. Programming will start at a leisurely pace, with the sounds of Pink Floyd's 'Animals' in its entirety (40 minutes). Afterwards, we'll have a new editorial segment by The Radical "Shots from the Port Side". (This will become a regular feature). After that, who knows --- Requests, anyone? 73s and FIGHT for FREE RADIO! The Poet, The Crystal Ship The Free Radio Weekly: A weekly Email publication with the most current pirate loggings and information now being published anywhere! Send your free subscription requests to freeradioweekly @ gmail.com and tell 'em that we sent ya! The Free Radio Network: http://www.frn.net/ FRN Message Boards: http://www.frn.net/vines/ [newcomers unwelcome?] (TCS April 6 via Will Martin, MO, April 9, DXLD) ** NORTHERN MARIANA ISLANDS. WITH ALL TRANSMITTERS AT FULL BORE, THE ELECTRIC BILL IS NOW $1921.50 AN HOUR. In the Northern Mariana Islands: "The Commonwealth Utilities Corp. has increased its electric fuel rate this month for its commercial, government, and non- conforming load customers. ... The total rate per kilowatt hour for non-conforming load customers is up from $0.510 to $0.549. Non- conforming load refers to CUC’s Tinian customers which include the International Broadcasting Bureau." Marianas Variety, 10 April 2008. (kimandrewelliott.com via DXLD) The IBB relay at Tinian, used for VOA, RFA, and transmitter exchange deals, has six 500-kilowatt and two 250-kilowatt transmitters, according the World Radio TV Handbook. IBB also has three 100-kilowatt transmitters on Saipan. Posted: 10 Apr (Kim Andrew Elliott, ibid.) ** PHILIPPINES. Radio Pilipinas in A-08 schedule: 1730-1930 9395 x11890, 11720, and 15190 kHz. 0200-0330 11880 x12025, 15285, and 15510 x17770 (HFCC / AOKI list, Apr 4 via BC-DX via DXLD) ** ROMANIA. 15220, Radio Moldova International sent a vague electronic response (We received Your letter and we appreciate Your interest in our radio programs) to a postal follow up report in 17 days (5,255 days total from original reception/report) from The English Service. In response to my request to resume shortwave transmission they responded, We would like to inform You that since 2000, Radio Moldova International has been broadcasting through Internet from Monday to Friday in English, French, Spanish, Russia and Romanian (Rich D`Angelo, PA, Apr Australian DX News, always without the D`, via DXLD) ** ROMANIA. ROMÊNIA - No próximo dia 2 de maio, o programa Rincón Diexista, emitido nos domingos, durante a programação em espanhol da Rádio Romênia Internacional, estará comemorando 9 anos de existência. Para marcar a data, a estação faz um pequeno concurso entre seus ouvintes. Os interessados em concorrer a um CD de músicas folclóricas romenas deverão escrever um artigo enfocando o seguinte tema: o que vem primeiramente à tua mente quando pensas na Romênia? As participações devem chegar à emissora até o dia 30 de abril e os ganhadores serão anunciados em 18 de maio. Endereços: RRI, Casilla de Correos 111, Calle General Berthelot, 60-64, sector 1, Bucarest, CP 010165, Rumanía. E-mail: span @ rri.ro ROMÊNIA - Quem enviar informe de recepção para a Rádio Romênia durante o mês de abril receberá o QSL que retrata a flor do açafrão, cujo nome científico é o crocus corsicus. É uma planta oriunda do Mediterrâneo e é uma das primeiras a florescer na primavera romena (Célio Romais, Panorama, @tividade DX April 6 via DXLD) ** SEYCHELLES. 6005, BBC Indian Ocean Relay Station verified a direct report to Victoria with a frequency/time confirmation letter in 41 days from v/s Albert Quatre, Senior Engineer (VT Communications, BBC Indian Ocean Relay Station, P. O. Box 448, Victoria, Mahe, Seychelles). He mentions in the letter that they have two Marconi 250 kW B6131 transmitters using Pulse Width Modulation and that the antenna system consists of six Marconi 4 band arrays strung across four towers (Rich D`Angelo, PA, April Australian DX News, always without the D`, via DXLD) ** SLOVAKIA. ESLOVÁQUIA - A emissão em espanhol da Rádio Eslováquia Internacional que vai ao ar, entre 2000 e 2030, em 11650 kHz, possui regular sintonia, no Sul do Brasil, conforme monitoria do colunista, em Porto Alegre (RS), feita em seis de abril. Em tal emissão, José Portuondo contestou as cartas, mensagens e informes de recepção que a estação recebe de seus ouvintes, dentro do programa Carta de los Oyentes. O interessante é que, pelo menos, 40% das correspondências enviadas àquela redação tinham como remetentes ouvintes do Brasil (Célio Romais, Panorama, @tividade DX April 6 via DXLD) ** SOMALIA [non]. Hi Glenn, There seems to be some confusion regarding frequencies for IRIN Radio. The A08 Sentech schedule that appeared in DXLD 8-038 (via Alokesh Gupta) was incomplete: The heading RFI (Radio France International) was missing and the four RFI transmissions on 11830, 15170, 17525 and 7160 were incorrectly attributed to IRIN Radio instead. Perhaps this happened when you were tidying up the schedule for publication? The original schedule I sent to Alokesh is attached. PS: It's interesting to note that I've already received a reception report from somebody who claims they heard IRIN Radio on 7160 kHz!!! (Kathy Otto, HF Coverage Planner, Broadcast Transmission Engineering, Sentech Ltd, April 10, DX LISTENING DIGEST) see also UNIDENTIFIED This happened at my end while converting the excel file to text. Will send a correction note to all concerned. Regards (Alokesh Gupta, India, ibid.) So the ONLY IRIN broadcast via South Africa is the one to Somalia at 1730-1745 on 9665 (gh, DXLD) Viz.: Please correct as follows: IRIN RADIO 17:30 17:45 9665 100 1234567 Somalia Unknown RFI (Radio France International) 06:00 07:00 11830 250 1234567 West Africa Portuguese 07:00 08:00 15170 250 1234567 West Africa French 11:00 12:00 17525 250 1234567 Central Africa French 20:00 22:00 7160 250 1234567 Central Africa French (Alokesh Gupta, New Delhi, India, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Monitoring for IRIN Radio, 9665 via Meyerton, *1730-1745* today. Carrier on at 1730, audio with rough copy at 1732, sounding very much like Spanish. ID announcement at 1739 for R. Exterior España. Sure enough, a look at Aoki list shows these for A08, which I did edit. No joy here in ECNA. Interestingly enough, the *1730 listing is for Monday & Wednesday. Today is Thursday. 9665 REE 1700-2000 1...... SS Noblejas 9665 REE 1700-2100 ......7 SS Noblejas 9665 REE 1730-1800 .2.4... GG Noblejas 9665 REE 1800-1900 .23456. FF Noblejas 9665 REE 2000-2100 1...... FF Noblejas 9665 REE 2000-2100 .23456. EE Noblejas 73, (Scott Barbour, NH, ibid.) And the German broadcast of REE was suspended long ago, but they keep it on the imaginary schedule. So it`s on the air anyway, with Spanish. We already had some reports of IRIN from Europe, no mention of REE blockage on those days (Glenn Hauser, dxldyg via DXLD) ** SPAIN. Para ver estos horarios y frecuencias desde la página de REE: http://www.rne.es/programas/radioexterior Si usted escucha Radio Exterior de España desde; Alemania, Argentina, Brasil, Colombia, Estados Unidos, Francia o Reino Unido, sepa que cuenta con un nuevo número de teléfono gratuito para ponerse en contacto con REE. Se trata del 80034100100. Para llamar únicamente tiene que marcar el código de acceso internacional del país correspondiente y luego el 80034100100, escuchará el siguiente saludo: "Bienvenido al contestador de Radio Exterior de España, puede dejar su mensaje indicando claramente a qué programa va dirigido, después de oír la señal" También si necesita ponerse en contacto con este programa, hágalo por correo postal a la siguiente dirección: Radio Exterior de España Amigos de la Onda Corta Apartado de correos 156202 Código Postal 28080 Madrid - España Si desea remitir un correo electrónico deberá enviarlo a: amigosdx.ree.rne @ rtve.es Para escuchar el programa en las siguientes direcciones: http://www.rtve.es/programas/amigosdelaondacorta http://es.geocities.com/programasdx/amigosondacorta.htm Cordiales 73 (José Bueno, Córdoba, April 6, noticiasdx yg via DXLD) ** SRI LANKA [non]. New 7320, *0000-0010, CLANDESTINE, 01.04, IBC Tamil R, via Wertachtal, Tamil announcement, Tamil songs 35444 (Anker Petersen, AOR AR7030 with 28 m longwire in Skovlunde, Denmark, via Dario Monferini, playdx yg via DXLD) Changed again to 7205 (gh) ** SUDAN [non]. New 17690, 1510-1605, CLANDESTINE, 31.03, Sudan R Service, via unknown site, Arabic radioplay mentioning Ogaden, 1515 and 1600 ID: "Sudan Radio Service", conversation. Scheduled daily 1500-1600 and Mo-Fr also 1600-1700 45444 (Anker Petersen, AOR AR7030 with 28 m longwire in Skovlunde, Denmark, via Dario Monferini, playdx yg via DXLD) Sines, PORTUGAL, as that site has been opened up to all kinds of new clients. Does the Portuguese government have veto power? (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SWEDEN. Looking back at SCDX -- Last month I reflected on Jonathan Marks' hosting Radio Netherlands' Media Network program, and Glenn reminded us on how Jonathan made it less of a DX show and more of a "media magazine" (booting gh off the show, among other things). [I was not exactly `booted off`, to be fair; IF I recall correctly, I was first invited to contribute `media` items, rather than SW/DX news, which I was not interested in doing --- gh] With that, it's time to reflect on George Wood and his era with Sweden Calling DXers on Radio Sweden (even when it had "International" in its name for a few years!). Many who don't go back into the late 70's may not know that George replaced the founder of SCDX, Arne Skoog, in 1978. I just happened to get into SWLing that year, but it wasn't until the next year that I heard about this DX show. When I did start to listen to the program amidst not-too-great reception from Stockholm, it became one show I couldn't miss, with George reading, in alphabetical order, the DX news of the past week, jam-packed into a 12-minute radio package. Some local radio from Europe was also included, but it was mostly about what people had mailed in to the show -- interesting in the days before email groups came about -- remember Fidonet, Universal Radio's UBIX system, etc., before the Internet of the mid-90's and onto today? That was until, I think, 1993, when George did the unthinkable -- he decided to follow the Media Network example, by including news about space, satellites, and computers. He would have other people in the English section read the DX news by region ("... and now here's Bill Schiller at the Asian desk!", he'd say), which I felt took away the intrigue and tradition of the show. And then came the fateful year of 1990. It was announced in the fall of that year that cuts were to come at Radio Sweden, and Spanish and French were cut in half, and Portuguese was eliminated. SCDX also took the hit: its print editions that were mailed every four weeks would be discontinued, it no longer would be heard weekly but instead would be twice a month, and the DX information would be replaced with only Nordic media news -- a decision which would hit listeners hard, and especially Mr. Skoog, who was opposed to the direction that SCDX was going (as you might know SCDX would become MediaScan, become an online media magazine at the Radio Sweden website, and the radio show would later end in July of 2001). Sweden Calling DXers was another program that will be missed; I wish I could have heard Mr. Skoog's shows if I had started getting into shortwave earlier than I did. George Wood provided a good service to the DX community after he took over; I only wish he would have continued this tradition beyond when Radio Sweden's management decided to go a different direction, away from its loyal shortwave listenership and into the future. One other thing worth mentioning: Are there any longtime DXLD readers who still have those SCDX program scripts from years, even decades, ago? I, among others, received program scripts every four weeks from them, and I've got a collection that runs between December of '82 and the end of the program in 1990. That, among my old program schedules, letters, etc. etc., are collected in my boxes at home (Joe Hanlon, NJ, April 8, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** TAIWAN. 9745, Voice of Han, 0928-1012, April 9, in Chinese, mostly conversation between YL and OM, some music and songs, fair, parallel with online audio streaming, which was about 18 seconds slower, recently their reception has been better than normal (Ron Howard, CA, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** THAILAND. R. Thailand to ENAm, 0030 on 12120 --- all I get is some data stream QRM. It starts/stops. When it briefly stops, there is a station there. The stop is too short to check who (Bob Thomas, Bridgeport CT, April 2 via P-mail, DX LISTENING DIGEST) How long can this go on? We already reported this RTTY clash on 12120 (gh, DXLD) ** TIBET. Based on Ron Howard's logs I've been trying for Laos on 6130 every morning. Nothing heard as late as 1400z (two hours after sunrise here) but I have some dawn recordings to analyze. The receiver was still set to 6130 when I got home yesterday evening and caught this; Tibet: Lhasa PBS, parallel 6130, 5240 & 7385 at 2345z, just after local sunrise in Lhasa (I think), about an hour before sunset here. I caught this same trio back in December but it was winter in No Hemisphere so the path was all dark. Yesterday evening the path was all daylight but close to the gray line (Jerry Lenamon, Waco, Texas, Drake R8B, T2FD, April 9, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Remember not to go by local clock time in Tibet, in figuring SR/SS, as it`s double-daylight, UT+8 instead of proper UT+6, just another imposition by Chicom imperialists (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U K [non]. On April 5 I heard BBC in Hindi at 0100 on 7180; signal was good and readable. Also heard with Urdu at 0130-02. BBCWS list at bclnews.it shows this frequency from Armavir, 500 kW/110 degrees; new Aoki A08 list has same power/bearing but it lists Krasnodar as the relay site (Joe Hanlon, NJ, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U K [non]. Tuned in at 1257 April 10, 11860 with rock song in English, and then brief BBC ID in Spanish; weaker under skirts of Chinese on 11855, which is CRI via Sackville until 1300, 240 degrees. And blown away anyway from sign-on *1259 by WYFR 11865, 315 degrees right at me. BBC Spanish on 11860 is the only remnant of their broadcasts to the Western half of the world on SW, scheduled 1200-1300 M-F only, via Guiana French, 250 kW, 305 degrees. Along with a // frequency I couldn`t recall in time to check, 9410 via WHRI Furman (however, the VTC sked shows both 7 days a week, so expansion possible.) This was previously reported as a 3-minute newscast at 1200, but I haven`t had a chance to monitor the entire hour. Are they just filling with music, or do they have some additional Spanish programming, and if so, what is it and when is it? (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. VOA Greenville, English to Africa at 0500-0700 on 6180, has raised power from 125 to 250 kW, which should help a little in colliding with Cuba. Who will say tío or uncle first? Checked VOA Greenville 17530 again April 9, and this time it did not fade out a few minutes after *1400. At 1427 it was running S9+13, strongest station on band during poor propagation overall, with sports report, 1428 ID as ``VOA World News Now`` (not just News Now any more), and then a nice but all-too-short string quartet interlude, cut off a few seconds before 1430, to formal VOA sign-off until 1430:45, then open carrier for another 65 seconds. So in mid-Africa where the following English segment from 1430 via Thailand crosses beams on same frequency, VOA would be colliding with itself. 17530 Greenville should be designated DCI = drop carrier immediately by 1430. It appears IBB`s current frequency management is not tuned in to such details (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. ESTADOS UNIDOS - Até 30 de Abril, o Serviço Português da Voz da América realiza um concurso. Os interessados deverão responder às seguintes indagações: 1) qual é o impacto para ti dos programas da VOA e do seu Serviço em Português, em termos noticiosos? 2) qual é o papel hoje da VOA em face das outras rádios internacionais bem como das rádios locais? A melhor resposta receberá um Ipod. Outras 30 respostas classificadas receberão um rádio digital de ondas curtas. Entretanto, pelo simples fato de participar do concurso, o ouvinte receberá um brinde da emissora que poderá ser uma camiseta ou um boné da Voz da América. As respostas devem ser enviadas para as seguintes direções: Voz da América, Redação de Língua Portuguesa, Washington, D.C. 20237, Estados Unidos; ou para o e-mail: portugues @ voanews.com. A dica é do Adalberto Marques de Azevedo, de Barbacena (MG). (Célio Romais, Panorama, @tividade DX April 6 via DXLD) ** U S A. WYFR, 11830, sometime around 1345 April 9 with a cappella hymn, lovely harmonies, like you would hear from Church-of-Christers, who won`t use musical instruments because they are not mentioned in the New Testament (bye bye, ramshorns of Old!). This raises an interesting question: with a few exceptions, notably Adventist World Radio, most of the Christian SW broadcasters claim to be, or appear to be, non-denominational, but are they really? Feigning nondenominationalism of course increases the potential financial support if the suckers don`t know they`re giving to one narrow sect other than their own. And how come the Mormons, with their huge international missionary effort, have never shown any interest in SWBC? Lotsa ``non- denominational`` transmitters would turn them down anyway as Not Real Christians, but the LDS are big into domestic broadcasting, with Bonneville, KSL, etc. They presumably had a chance to run their own SW right from SLC when KUSW went up for sale, and once again they might have saved it when KTBN decided to quit. Cost would not have been an object, only interest. The long-running Mormon Tabernacle Choir program, ``Music and the Spoken Word`` is widely syndicated on domestic radio, but AFAIK does not appear anywhere on SW. There was a little-noticed LDS SW broadcast a few years ago, from BYU Radio, only in DRM, altho I am not sure how religious the show was since I never heard it. Wasn`t this via Ascension, or am I misremembering? No DRM now from that site (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) If my memory is correct --- and it probably is, for I am one damn clever little lad --- I believe the LDS Church owned Radio New York Worldwide in the 1960s, back when it was WRUL and had a lot of anti- Castro programming in its Spanish service. Around 1969 or so, the LDS Church sold it to CBS, who eventually sold it to Family Radio. Now whether the Mormons actually "owned" WRUL back then or were merely fronting for the CIA (a la Gibraltar Steamship, etc.) is another story (Harry Helms, W5HLH, Smithville, TX EL19, http://harryhelmsblog.blogspot.com/ ABDX via DXLD) You`re right; I can`t say `never`! But IIRC, LDS owned it during the era it was known as WNYW, after WRUL, and it was very much a commercial operation, without much religious content, or any? (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. Cutback of "Ask WWCR" --- Hi, Glenn! I just printed out the latest DX Programs file, and noticed that this airing of "Ask WWCR" that I had messaged you about a while back was still listed. But I just went to the WWCR website and it looks like they have dropped all but two airings of that program, so the Sunday 1700 one is definitely gone. 73, (Will Martin, MO, April 9, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Viz.: Subject: Update to DX Pgms File --- Hi, Glenn! For your info, Sunday 1700 WWCR Ask WWCR on 12160 -- it wasn't there. Some ranting preacher continued past the 1700 hour a few minutes and ended (seemingly normally) and then another different religious program started, again seemed to be normal. So maybe it was a one-time sub, or maybe it's gone... 73, (Will Martin, March 19, DX LISTENING DIGEST) I need to go thru the whole WWCR schedule again for MONITORING REMINDERS CALENDAR and DX/SWL/MEDIA PROGRAMS (gh) ** U S A. Tuning across Paster Pete Peters on WWCR-4, 9980, April 10 at 1410, he was giving his entire frequency schedule on WWCR; trouble is, it was about a year out of date, and totally misleading to contemporary listeners from this old recording, including 9985, 9975, and even 5765, which are no longer in use. Apparently this was originally from a different daypart as he also mentioned going on 5070 within the hour. He should be grateful that WWCR has combined its 9 MHz usage to just one frequency, 9980. He should also edit out all the outdated frequency info if he is going to play old tapes. But as previously noted, even when on live, he can`t seem to give the correct schedule. All this would matter, if anyone, least of all myself, really wanted to listen to his 24/7 blather (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. Re SOUTH CAROLINA [non], OMG! Brother Scare [sic] on WWVA! Their web site now shows [JAMBOREE] 6-9 P.M. Saturdays. Too bad. I used to listen to it after Randy Bachman's show on CBC (Ken Grant, VE3FIT, April 9, ODXA yg via DXLD) = Sat 2200-0100 UT Sundays, 1170 ** U S A. With CBA gone, 5 kW daytimer WTWK-1070 Plattsburgh, NY/Burlington, VT should be fairly widely heard. This is especially true since they are signing on earlier than they should. Local sunrise in Plattsburgh for April is 0615 EDT. With a PSRA they could sign on at 0600 EDT with 500 watts. However, I have heard them the last few mornings at 0530 EDT and Karl Zuk has heard them at 0520 EDT [0920 UT]. Anyway, during local breaks from syndicated talk shows, listen for the slogan "Eve 1070" and ads mostly for the Burlington, VT area. Many ads include the 802 (VT) area code. They also run brief local news headlines and local weather. http://www.eve1070.com/7ebba1db-218d-4ea8-bf9d-971d871eaaf4-1033.html (Marc DeLorenzo, South Dennis, MA, April 9, NRC-AM via DXLD) It would be very nice if the big interference vendors such as WBZ and WTIC would see the handwriting on the wall and shut it off before it causes any more damage. 1070 has been polluted ugly by the 1080 IBOC. Speaking of 1070, the Vermont station was noted at 5:50 am [0950 UT] this morning with an ad for Chittendon and others. Advertising during experimental hour operations is prohibited. Eve 1070 ID heard, non- political talk radio content noted. CHOK under (Craig Healy, Providence, RI, April 10, IRCA via DXLD) Hmm, signing on an hour early. I have also noted a few stations signing off an hour early; perhaps they didn't update their computer for the DST change date (even though was last year) (Neil Kazaross, IL/WI, NRC-AM via DXLD) ** U S A. New station on 1100 --- 1100-WZFN now on the air with Country music. 0758 CDT [1258 UT] 10 Apr 08. They ID as "North Dakota's new 50,000 watt powerhouse, WZFN." Pat Martin, you should be able to grab this one with your eastern antenna (Paul LaFreniere Grand Marais, MN, IRCA via DXLD) A new W-call in ND??? No way. City of License is Dilworth MN, which is on highway 10 just east of Morehead, i.e. a Fargo ND suburb. A new W- call in MN, that far west of the Mississippi? No way, but there it is! Could it be that FCC assumed it`s OK since WDAY 970 is in Fargo? But that`s an ancient grandfathered call. WZFN was assigned already 3/24/2006. It`s been ``licensed and silent`` since 1/22/2008. Here`s the FCC page about it, http://www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/amq?list=0&facid=135930 indeed 50 kW non-direxional day, but 22 kW critical hours, 440 watts at night, 2-tower direxional array, slightly different tower coordinates day and night. Critical and Night pattern shows a cardioid, null toward the SE, i.e. Cleveland OH. April SR/SS times are 5:45 am and 7:15 pm, CST, i.e. 6:45 am and 8:15 pm CDT, i.e. 1145 and 0115 UT. But what are the Critical Hours?? (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) I believe critical hours are from sunrise to 2 hours after and from 2 hours prior to sunset to sunset. The idea being to reduce interference to other stations during sunset and sunrise skip. I too am surprised at the W call and wonder if the FN in said call means they will be sports (some kind of Fan slogan) 73 KAZ wondering if they still are testing (Neil Kazaross, IL/WI, IRCA via DXLD) WZFN has been on the air, on and off since the WZFN callsign was assigned in March 2006, for testing purposes and what not. Critical Hours are from Sunrise to 2 hours later and from 2 hours before sunset to actual sunset. I don't know why they were issued a W call, but ah well, it just happened no big deal. The current owners filed to sell it to the GM of WDAY 970, Scott Hennen, but the engineering firm that owns it until the sale closes are pretty decent engineers, so I assume everything is on the up and up (Paul Walker http://www.realradiousa.com IRCA via DXLD) You'll see that the two stick patterns are cardioid-like with the wide main beam aimed NW and a very small backlobe aimed SE. This is done to get an even by null towards Cleveland's WTAM and is achieved either by not having perfect phasing or spacing for a perfect cardioid with the deep back null exactly opposite the center of the main wide beam peak (Neil Kazaross, IL, IRCA via DXLD) Based on this map at Radio-Locator.com, they plan to send their night lobe northwest into downtown Fargo. http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=46.76194,+-96.67167+(WZFN-AM)&om=1 (Marc DeLorenzo South Dennis, MA, ibid.) Glenn, ND/MN, I'll take a "W" call anywhere. 73, (Patrick Martin, Seaside OR, ibid.) Hi, WZFN 1100 is on the air with country and western music. Very weak snowy signal for 50 kW if that's what they are putting out. I am using a Sanserino loop and a GE SuperadioII. As a comparison, KKAG 740, KFGO 790 and WDAY 970 all come in much stronger and all three are loud and clear here at my location and can be received clearly with the Superadio alone. WZFN just barely makes it here with the Sanserino loop (Kenneth Nawalkowski, Sandy Lake, MB, 2151 April 10, ibid.) They are applying to go from 5000 Watts Non Directional during Critical hours to 22 kW Critical Hours, with 2 towers. Days remain at 50 kW Non Directional. Nights at 440 Watts 2 towers (Paul Walker, ibid.) 50 kW ND days, licensed 5 kW CH (should have been CH when Paul heard them, but maybe not on RS [regular schedule] yet and just basically testing) and with a CP for 22 kW CH with a cardioid pattern nulling the SE (i.e. towards me). If these guys run all day playing C&W they should be easy here as the sunsets or a bit after it rises if 50 kW ND days. Paul et al. in MN please let us know if this is still on all day today. 73 KAZ (Neil Kazaross, Barrington IL, ibid.) I *highly* doubt they're going to STAY Classic Country, Neil. The station has been purchased by the GM of a talk station in town (Paul Walker, ibid.) They have been on all day with country music and some music that sounds rather like soft AC. It might just be modern country. No ads. No talk between songs except for an occasional ID. They had IDs at :10 minutes before the hour and about :10 minutes after the hour. No TOH as such. No city name in any of the IDs. New stations in MN [if I am not mistaken] are allowed to pick either a K or a W. Believe it has been that way since the beginning. Doubt whether WZFN will be a sports station. The other new 50,000 watt station on 740 [KVOX] is sports. But only WZFN knows for sure (Paul LaFreniere, Grand Marais, MN, April 10, ibid.) Really? How many other `new` W-calls are there in western MN? Looked for it at 0110 UT April 11, but no sign of it with WTAM nulled. In test phase, no reason they should be on the air with 50 kW ND, 5 minutes before official sunset (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. New LPFM finally on the air --- After getting the maximum CP extensions and almost losing the whole shooting match due to infighting and disagreements about their antenna, Ashland Oregon's ragtag far-left radio station has appeared on 94.9, only one frequency adjacent to KRRM in Rogue River, a local country oldies station. KSKQ- LP's signal is poor enough that it shouldn't even have an effect if a strong opening rolls in. But strong enough that KOOS, Coos Bay is gone. They are currently doing fundraising so that they can boost their signal (move their antenna probably). They're also on the internet? If you're curious (Lenny Tone, April 10, WTFDA via DXLD) ** UZBEKISTAN. Tashkent mixups --- BBC Hindi was noted mixing up with CVC English on 11790 via Tashkent at 0100-0130 UT today (10th Apr 2008). BBC Hindi was missing on 13745 at 0100-0130 via Tashkent. Here's an audio file for CVC Eng on 11790 recorded at 0129 UT: http://alokeshgupta.googlepages.com/cvceng_11790_0129utc_10apr2008R.mp3 Seems like another mix-up at Tashkent transmitter site. Couple of months back there was a similar situation wherein WYFR Polish & German via Tashkent mixing up with CVC Hindi on 6260 at 1800-2000. Regards (Alokesh Gupta, New Delhi, April 10, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. Not having much luck IDing the Spanish I'm hearing the last couple nights on 1640. It's stronger on south wire than on north, but still audible on north. This station has an uncanny ability to fade during IDs, but I've heard 4 pips a couple times. Any ideas? (Rick Kenneally, April 8, NRC-AM via DXLD) Rick: You didn't say where you are, but it could be KBJA 1640 Sandy, UT (Salt Lake City) 10 kW Day/1 kW Night (Paul Walker, ibid.) Radio Juventus Don Bosco in the DR has been logged several times in the NorthEast. Given current conditions, KBJA seems much less likely. The DR station has streaming, so that could help with the ID - see http://www.radiojuventus.com/ BTW, good to see you active again, Rick! (Barry McLarnon, VE3JF, Ottawa, ON, ibid.) Thanks All - Yes, believe it is Radio Juventus, though their streaming audio wasn't working. But WOW what a signal the past couple nights. Still managed to miss every ID though. ps - thanks Barry! Good to be back (Rick, Wilton, CT, ibid.) UNIDENTIFIED. Re 8-043: WRCR testing on 1700? The WRCR application not only hasn`t been granted, but it is actually a second station and not a move/increase for 1300 AM. It's not the CP that's dated 10/2007, it's merely the APPLICATION for said second station on 1700 kHz. NO CP's have YET been granted for 1700 kHz in NY State (Paul B. Walker, Jr., SC, April 9, NRC-AM via DXLD) UNIDENTIFIED. Re: 1600 LA harmonic on 3200.13v --- I posted Chuck Bolland`s log, link to audio, and my tentative ID of this as Radio Minuto, to the RealDX yg, which specializes in trying to make IDs from such recordings (gh) The first part is a religious hymn, perhaps a rendering of one of the psalms so this is not Colombia Mía, which is a military operation. Although there seems to be a mention of "radio minuto" it might also be something like "cada minuto" or "a todo minuto". The subsequent family-related statement is consistent with the mission of the listed Guatemalan "la radio de María" which has made family relations one of their main points of reference. Indeed, there might be a mention of "la radio de María" and/or "la voz de la familia" beneath the static just before "acompañándoles a través de 1600 AM". Years ago I phoned this Guatemalan. Our friend Humberto Molina in El Salvador had made the number available on an audio snippet of his. Shortly afterwards Bellabarba in Italy received a sticker from the station, later to be published in Play DX, so the address was indeed OK; there has been no change to it in the WRTH as far as I can see. In my phone call to the station I learnt that this station is unrelated to the Radio María network and this info was also published in Mike Dorner´s Catholic Radio Update newsletter. All background info can be found in DXLD #2-096 and 2-095 (Thanks for keeping this info available, Glenn). (Henrik Klemetz, Sweden, April 8, RealDX via DXLD) [Later:] I have no access to the sound bite right now, but another version that would be possible is "minuto a minuto". I am not sure it sounds like that, but that would make some sense anyway (Henrik Klemetz, ibid.) Hola! this is what I am hearing: "...les estamos acompañando desde el 1600 AM, Radio Ilusión..." . (Mauricio Molano, Salamanca, Spain, ibid.) Quito, Ecuador? (Gert Nilsson, ibid.) It could be! listen here: http://www.radialistas.net/audios/jingles/21L.mp3 http://www.radialistas.net/jingles.htm (Mauricio Molano, Spain, ibid.) Glenn, I received your info on the 3200.13 Harmonic. Thanks for keeping me in the loop. I am tuning to that frequency every morning, but the condx haven't been good enough to hear anything well enough for a sound bite or even listening. I will keep up the monitoring. Thanks (Chuck Bolland, FL, DX LISTENING DIGEST) I continued to monitor 3200.13 this morning and although a carrier was heard from the unID harmonic, it never developed enough to hear actual audio. However, I think conditions will improve and be more favorable as we approach the 20th of this month (Chuck Bolland, April 10, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. Re 4876: Seemed to be there already at 1700, but very weak, googled for the frequency and found that Jari IDed a mixing product there of 1089 + 5965 from Russia in 2002; maybe it's that or something similar. To be checked (Thorsten Hallmann, Münster, Germany, http://www.africalist.de.ms April 9, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. 6039.61, 0945-1000 April 10. Noted a male and female in Spanish language comments. Could not make out any specific details since the signal was too weak. Back in 2002, Radio Amanecer International, from Dominican Republic was heard on 6039.42 by Björn Malm. I have a listing in my database for Radio San Antonio, Perú also from the year 2002. This is very doubtful. If I had to choose, I'd go with Amancecer. At 0959 a carrier comes up on 6040 blocking all. It was China (Chuck Bolland, FL, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Are you sure it was Spanish and not Portuguese (or Portuñol)? The Brazilian is off-frequency, as in LA-DX (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) And Amanecer has been on 6025 lately when active. Viz.: 6039.8v, R Clube Paranaense, Curitiba PR [0702-1355/2021-0258*](9.60- 0.6) Mar 08 W (irr)(r) R Eldorado 700 (LA-DX http://home.tele2.it/MCDXT/LASWLOGS.htm via DXLD) Glenn, It was very weak. I would need to listen again to decide. Maybe tomorrow morning will help? Sorry (Chuck Bolland, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. 7120: Tried for that one today Apr 9 from 1555 to 1705: 1555 weak carrier on approx. 7120.5 1556 Strong CRI signal 1630 7120.5 off <1630 weak signal under CRI fades in, first talk, later traditional song by woman (?), than a choir, later something like children's song. Could all be both east African or Arabic region; 1645 7120.5 on 1656 CRI off and weaker signal in the clear, most likely woman talking in unID language around 1658 both this and 7120.5 off around 1700 carrier on and off 1703 new signal, ongoing programme possibly VOP via MADAGASCAR. 73 (Thorsten Hallmann, Münster, Germany, http://www.africalist.de.ms April 9, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. UNKNOWN, 9665, 1725, Language Unknown, 232, April 6, YL vocal music with a Choir to past 1740 (Stewart MacKenzie, CA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Could be the new Somali service of IRIN, a UN agency, via South Africa, at 1730-1745. It`s been heard in Europe (Glenn Hauser, ibid.) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ TESTIMONIALS ++++++++++++ Re 8-043: ``Glenn, thanks for your excellent show. I download every week from WRN, load on my Ipod and listen in my car. Have you considered increasing the MW DX portion of your show? Thanks again (Mark Schmit, Cape Cod MA, with a check in the mail to P O Box 1684, Enid OK 73702)`` Mark, Many thanks for your kind comments and the check. It`s a constant struggle to fit in only a fraction of the material I would like to in the 29 minutes available each week, so MW does take a back seat to SW, altho there is no set time portion allotted. It`s always a hard choice what to put in or leave out whether it is MW or SW. 73, (Glenn Hauser) Glenn Hauser’s “World of Radio” program is another excellent source of station news and his DXLD website - http://www.worldofradio.com/dxldmid.html - is one of the best sources for up to date info (Mark Coady, Beginner`s Classroom, April ODXA Listening In) LANGUAGE LESSONS ++++++++++++++++ HORARO DE ESPERANTA DISADIGO DE CINA RADIO INTERNACIA (praktikata ekde la 9-a horo de la 30-a de marto, 2008) horaro kaj frekvencoj. UTC Regionoj kHz 1100-1200 Japanio, Koreio 11635 URU 15110 URU 1300-1400 Sudorienta Azio 11650 BEI 9440 NNN 1930-2030 Europo 9745 URU 7265 URU 1700-1800 Europo 11650 XIA 2200-2300 Latin-Ameriko 7315 KAS 9860 KAS 1600-1700 Albanio kaj periferiaj landoj 1215 Fllaka-ALB (Klaus Spielvogel, Germany, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Apr 4 via DXLD) At present odd 1214.34 kHz (Wolfgang Büschel, ibid.) CONVENTIONS & CONFERENCES +++++++++++++++++++++++++ The following is obviously an oblique response to several remarx of mine that RHC does not participate in HFCC, which is what counts as far as frequency coördination, and which remains the case (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) CUBA REGISTERS FREQUENCIES WITH ITU March the 30th marked the day that international short wave broadcasters started to use the new A08 schedule, that will be used until October. According to the International Telecommunications Union, the administrations must file the use of the short wave broadcast bands twice every year, and a year that, by the way, does not coincide with the actual year that begins on the first day of January and ends on the 31st of December. The A period starts in March and lasts until October and the B period starts in October and lasts until March, something that was done in order to simplify the previous scheduling system that implied four frequency changes per year. The broadcasting schedules are sent to the ITU in Geneva to be registered in the general data base that is kept there, and the telecommunications administrations can see how their registered stations are providing services to the target areas, if there are any collisions of frequencies and the effects of adjacent channels too. Since Radio Havana Cuba went on the air in 1961, the Cuban Ministry of Communications has registered the use of our station´s frequencies with the International Telecommunications Union in Geneva, that is the United Nations oldest specialized agency, since its origins can be found way back in 1865, when several nations started to coordinate the use of the Morse wired telegraphy lines. The existence of voluntary frequency coordination groups around the world is also recognized by the ITU, but it is left to the decision of the national telecommunications administrations to participate or not participate in those not official groups that may have a regional or a worldwide scope. So, again and to make it very clear to those listeners that have recently asked about the topic of frequency coordination, let me emphasize that what the ITU requests is that the national telecommunications send to Geneva the data about the use of the short wave broadcast transmissions according to a previously arranged time schedule, then the data is processed and results are sent back to the administrations showing how each entry behaves in relation to other entries on the same frequency and others that operate on adjacent channels 5 kiloHertz to each side of the frequency that is analyzed. So, in other words, an administration may decide to join or not to join, to participate or not participate as part of frequency coordination groups or nation, but independently of forming part or not forming part of one or more coordinating groups, the Telecommunications Administrations must file with the ITU in Geneva and register the use of each frequency by providing a set of well known transmission parameters that include transmitter power, antenna types, target areas CIRAF zones to be served etc. The data is processed by the ITU using sophisticated computer software and the results are sent back to each administration so that the broadcast schedules can be optimized to the best possible extent (Arnie Coro, CO2KK, RHC DXers Unlimited April 8, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) DX-PEDITIONS ++++++++++++ LEMMENJOKI WAS ON MEDIA NETWORK At http://www.dxing.info (under DXpeditions) there is a profile about a hotspot for short- and medium-wave DXing above the Arctic Circle, in the town of Lemmenjoki, Finland. You might have seen some interesting DX news items from that area in previous years. Since there has been mention of an audio file of the first DX Jukebox show under Jonathan Marks' control (August 1980) in a DXLD issue last month, I should point out that there's audio from another of Jonathan's shows -- one of the last shows in the Media Network radio series -- and it's from Sept. 28, 2000, and was a rebroadcast from Feb. 8, 1996: a program about DXing from this unique location! It's not from the RNW audio archives, but it can be accessed at: http://www.dxing.info/audio/about/Media%20Network%20-%20In%20Search%20Of%20Distant%20Signals%2009-28-00.mp3 (Joe Hanlon, NJ, DX LISTENING DIGEST) DIGITAL BROADCASTING DRM: ECUADOR; GERMANY; NEW ZEALAND; USA: BYU ++++++++++++++++++++ RADIO EQUIPMENT FORUM +++++++++++++++++++++ MEDIUMWAVE DIREXIONAL ANTENNA PATTERNS: DON`T FORGET THE VERTICAL Probably a good time to remind all that the patterns displayed on various lists and books are ground level, zero degree elevation. As the propagation angle increases, the pattern changes significantly. What was a null could be a fairly powerful lobe or vice versa. For example, WDDZ-550 [Rhode Island] has a cardioid pattern with a minor lobe aimed right at WDEV-550 in VT. Yet at the appropriate elevation angle for propagation to Vermont, that lobe turns into a null. A two tower pattern with a single null at ground level may have no null at all when the angle goes up to 20 or so degrees. If you are closer than 500 miles or so to a station, their pattern may well be somewhat different than what is shown on the diagram. There is at least one pattern configuration where this doesn't happen. If you are broadside to a two tower array with a 180 degree phasing, that pattern is the same for all elevation angles, minus the lower efficiency as the angle increases. Same figure-8 shape and the null aims the same way. Something to keep in mind (Craig Healy, Providence, RI, IRCA via DXLD) PROPAGATION +++++++++++ POSSIBLE DTV METEOR SCATTER?? The wife and I were watching the Kansas-Memphis game last night on KGWN-DT 5 (rf 30) Cheyenne, WY, when suddenly, their signal appeared to be breaking up, pixeling but not really bad, then suddenly a picture of a woman in a commercial popped in (hair product or something similar). It was very clear for about three seconds with full audio, began to pixel again, then suddenly the basketball game was back in without any further *interference*. The Virginids meteor show is peaking right now, so it makes me wonder. I still don't know enough about dtv, to either claim this was a technical snafu with CBS or if it was meteor scatter. Did anyone else happen to see this on their CBS feed? If so, then it would be something technical in the network chain. Inquiring minds.......... :-) (Jim Thomas, wdx0fbu, Milliken, Colorado, (40 miles north of Denver) 40 18.642'N 104 52.566'W, WTFDA via DXLD) Analog MS on channel 30 is difficult enough! More like airplane scatter, if there are any DT-30s around you besides Cheyenne. 73, (Glenn Hauser, OK, ibid.) ###