DX LISTENING DIGEST 8-068, June 6, 2008 Incorporating REVIEW OF INTERNATIONAL BROADCASTING edited by Glenn Hauser, http://www.worldofradio.com Items from DXLD may be reproduced and re-reproduced only if full credit be maintained at all stages and we be provided exchange copies. DXLD may not be reposted in its entirety without permission. Materials taken from Arctic or originating from Olle Alm and not having a commercial copyright are exempt from all restrictions of noncommercial, noncopyrighted reusage except for full credits For restrixions and searchable 2008 contents archive see http://www.worldofradio.com/dxldmid.html NOTE: If you are a regular reader of DXLD, and a source of DX news but have not been sending it directly to us, please consider yourself obligated to do so. Thanks, Glenn NEXT SHORTWAVE AIRINGS OF WORLD OF RADIO 1411 Fri 2030 WWCR1 15825 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 0415 WBCQ 7415 [time varies] Tue 1100 WRMI 9955 Tue 1530 WRMI 9955 Wed 0530 WRMI 9955 [new] Wed 1130 WRMI 9955 Latest edition of this schedule version, including AM, FM, satellite and webcasts with hotlinks to station sites and audio, is at: http://www.worldofradio.com/radioskd.html For updates see our Anomaly Alert page: http://www.worldofradio.com/anomaly.html WRN ON DEMAND: http://new.wrn.org/listeners/stations/station.php?StationID=24 WORLD OF RADIO PODCASTS VIA WRN NOW AVAILABLE: http://www.wrn.org/listeners/stations/podcast.php OUR ONDEMAND AUDIO: http://www.worldofradsio.com/audiomid.html or http://wor.worldofradio.org ** AFGHANISTAN [non]. CVC, normally dominant on 11665 here was rather weak at 0204 check June 5, and with SAH of about 10 Hz from a station playing ME music --- presumed R. Solh via UAE, as scheduled and just confirmed in England by Mike Barraclough until 0600. I believe they switch to 11675 from 0600 until 1200, also UAE, then 1200-1800 17700 via Skelton (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ALBANIA. R. Tirana frequency changes from Shijak site effective June 12 to resolve some interference problems: 1800-1830 Italian to Eu, 7460, ex-1730-1800 7430 2000-2030 English to Eu, 7465, ex-7460 2030-2200 Albanian to Eu, 9395, ex-9390 2300-2430 Albanian to NAm, 9345, ex-9390 [due to WWRB 9385 overrun until 2355v] (Drita Çiço, R. Tirana Monitoring, June 6, DX LISTENING DIGEST) In Albanian; I hope I have interpreted it correctly (gh) ** ARGENTINA. At 0158, 6/5, I heard the bell Interval Signal of RAE on 11710 kHz signing on in English, followed by an unclear female ID and then a program of music. Just barely audible above the noise level, but it was there. Signal fading in and out, very tough copy. Lost by 0215. 73’s, (Ed Insinger, NJ, June 5, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** AUSTRALIA. Has there ever been DRM from Darwin? It`s about to start June 6 from CVC, on 17655-17660-17665 at 0630-0900, 100 kW [really?], 340 degrees (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Some transmissions already took place in last December, cf. http://www.drmrx.org/forum/showthread.php?t=1882 It appears that the parameters will be the same again, i.e. output will be "around 80 kW", and they will indeed use an HR 4/4/0.5 antenna aiming at 340 degrees, BUT with +23 degree slew, thus the actual azimuth will be 3 degrees. It is really necessary to beware of data where slews are added separately to the azimuth figure. Without the separate slew figure the real azimuth can vary up to 30 degrees. from what one believes it to be, which is quite significant for a curtain with narrow beam. Slewing also changes the characteristics of an antenna rather significantly, it compromises the gain a little bit and results it much more and stronger sidelobes. I think this is also the rationale behind the stripped (no slews, no antenna type) version of the HFCC data: This way the data still makes DXers happy but is almost useless for professional planning purposes (Kai Ludwig, Germany, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) As I recall, the azimuth given in the HFCC public data is the azimuth AFTER the slewing. Thus it does not give any info about side lobes, but does give the DXer the correct azimuth of the main lobe. df (Dan Ferguson, ex-IBB, ibid.) In this case there is zero slew, so it is really 340 degrees (gh, DXLD) ** BIAFRA [non]. Per FCC info, V. of Biafra International`s new frequency starting this week will be 15280 instead of previously planned 15665, Fridays only at 2000-2100 in English and Ibo, from WHRI, 250 kW at 87 degrees, ex-17650. To be confirmed (Glenn Hauser, OK, June 5, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BIAFRA [non]. Voice of Biafra International in Ibo via WHRI Angel 1 from June 6: 2000-2100 NF 15280 HRI 250 kW / 087 deg to Af Fri only, ex 17520 (DX Mix News, Bulgaria, June 6 via DXLD) As already in dxldyg ** BOLIVIA. 4005, R Virgen de Remedios, Tupiza; June 5, Spanish, 2307- 2319 religious choir music, 2311 religious ceremony. Noisy, 23222 (Lúcio Otávio Bobrowiec, Embu SP Brasil - Sony ICF SW40 - dipole 18m, 32m, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BOLIVIA. 4865, R. Logos, Santa Cruz; June 3, Spanish, 2215-2239 OM talks around the importance of religiosity in our life in many aspects, alternating music maybe with religious content. Checked later sign-off at 2311, 33433. 6025, R. Patria Nueva, La Paz; June 3, Spanish, 2320-2329, seems a press conference with a police authority talking about a racist group activities. QRM underneath, 22422 (Lucio Otavio Bobrowiec, Embu SP Brasil - Sony ICF SW40 - dipole 18m, 32m, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BULGARIA. The DRM Software Radio Forum reports logged today indicate that 9700 and 11900 are being used as of 5/26, and the times per Benn's relay from Glenn Hauser. They report some adjacent interference on 11905, BOTH +5 kHz and -5 kHz of the center frequency. Better reception on 9700, but the monitors noted a +5 kHz carrier dragging it down. Bulgarian National Radio has decided to use 23.2 kbps, and the EU listeners feel this is too much for the not-very-high SNR values they're seeing. Between the interference issues and the low SNR, we might have problems getting this one. Still, I do love a challenge (Brendan WA7HL Wahl, Bellingham, WA, May 27, drmna yg via DXLD) ** CANADA. 6100, RCI at 2214 May 13 in Spanish with a man with talk about Colombia, then a full “Radio Cadena Nacional de Colombia” network ID at 2215, then a man and woman with an apparent newsmagazine program, then RCI ID at 2225, Fair. It’s obvious to me that RCI must have picked up a report from RCN in Colombia for their program. Regardless, something like this happening can really fool someone into thinking they are hearing something different so I guess this is another lesson carried forward from the April “Beginner’s Classroom” where I contributed “Be Sure of What You Hear”. It certainly had me fooled for a while (Mark A. Coady, Bridgenorth, ON, Grundig Satellit 800 Drake SPR-4 70 foot wire or CB whip, June ODXA Listening In via DXLD) ** CANADA. Re 8-067: ``CKZU, 6160, holding up rather late across daytime path, June 4 at 1312 ending CBC news with perpetual plug for Sirius 137 --- but they never mention 6160!!`` If you really expect them to care about this low-powered shortwave toy, then check out how they deal with the circumstance that they were not allowed to move to FM entirely but only to add a Vancouver city transmitter: http://www.insidethecbc.com/vancouverf The remarkable thing: I could swear that this posting has been edited after initial publication. About three days ago, when I saw it late at night and did not bother to write about it, the headline read " It's official: Vancouver's CBC Radio One moves to FM" and most of the article was different, celebrating the new city frequency, mentioning in passing that the applications for additional FM frequencies had been turned down and mentioning that "the CBC will continue to operate AM 690" in the same way than now. I think that's quite illustrative about how CBC Radio at Vancouver sees it. Apparently they first shouted out of joy, then realized with disappointment that they can't really get off that mediumwave transmitter they almost seem to hate (Kai Ludwig, Germany, June 5, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CANADA. CONSPIRACY TO SILENCE CBC The Leader-Post (Regina, SK) (a Canwest newspaper) Published: Wednesday, June 04, 2008 Last week, hearings were held to determine the fate of CBC Radio 2. The result would be more easily predicted if one could be sure of the good faith of CBC management. It appears the long-term objective is to dismantle CBC entirely, leaving Canada as the only prominent nation without a national voice. With apologies to Canwest Global, commercial broadcasters cannot fill that mandate. A simple view of economics is this: one produces something and someone buys it. Information produced to sell to a reader. The media produces readers/listeners/viewers and sell us to advertisers as "audience". To the commercial broadcaster, the listening audience is the product. Only public broadcasters can afford to view the listener as consumer. The difference can be heard in the respect the radio hosts accord the listener, with many commercial disc jockeys showing a contemptuous attitude to their audience. The CBC has been heard and respected world-wide, and with good reason. Only a free country can afford a nonpartisan, impartial broadcasting system, willing to be a watchdog and a whistle-blower regardless of who is in power, and able to perform its mandate without interference from government or corporate sponsors. This may seem to have little to do with the clear-cutting of CBC Radio 2 programming, but once that current listening audience is alienated, alterations to CBC Radio 1 could be next. The arguments used by CBC spokespersons that confining classical music to hours when only retirees and shut-ins will be able to listen will leave room for more Canadian artists, more new music and more world music seem to show these spokespersons are not listening to CBC Radio 2. Canadian artists, new music and world music get good exposure in the current schedule. (Am I really supposed to believe the people who cancelled Global Village care about world music?) The current schedule is being eroded to the dismay of music students, choir members and people who love classical music as the most healing, mentally stimulating and, let's admit it, sexiest music there is. Many cannot afford to attend concerts or collect CDs for all the music they love, and certainly not for the variety the CBC provides. There is nothing "elitist" about it, other than the fact the artists have put in hard work to produce excellent listening. There is nothing "elite" about being able to turn on the radio. Surely CBC management doesn't believe that changing the format will attract a new and wider audience. Fans of hip-hop, rap and the dozen other genres added to the list can get their fill elsewhere. No, diminishing the audience to where the service can be discontinued must be the goal. Let us hope there is enough evidence of public pressure to delay the process. Canada deserves a strong national broadcasting system. Do we really want to be known world-wide as a country where the pursuit of excellence just means hockey? --- Helen McNab, Gordon First Nation http://www.canada.com/reginaleaderpost/news/letters/story.html?id=e14e315e-6780-4c66-9b77-b015e2989a3f (evidently letter to the editor, via Dan Say, alt.radio.networks.cbc via DXLD) ** CHINA. Firedrake again invades the 20m hamband! June 5 at 1320 found a good signal from it on 14010, presumably against Sound of Hope, but nothing of that audible underneath, even during the slow segment with conch shell-sounding instrument at 1325. Firedrake was not to be found on 13970, 14410, usual spots, nor 12260 or anywhere in the low 13`s, but it was // 12040 and several others. Did not hear any ham CW near 14010, only higher in the band. At 1400, went to open carrier, and I assumed would resume at 1405, but when rechecked at 1413 it was off. However, the next day, June 6 at 1301 onwards, no FD on 14010. But on 14410 there was open carrier and FD resumed at 1304:40, still audible at 1335, // 15285 but not synchronized, 14410 running a split second behind 15285. So one wonders if 14010 was a miskeying by SOH and/or FD. However, DARC Intruder Watch recently caught FD on several frequencies inside the 20m band, 14000, 14005, 14010, 14030, 14050, 14090, up to three at once (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Viz ** CHINA. DARC Monitoring System Intruder Watch and Spectrum Control National Coordinator: Ulrich Bihlmayer, DJ9KR, Eichhaldenstrasse 35, 72074 Tübingen, Germany Phone: +49-7071– 81847 Fax: +49-7071–82419 eMail: bandwacht @ darc.de ______________________________________________________________________ To:- Telecommunications Authorities of China Beijing, PR of China 6 June 2008 Harmful Interference on exclusive Amateur Radio Frequencies in Band 14 by BC station Sound of Hope (TWN) and a Music Jammer from PR Republic of China (CHN) Dear Sir or Madam Since last month (see schedules below) the BC station Sound of Hope has been transmitting on exclusive Amateur Radio Frequencies. This has provoked the so-called Hainan Firedragon Music Jammer of the People’s Republic of China to jam the signals with overmodulated Chinese temple music. Here is an excerpt of the activities of both stations on exclusive Amateur Radio frequencies: Day/Month/Year Time (UTC) Frequency (kHz) 13 – 27 May 2008 various times 14005 2 June 2008 1500 - 1743 14000 5 June 2008 0909 14050 5 June 2008 1230 14010 5 June 2008 1439 – 1509 14050 6 June 2008 0705 - 0800 14030 and // 14090 6 June 2008 0845 14030 and // 14050 6 June 2008 1040 - 1130 14030 and // 14050 and // 14090 3 frequencies at the same time! The frequency band 14000 – 14350 kHz is allocated worldwide to the Amateur Radio Service. The usage of the frequencies in the above spectrum by the Broadcasting Service is not allowed. So the activity of "Sound of Hope" and the Jamming by a Jammer from the PR of China are against the Regulations of the International Telecommunications Union ITU, Geneva. Therefore I ask you very urgently to stop the very harmful interference. The Radio Amateurs of the world have the right to use their exclusive frequencies without the interference of Sound of Hope and the Chinese Firedragon Radio Jammer. Thank you for your attention. I should like very much to read the answer to this letter soon on my computer screen. Yours very truly, Ulrich Bihlmayer DJ9KR Coordinator of DARC Monitoring System Intruder Watch and Spectrum Control (cc to DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CHINA. CNR-1 frequencies, 0807-0827, June 2, heard with the national news conference, starts with a statement read in Chinese, then into questions and answers in Chinese and English. Not broadcast on the weekend. 6200, PBS-XZDT, Lhasa, 1205-1328, May 30 & June 1, 2 and 3, with fair reception, still only with CNR-1 relay. 4905 // 4920, PBS Lhasa, May 30 & June 1, 2 and 3, with no relay of CNR-1, decent signal. 6060 // 9740 // 12015, Sichuan PBS, 1139-1245, June 1, religious choir with what sounded like Christian songs, segment of songs by kids, interview with children. June 1 was International Children's Day and a big day here in China, with parents taking their kids to the park and doing other fun things. Even in the quake area they celebrated the day. Found that most China stations today played segments of children's songs. 7225 not heard. 3280 // 4950, Shanghai PBS, *1200-1245, June 1, the SW sign-on time varies a lot, often heard hours before 1200. // 97.7 FM, which seems on 24 hours a day. Heard with many children's programs for International Children's Day. Easy FM (CRI), follow-up detail: the "China Drive" program is broadcast twice a day, Mon.-Fri. 4900, VOS [Voice of Strait], *1200-1208, June 3, suddenly on in Amoy (clearly not Chinese), good reception. Sign-on time does not vary. 6185, checked here a number of times after 1400 (when it's a clear frequency) looking for CHBC, but nothing was heard. 4830 always had a decent signal (Ron Howard, Shanghai, China, Eton E5, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 6060 // 7225, Sichuan PBS-2, 1242-1300, June 6, in assumed scheduled Yui (not Chinese), mostly talking and some indigenous music, ToH pips, into Chinese. Reception of 6060 is much better in Calif. than in China. QRM on 7225 and poor. At ToH clearly becomes parallel with 9740 and 12015. 9740 // 12015, Sichuan PBS-1, 1242-1300, June 6, in Chinese with EZL songs, 9740 with usual BBC QRM but still fair, 12015 weak with QRM at 1300 from Korea, after ToH parallel with 6060 and 7225 (Ron Howard, Asilomar Beach, CA, Etón E5, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** COSTA RICA. Re 8-067: I agree with your comments, Liz. But suddenly at 0000, beginning 5 June, the least expected 7375 was coming strong into San José, some 140 miles from the DGS Cahuita site, after a long time absence. 9725 has been off the air at mid-afternoon, when is supposed to be on the air. 11870 very weak in the daytime. No trace of 5030, 6150 and 13750 lately. 73 (Raúl Saavedra, Costa Rica, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CUBA. Re 8-067: Here is the ONLY Cuban website I have been able to find that currently lists the daily schedule for the Big 3 networks: http://www.granma.cubaweb.cu/2008/06/04/cultura/0cartelera.html NOTE - If you read the date in the weblink, you will see it reads 06-04-2008. If you follow that link, it will take you to TODAY's schedule. YOU MUST change the date physically for the actual date when you want to do a LOOK UP to see the current schedule, as they DO NOT have a link on the webpage to get you to that particular day's scheduled programming for Tele-Rebelde, Univisión, Canal Educativo, & Canal Educativo 2. FYI (Jim Thomas, wdx0fbu, Milliken, Colorado, WTFDA via DXLD) ¿Univisión? Hee hee, surely you jest (Glenn Hauser, DXLD) I really meant to type Cubavisión and not Univisión. I guess I've been *watching* too much of the former (JimT, Colorado, WTFDA via DXLD) ** CUBA [and non]. RHC 11680, also gets buzzed by MOI Kuwait DRM 11670-11675-11680, at 0205 UT June 5. Could escape most of it by stepping DX-398 up to 11683 in wide bandwidth (as narrow loses RHC too), but what does RHC do to Kuwait? Good strong signal from them, but search of drmna yg finds no mention of it since February; not making much of an impact. For one thing, it`s only in Arabic, which kinda limits their potential audience in NAm. And I believe people have complained about the low bitrate. RHC, 13760, rather weak at 0210 June 5 in Spanish, with fast SAH of some 15 Hz, much like I have heard earlier in the day. This is during one-hour IBB break between Udorn and Saipan usage of 13760, but VOK is scheduled straight thru including Spanish too on 28 degrees at 0200. My congratulations to the Commies and the Commies for getting that close to the same frequency (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CUBA. 11760: From 1215 to 1245 expecting the normal strong signal from BBC WS Al Seela [OMAN] 250 kW 320 degrees - beamed virtually towards my QTH in Europe, I heard instead RHC in Spanish. The audio was fading in and out and was having a real battle with the BBC signal. At times, the signal from Cuba reached 44444 and was the dominant one. Surely this is an unusual catch bearing in mind the directions of beam, the powers, and the time of day. At this time of year 12000 gives decent signals from 1100 until fade out at around 1330. Today, that frequency wasn't especially strong. 73's (Dan Goldfarb, Brentwood, England, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ERITREA. Radio Bana (presumed) 5100 kHz, June 4, 2008 at about 1700. This time almost no QRM, but a very weak signal. No ID caught, but the language (Tigri?) and music "pointed" to the area. 73 (Matti Ponkamo, Naantali, Finland (KP10AK18), IC-718, dipole, HCDX via DXLD) Also on June 6 at 1645 there is a barely audible signal on 5100. From the audible patches it seems like Bana. Hadn't heard them since late April (Alexander Koutamanis, The Netherlands, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** ERITREA [non]. ALEMANIA, 13820, Voice of Oromia Democratic Eritrea, 1700-1710, escuchada el 5 de junio en idioma tigrilla con música de sintonía e identificación; creo entender que anuncian emisiones por Internet, locutor con comentarios, referencias a “América, Indiana y Canadá``. Se aprecia colisión con dos emisoras, por momentos escucho a Radio Martí en español y por momentos otra emisora sin identificar en idioma probablemente en árabe, SINPO 43433 (José Miguel Romero, Burjasot (Valencia), España, Sangean ATS 909, Antena Radio Master, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) This is the Thursday-only V. of Democratic Eritrea, 135 degrees from Wertachtal, on behalf of the Eritrea Liberation Front, nothing to do with Oromiya. No chance for this here, with DentroCuban jamming and R. Martí very strong; as for the third station, nothing on the schedules to account for that, in Arabic or anything (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** FINLAND. Since the first Saturday of the month is June 7, I assume SWR, Finland will be on with another broadcast from 2100 UT Friday, but I don`t find anything specific about it on their website http://www.swradio.net/news.htm nor have received any publicity notice yet. They are however already planning a Midnite Sun special for June 21, apparently on MW 1602 only (Glenn Hauser, early UT June 6, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GERMANY. 9895 kHz Nauen spurious signal --- S.g. Herr Brodowsky, heute am 1. Juni um 0559 bis 0757 UTC Sendezeit bemerkte ich zwei unerwuenschte Spurs (Seitenbandaussendungen) des Programms Radio Nederland Wereldomroep/Radio Een von Media-Broadcast DTK Nauen site 9895 kHz auf den Frequenzen 9772.5 und 10017.5 kHz, d.h. 122.5 kHz weg von der Mittenfrequenz. Das Signal ist jeweils gut 2 kHz breit und wurde mit den Empfaengern Lextronix Eton E1 und SONY ICF 2010 gehoert. Signalstaerke entspricht circa 1.6 uV oder 4 dbuV. 4 Dioden scheinen am SONY ICF 2010 (wb, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews June 1) Re: 9895 kHz Nauen spurious signal. Hallo Herr Bueschel, nochmals vielen Dank fuer Ihren Hinweis, auf dessen Grundlage der Fehler an einem Steuersender eines 500 kW Senders naeher lokalisiert werden konnte. Durch Ersatz des defekten Steuersenders konnte der Fehler jetzt am 03.06.2008 beseitigt werden. Freundliche Gruesse, Walter Brodowsky, MEDIA BROADCAST GmbH, Cologne - Juelich (June 3) (BC-DX June 5 via DXLD) ** GERMANY [non]. DW Frequency change w.e.f. June 10, 2008: German 1600-1800 UT 15485 kHz (ex 17650) (Alokesh Gupta, India, June 6, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Site?? Target? ** GERMANY. GERMAN TRANSMITTER OPERATORS SUE REGULATION AUTHORITY The following story could appear as almost unimaginable in North America, where a "station" is considered as combined responsibility for program content and transmitter operation: Derutec, a joint venture of the leading commercial radio operators RTL Deutschland and Regiocast, sued the telcom regulation authority Bundesnetzagentur for the planned way to determine the technical operator of broadcasting transmitters. Bundesnetzagentur wants to do this by way of order, effectively imposing an obligation to contract on broadcasters. Opponents fear that Bundesnetzagentur will make these decisions entirely on the foundation of abstract engineering considerations, dismissing any weight-up of small service quality differences against substantially different operation costs. In a press release Derutec calls it "a matter of course" that it should be up to the paying party to decide who will make the job. Their opinions about functioning markets and broadcasting freedom are "entirely different" from those of Bundesnetzagentur. Derutec press release: http://www.derutec.de/presse/medieninformation_Derutec_02_06_08.pdf In previous hearings also the public broadcasters, represented by ARD, voiced their opinion that the planned Bundesnetzagentur proceedings intervene with broadcasting regulation, in which federal authorities have no responsibility whatsoever, and even touches aspects of broadcasting freedom. Documents about this hearing have been published by Bundesnetzagentur (with the file including the Derutec statement being defective, also quite nice the "Rundfungdienst" in the URL): http://www.bundesnetzagentur.de/enid/48711aec34768acd67e563aa071ca506,0/Rundfunk/Eckpunkte_-_Anhoerung_zur_Vergabe_von_Frequenzen_des_terrestrischen_Rundfungdienstes_45d.html (Kai Ludwig, Germany, June 5, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GERMANY EAST. Stimme der DDR on 6115, mentioned in DXLD 8-066: Does anybody remember a continuous tone (probably 1000 Hz), carried in between Stimme der DDR and the first RBI programme? I remember a daily standard announcement that "the shortwave frequency 6115 kilohertz will now leave our program and carry foreign service programs from Radio Berlin International as of [can't remember the time], until then a test tone will be aired on this frequency for technical purposes". And if RBI English service insisted even during the eighties that western pop music is decadent and to despise they were severely out of touch, not just with the world out there but also with the remainder of GDR radio. Somebody who listened to the recording of their last program wondered why their head did not just change over to block E, to DT64, but perhaps herein lies an explanation? Btw, what became of the attempts to contact him? Btw2, recently even an American has written a book about DT64, although in German: http://books.google.de/books?id=o4jW5lOGwMwC Click on "mehr" for further sample pages with photos, most if not all from 1986, apparently still from studio K8. Actually it was planned to establish a new studio complex in a building extension constructed for the purpose, but these rooms failed to meet the strict acoustical standards the engineering insisted on. Thus they were used for less sophisticated production suits and as editorial space, while instead the existing K6 had been modernized as live studio in late 1987. Previously Berliner Welle had been broadcast from K6, a special program for listeners in West Berlin which was on 1358 plus FM 99.7, which closed down in November 1971, related to the FRG-GDR normalization treaty which also lead to Deutschlandsender being renamed Stimme der DDR, Deutscher Fernsehfunk being renamed Fernsehen der DDR (first also just DDR-Fernsehen) and finally also the 904/935 clandestine operations being shut down. Afterwards K6 remained as a spare / back-up until it had been rebuilt for DT64. Concerning the acoustical standards it should be mentioned that the studios in the newer block E building were built as "house in a house", providing perfect acoustical insulation. Today hardly anybody can afford such high-standard studios, so it would appear to be just a matter of course to use them for whatever kind of audio recordings. But instead they were allowed to decay in the mid-nineties, when all remaining tenants were expelled from this building, as if equipment and studio rooms were to blame for anything. I think I already mentioned the Gefell UM70 mic capsule being sold for DEM 25, about two percent of its real value, taken away by somebody who years ago finally realized what he got for almost nothing. That's the fine "unification" of Germany. Does one have to be uncritical about the GDR to find such attitudes disgusting? I think not (Kai Ludwig, Germany, June 5, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GREECE. ERA SW Avlis: Still only via two units on air, June 4th (Wolfgang Büschel, BC-DX June 5 via DXLD) Instead of usual three ** GUAM. Frequency change of AWR KSDA Guam in Urdu/English from June 1: 1600-1700 NF 11650 SDA 100 kW / 300 deg to SoAs, ex 6155 (DX Mix News, Bulgaria, June 6 via DXLD) ** HUNGARY. Updated A-08 of Hungarian Radio on short waves: 0100-0200 on 5965#JBR 250 kW / 306 deg to NoAm, new txion 0400-0500 on 3975 JBR 250 kW / non-dir to WeEu 1000-1100 on 6025 JBR 100 kW / non-dir to WeEu 1600-1700 on 6025 JBR 100 kW / non-dir to WeEu 1800-1900 on 3975 JBR 250 kW / non-dir to WeEu, cancelled 2100-2200 on 3975 JBR 250 kW / non-dir to WeEu, new txion 2200-2300 on 6025 JBR 100 kW / non-dir to WeEu, cancelled # co-ch Radio Havana Cuba in Spanish (DX Mix News, Bulgaria, June 6 via DXLD) as already in DXLD. The 5965 transmission is not exactly new, discussed a few weeks ago (gh, DXLD) ** INDONESIA. Another sign of the times from Indonesia: I can only confirm three mediumwave frequencies still active on the whole island of Bali. In East Java province, there are perhaps 15-20 mediumwave transmitters still alive in the entire province (population nearly 40 million). Once upon a time there must have been a hundred or more, not to mention a dozen or more on shortwave which are now all gone (Alan Davies, at present touring in Indonesia, June 2, wwdxc BC-DX June 5 via DXLD) see also MALAYSIA ** INDONESIA. 9525 and 9526, Voice of Indonesia. Glenn has recently heard and commented on the new quick change in frequencies. I observed the following: May 22, on 9526 at 0840 (English segment) May 28, on 9525 at 0840 May 30, on 9526 at 1340 June 2, on 9525 at 0822 (not on the air by 1134, still off 1208) June 3, on 9526 at 1212 (Ron Howard, Shanghai, China, Eton E5, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 9525.95, Voice of Indonesia, 1035-1045 June 6. Noted music at tune in, then a male in Thai (scheduled) language comments. He talks over flute music. Signal was fair but fading. 9680, RRI Jakarta, 1040-1050 June 6. Needed to check this out while on the band. The program consisted of music and Indonesian comments from a female. This signal was fair, but beginning to fade out for the day due to sunrise here (Chuck Bolland, Clewiston, Florida, NRD545, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Another day with VOI on 9526, at 1248 check June 6 with music (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** IRAN. Bangla on 6025 kHz 0030-0130 UT also [like Saudi Arabia, q.v.] suffers from transmitter hum. It was a trace of a noise earlier but is increasing in intensity. May be one day this transmitter noise will make this channel unusable. Keep watching (Dr Supratik Sanatani, India, June 6, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** IRAN. Updated summer A-08 of VOIROI/IRIB: ALBANIAN 0630-0727 13810 15235 1830-1927 9545 9570 2030-2127 9535 11830 ARABIC 0230-0427 6025 7375 0330-0427 9610 11875 "Voice of Palestine" 0430-0527 13790 13800 0530-0827 13790 13800 15150 0830-1027 9885 13800 15150 1030-1427 13790 13800 15150 1430-1627 15150 1630-0227 6025 ARMENIAN 0300-0327 7255 12025 0930-0957 9695 15260 1630-1727 7230 9780 AZERI 0330-0527 13710 1430-1657 6200 BENGALI 0030-0127 6025 7115 0830-0927 11705 1430-1527 6130 9520 12085 BOSNIAN 0530-0627 13750 15235 1730-1827 7295 9860 2130-2227 7305 9810 CHINESE 1200-1257 13735 15190 17635 17670 2330-0027 11740 11970 13715 DARI 0300-0627 11910 13740 0830-1427 9940 13720 1430-1457 9940 ENGLISH 0130-0227 7235 9495 "Voice of Justice" 1030-1127 15600 17660 1530-1627 7375 9600 1930-2027 6205 7205 *7260 9800 9925 GERMAN 0730-0827 15085 15430 1730-1827 *6180 9940 15085 FRENCH 0630-0727 13710 15430 1830-1927 *7260 9940 13755 15085 HAUSA 0600-0657 17810 17870 1830-1927 7170 9925 HEBREW 0430-0457 9610 11875 1200-1227 13685 15260 HINDI 0230-0257 15165 17635 1430-1527 11995 13805 ITALIAN 0630-0727 *11670 13770 15085 1930-1957 5910 7380 JAPANESE 1330-1427 13755 15555 2100-2157 9690 11655 KAZAKH 0130-0227 7115 9790 1300-1357 11665 13765 KURDISH 0330-0427 7255 Sorrani dialect 1330-1427 5990 Sorrani dialect 1430-1627 5990 Kirmanji dialect MALAY 1230-1327 15200 17555 2230-2327 5945 7310 PASHTO 0230-0327 7130 9605 0730-0827 11990 15440 1230-1327 6175 9790 11730 1430-1527 5890 1630-1727 6000 7195 RUSSIAN 0300-0327 9650 11925 0500-0527 9850 13750 17595 17655 1430-1527 *6145 7160 9580 9900 1700-1757 3985 7175 1800-1857 6205 7235 1930-2027 3985 7370 SPANISH 0030-0227 9655 9905 0230-0327 9905 0530-0627 15530 17785 2030-2127 *6055 7300 9800 SWAHILI 0330-0427 15265 15340 0830-0927 15240 17660 1730-1827 7130 9655 TAJIK 0100-0227 6175 7285 1600-1727 5945 5955 TURKISH 0430-0557 11685 13640 1600-1727 7165 9870 URDU 0130-0227 7105 9480 9845 1330-1427 6000 9665 11695 1530-1727 5890 1730-1757 6175 7220 UZBEK 0230-0257 9740 11945 1500-1557 5945 9680 * via Sitkunai, Lithuania (DX Mix News, Bulgaria, June 6 via DXLD) ** ITALY. CONDANNATI TRE GIORNALISTI ASCOLTAVANO RADIO DELLA POLIZIA Usare le radioline scanner è una pratica diffusa non solo nei giornali ma anche fra semplici appassionati, scrittori e sceneggiatori di film di ORIANA LISO: http://www.repubblica.it/2008/06/sezioni/cronaca/condanna-radio-polizia/condanna-radio-polizia/condanna-radio-polizia.html (via Andrea Borgnino IW0HK, June 4, bclnews.it yg via DXLD) ** JAPAN. Radio Japan (NHK World): http://www.nhk.or.jp/english/ The NHK World website has undergone some changes since last year. Gone are the myriad tiny icons, replaced with a well-organized, elegant interface (albeit one that uses quite a bit of Adobe Flash content – old computers beware!). The top of the page includes links to News, TV, Radio & Podcast, and Japanese Lessons, as well as a language selector. Below these, still across the top of the page, are a search box and links to Corporate Info, Sitemap, Contact Us, and FAQ. Directly below this is a scrolling “News Flash” area. The bulk of the main page is dedicated to News, with excellent photos and brief synopses accompanying the stories. Much of the content includes video and/or audio material, and a “Video” section (located directly below the News area) gives even more content. Most audio material is even linked to RSS feeds, meaning it’s easy to subscribe to your favourite content, getting it sent directly to iTunes (or whatever media software you prefer). My favourites from last year are still featured, including Japanese Lessons, with different content for beginners or intermediate learners (available in 17 languages, down from 21 last year) and Your Japanese Kitchen, which supplements a few video offerings with an excellent recipe archive. Yum! I found the new NHK website wonderful to use, and would strongly recommend a visit (Dr Paul E Guise, Winnipeg MB, Click! June ODXA Listening In via DXLD) ** JORDAN. Radio Jordan: http://www.jrtv.jo/jrtv/index.php A slim website for the English-language crowd, with streaming audio (three channels) and video (four channels, when all active), both in Windows Media formats. Other features include excellent information about Jordan and its regions, under the heading Jordan 1st. Under What’s New?, I found the response, “No news available.” Quiet Spring, I guess (which may be a good thing). (Dr Paul E Guise, Winnipeg MB, Click! June ODXA Listening In via DXLD) ** KASHMIR. Re the contradictory info about AIR Kargil, 684 kHz, 200 kW just now or for two years as shown in WRTH 2007, 2008 --- I dug out the WRTH 2006, but then it was shown as Srinagar C, 10 kW (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** KENYA. Kenya Broadcasting Corporation: http://www.kbc.co.ke The KBC website is a simple and effective source of information regarding events in Kenya. There is currently no downloadable / streamable content on offer (Dr Paul E Guise, Winnipeg MB, Click! June ODXA Listening In via DXLD) ** KOREA NORTH. DEMOCRATIC PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC of [North] KOREA: Voice of Korea: not online – see KCNA at http://www.kcna.co.jp/ It appears that there is no website for Voice of Korea, nor for any domestic broadcasters [a.k.a. the domestic broadcaster] from North Korea. The only major, official North Korean outlet on the internet is the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), with web services hosted by their outlet in Tokyo, Japan (Dr Paul E Guise, Winnipeg MB, Click! June ODXA Listening In via DXLD) ** KOREA NORTH [non]. 6003, Echo of Hope, *1056-1108, May 27, on with EZL music, ToH gong rung slowly 3 times, // 3985, both with strong jamming. 6003 was off the air but the heavy jamming continued anyway on May 30, they returned May 31, still with strong jamming. Do not recall 6003 being jammed this badly in the past. No jamming present on 6003 for June 1. 6020, Shiokaze, June 2, strong jamming already here before 1400 sign- on, same type of jamming as against 9940 (North Korea Reform Radio) (Ron Howard, Shanghai, China, Eton E5, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** KOREA SOUTH. REPUBLIC of [South] KOREA: KBS World Radio: http://world.kbs.co.kr/english Having spent some time being dazzled by the NHK website, the first impression of KBS’ site is one of shock-and-awe. Text is everywhere (in black, grey, blue, red…), there are numerous pictures of unknown people (are captions so hard?), and the colour scheme is best described as “the works”. The top of the page has links to Explore KBS, Contact Us (which is an email address), TV, Radio, and News, amongst others. The body of the webpage has been divided into two columns, with a few tidbits (including a Reception Report link) tacked on in a brief third column. The focus of my visit was to investigate online media offerings, none of which I was able to access. Each and every attempt resulted in a new “KBS World Radio” window opening, displaying playback controls, and then… nothing at all. The results were the same using a Mac or Linux machine, and running any of several browsers. Windows users may have more luck. As was the case last year, I found that even the Images of Korea link was only viewable in PDF format – there’s no reason it should be so difficult to view images (Dr Paul E Guise, Winnipeg MB, Click! June ODXA Listening In via DXLD) ** KOREA SOUTH. AFN REQUESTS KOREAN CABLE COMPANIES TO STOP RELAYING ITS SIGNAL --- Cable subscribers throughout South Korea will soon lose AFN Prime — if they haven’t already — as the result of a June 2007 letter from US Forces Korea asking the South Korean government to stop pirating the signal. As cable companies eliminate AFN, some are also revamping and eliminating other channels. Cable companies had picked up and packaged the AFN signal in their rate plans for several years, but American companies attempting to sell programming brought complaints to the military recently. The nation’s 103 cable companies have gradually ceased carrying AFN this year, said Ja Mi-ae, spokeswoman for the federal government’s New Media Division of the new Korea Communication Commission. “Within this year, we are certain that the channel completely would be removed,” Ja said. In November, the Korea Communication Commission’s forerunner, under a previous administration, gave companies until this month to cease AFN transmission. Most seem to be heeding that directive, Ja said. (Source: Stars and Stripes)(June 5th, 2008 - 13:03 UTC by Andy Sennitt, Media Network blog via DXLD) ** KUWAIT. Re 8-067, CUBA [and non]. Kuwait DRM: ``And I believe people have complained about the low bitrate.`` Indeed also the most recent postings at http://www.drmrx.org/forum/showthread.php?t=982&page=6 indicate a mere 11.6 kbps, about the same bitrate than for GSM cellphone calls. This is also what a hybrid mode DRM transmission can deliver, and I recall my impression of the digital component from the now gone (frequency now in use for regular AM instead) test signal on 693 as quite similar to G.711, i.e. standard fixed network telephone (Kai Ludwig, Germany, June 5, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** LATVIA. Relays this weekend on 9290 kHz Sat June 7th Radio Joystick 0900-1000 UT Latvia Today 1000-1100 UT Sun June 8th Latvia Today 1500-1600 UT Good listening 73s (Tom Taylor, June 5, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MALAYSIA [and non]. 1475 kHz is definitely for reception in Mindanao. Why does Malaysia bother with the Tagalog Service? Probably because the Philippines still make a theoretical claim of sovereignty over Sabah. Also there are many Filipinos working legally and illegally in Malaysia, especially in Sabah, so there is strong a cultural link with Sabah. I've found reception of 1475 in various parts of the Philippines is not great, especially because there is a local station in Mindanao on 1476. I think 5979 from Sabah died some time in 2004, or maybe 2005 at the latest, but I can't remember the exact date. The domestic MW stations in Sabah have been disappearing too. Kota Kinabalu was actually on 690 rather than 693, but it and the other KK frequency 603 seem to be inactive nowadays. Tenom 565, and Kudat 801 and 1197 have been heard over the last year or two, but probably they will disappear when the transmitters eventually die. Almost anywhere you go on Borneo, there's little left that is local on MW these days, whether in Brunei or the Malaysian and Indonesian sections. Everything is moving to FM or going silent (Alan Davies, touring in Indonesia, June 2, wwdxc BC-DX June 5 via DXLD) see also INDONESIA ** MONGOLIA. IBB 1350 kHz location --- I've looked carefully in WRTH's May 2008 Update, and since I didn't know where is the location of a new IBB transmitter for North Korea, from 1350 500 KRE CHO BBG - R. Free Asia (RFA) 1350 500 KRE CHO BBG - VO America (VOA) I can see 1350 kHz is a 500 kW unit, and it is transmitted somewhere near CHOYBALSAN (Choibalsan), Mongolia. Best regards, (D. Lekic, Serbia, June 5, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Re: Choybalsan, see BC-DX #863 also. Dragan, the images on G.E. are taken from 3 different months in 2007! IBB 1350 kHz relay is at 150 degrees. I guess, tentatively MNG Choybalsan 1350 kHz 500/150 kW at 48 03 42.19 N, 114 38 31.89 E 73 wb (Wolfgang Büschel, ibid.) ** MYANMAR/BURMA. 5985, Myanma Radio, 1322-1338, June 6, in vernacular with EZL rock music, before BoH played the usual Myanma R. indigenous musical selection, BoH musical chimes plus one loud chime/pip, fair (Ron Howard, Asilomar Beach, CA, Etón E5, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** NETHERLANDS [non]. Technical information on RNW Euro 2008 coverage As previously advised, Radio Netherlands Worldwide will be carrying live commentary in Dutch on matches at Euro 2008 involving the national team. The three group matches on 9, 13 and 17 June will be carried on additional kHz frequencies, azimuths as follows in UT: Wertachtal 1800-2100 5990 Omni Europe - 500 kW 1800-2100 5955 240 SW Europe, Canary Islands, NW Africa - 500 kW Issoudun 1800-2100 13855 135 East Africa - 500 kW 1800-2100 15650 180 West Africa - 500 kW 1845-2100 9895 105 SE Europe, Middle East - 500 kW Montsinery 1800-2100 17765 300 Caribbean, Mexico, Southern USA - 250 kW Bonaire 1800-2100 17485 170 South America - 250 kW Tinang 1830-2100 5840 200 Indonesia, W. Australia - 250 kW 1830-2100 5840 275 SE Asia - 250 kW Following a number of requests, the special station EKfm will be broadcast in AM on 5955 kHz from Nauen on these three days instead of DRM from Wertachtal: Nauen: 1100-1400 5955 190 Switzerland, Austria - 250 kW 1400-1500 5955 190 Switzerland, Austria - 100 kW On June 13 only SBS Australia will relay the Dutch commentary on their AM/FM network http://radio.sbs.com.au/index.php?page=df (June 5th, 2008 - 11:55 UTC by Andy Sennitt, Media Network blog via DXLD) That’s a good decision, RNW. As we all know, nobody has DRM, many have analogue, and even 5 Euro SW radios (not recommended by RNW) will pick up the RNW signal. Too bad the BBC does DRM noise on 1296 during the evening preventing RNW for using this channel for analogue coverage in Europe; AM is available on almost every radio-receiver near you. (I still feel that analogue AM is good enough for speech. I know people who listen almost all day to their phone in a lesser quality; did anybody ever complain on the sound-quality of a telephone demanding FM quality?) (Ruud, ibid.) ** NORTH AMERICA. The Crystal Ship from 0130+ UT tonight very strong on "experimental" frequencies, 6251 and 7575 (Don Jensen, WI, UT June 5, NASWA yg via DXLD) ** OKLAHOMA. Re 8-067, IBOC from KFAQ 1170 Tulsa: Just back from a trip to Mexico City; KFAQ-1170 definitely using IBOC, noted this evening 2230-2300 CDT. Makes a real mess from 1160 to 1210 with WOAI; bummer! (Bruce Winkelman, Tulsa, OK, June 4, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Hi Bruce, Tnx for the info. Had you heard any IBOC from KFAQ before? Know when they started doing it? (Glenn to Bruce, via DXLD) Not sure of the KFAQ IBOC start date; not heard with IBOC prior to 27 MAY 08 departure to Mexico (but I didn't specifically check for IBOC prior to that date) (Bruce Winkelman, ibid.) I had not heard IBOC on KFAQ before last evening. KAKC-1300 turned their IBOC back on, noted for the first time this afternoon on the drive home from work. KAKC's IBOC had been silent for over a year. Tulsa now has 4 IBOCers: KFAQ-1170, KAKC-1300, KMUS-1380 and KTBZ-1430 (Bruce Winkelman, Tulsa, OK, June 5, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PAPUA NEW GUINEA. 3315, R. Manus (presumed), 1310-1317, June 6, DJ in English playing pop songs, weak (Ron Howard, Asilomar Beach, CA, Etón E5, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** RUSSIA [and non]. Quick check of some VOR English to NAm frequencies, June 5 at 0213: 9480 Germany VG, 9860 Vatican good, 15425 Pet-Kam fair (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** RUSSIA. Re 8-067, Glenn, Concerning your question about WBOH on 5920 when I heard Radio Rossii: Possibly the reason I was able to hear Radio Rossii was the fact that WBOH wasn't on that morning, or at least I didn't hear it then. I don't usually catch Radio Rossii there because of QRM, so that's why I reported it (Chuck Bolland, FL, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Good. It would help to include such background in original reports (gh) ** RUSSIA. I have given the new music program on the Voice of Russia a few listens. “Russian Hits” is hosted by Anola (sp?) Karpov. Each week he spins some apparently current Russian hits and encourages listener feedback. During the particular program I listened to (the week of May 20) he was quite excited to have had his first email response, a woman in Falls Church, VA, who received a prize. The music played during the program is varied, reflecting the rather exciting music scene in Russia at the moment. Tunes played included a rather catchy tune with English lyrics (the singer clearly eyeing the western market) and a rather smooth sounding jazz influenced tune with Russian lyrics. This was followed by a rather bouncy “bubble gum” sounding rock tune, which reminded me of a young Cyndi Lauper. This was followed by a clearly rap influenced song from Georgia with English lyrics called “Freedom”. Perhaps my favourite tune was the “#4” tune on his hit list, Flying High, by a Russian singer named Yulia something. Except for the Russian lyrics, this would not sound out of place on any North American AC station. Second place on the playlist was the song by Dima Bilan which was Russia’s entry in the Eurovision Song Contest, yet to be held as I type, but already past as you read this. [and it won --- gh] While the music is clearly influenced by western hits and styles, there are some uniquely Russian influences injected into most of the music, oddly enough with the exception of Bilan’s tune. I really enjoy Mr. Karpov as a presenter. He brings a great deal of enthusiasm to the program and the subject matter. His Russian accent is endearing when he uses phrases like “I dig it”. Once the program is established, I hope he gets a good listener response. The next program is due out on June 16 (apparently it`s monthly). Try listening during that week at 0430 UT Tuesday or 0230 UT Friday. It`s also in the mix on their internet stream. Congratulations to the Voice of Russia for introducing this new program. It’s a breath of fresh air. Don’t get me wrong. I’ve always been impressed with the music from the Voice of Russia. It’s just that Pop/Rock music had struggled to be heard amongst the classics and jazz and folk tunes (Fred Waterer, Programming Matters, June ODXA Listening In via DXLD) ** RUSSIA. Medvedev Speaks, Mellifluously --- By Robert Mackey “Viewers outside Russia who tuned in this morning to watch the inauguration of Russia’s new president, Dmitri Medvedev, on the Kremlin-backed, English-language, 24-hour television news channel Russia Today heard a man recite the oath of office in deep, rich tones that evoke power and authority, but it wasn’t the new president — it was a voice-over artist, dubbing Mr. Medvedev’s remarks into English. “What was odd, and striking, about the voice chosen by what is billed as ‘Russia’s answer to CNN,’ but more often, in its open boosting of all things Kremlin, seems more like Russia’s answer to Fox News, is that it was obviously the same man who records all the station- identification and program announcements for Russia Today. “In American TV terms, it was like tuning in to CNN for the inauguration of a new U.S. president, seeing his (or her) mouth open and then hearing the words spoken in the voice of James Earl Jones, in the same tones he uses to remind us that ‘this is CNN.’ “Perhaps it should not have been a great surprise, given how close Russia Today is to being an official mouthpiece of the Kremlin, despite mission statements about ‘western-style narration ... allowing viewers space for consideration and independent conclusions.’ “But a quick look at the talent behind the often comically propagandistic channel reveals that the ‘Voice of Russia Today’ belongs to a man named George Watts [pictured at lower left], a Canadian-born announcer who emigrated to the Soviet Union in 1952 with his parents. Before the fall of communism, Mr. Watts worked for Radio Moscow’s Foreign Broadcasting Service and did some simultaneous- translation work, according to his official Russia Today biography, including serving as the English-language voice of Nikita Khrushchev and Leonid Brezhnev at official party congresses.” http://thelede.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/05/07/medvedev-speaks-mellifluously/ Voice of Russia Today It is George’s voice the audience of Russia Today hears translating from Russian, be it a studio guest speaking in his native tongue or Russian officials at the press conferences. George Watts came to the USSR in 1952 together with his parents. He started working for Radio Moscow’s Foreign Broadcasting Service as a reporter, narrator and news reader. George worked as translator and announcer for Radio Moscow until 1991. During his brilliant career he had simultaneously translated Nikita Khrushchev, Leonid Brezhnev at official congresses, Boris Yeltsin in the Kremlin for a special ABC TV interview. Has translated six books in medicine and two books about ice hockey that were published in the U.S. and Canada. Born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, George was educated at Westdale High School, McMaster University, specializing in geography and geology, Hamilton, Ontario. His pride and joy are his grandchildren – Vitalik and Elizabeth. George is married for 46 years. http://www.russiatoday.ru/rt_voice George is of course the brother of Carl Watts, who is heard daily on a number of Voice of Russia programs. Carl and Estelle Williams are probably the most recognizable voices on the Voice of Russia. For those who want to hear George translate for the new President, try: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J42vmgkeYg0 (Fred Waterer, Programming Matters, June ODXA Listening In via DXLD) ** SAUDI ARABIA. Transmitter noise of a loud hum from Saudi Arabia is not news. BSKSA Bangla from 1200 to 1500 UT on 17820 kHz (500 kW) is just an example. I have been noticing it for the last couple of years. Earlier it was a DX curiosity but now this noise makes the frequency unusable (Dr Supratik Sanatani, India, June 6, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SINGAPORE. Re 8-067: RADIO SINGAPORE INTERNATIONAL TO CLOSE DOWN The plug will be pulled at the end of July. This is a disappointment - - with the advent of streaming audio, RSI was much easier to catch in North America than when limited to SW. RSI's programming covered many topics that would be otherwise missed by broadcasters -- as one who has traveled in the region, I enjoyed an occasional listen. Catch 'em while you can (Richard Cuff / Allentown, PA USA, swprograms via DXLD) ** SLOVAKIA. ENGLISH PROGRAMMES OF RADIO TATRAS INTERNATIONAL NO LONGER ON FM Eric Chilvers of Radio Tatras International writes: RTI will no longer be airing English language programmes on the FM service of RTI-SK (Slovak Republic) starting from 05 June 2008. This is due to pressure to translate all content into Slovak, which is clearly not possible. English programmes will still be available on Sky Digital Channel 0195 (Great Britain and the Republic of Ireland), Eurobird (Europe and North Africa), and the Internet as will ALL Slovak programmes. Radio Tatras International (June 4th, 2008 - 16:45 UTC by Andy Sennitt, Media Network blog via DXLD) Chilvers = Eric Wiltsher?? (gh, DXLD) Dear All, Please see the comprehensively changed RTI web site http://www.rti.fm reflecting the full story behind the closure of English programmes on FM in Slovakia. Please feel free to share the contents with any journalists you know. I trust you all have a great weekend. Best Regards (Eric, June 6, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Website has jpg linx to a lot of legal documents in Slovak, with English narration interspersed, such as this: One disaster was Mr Reece speaking in English for around 40 seconds, about the same time as an Australian actress did in English on a Slovak TV station without any apparent problems - actually she has done that rather a lot recently but that's OK!! THE STORY ISN'T OVER YET, please keep going (via DXLD) ** SPAIN. REE English to Europe Monday to Friday now noted back on 9665 2000-2100 with good reception. A move back from 9690. Noted on 9665 June 3 while scanning the bands, parallel to 11620 (Edwin Southwell, Basingstoke, UK, World DX Club via Mike Barraclough, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SPAIN [non]. REE, 15170 via Costa Rica, Friday June 6 at 1240 introducing Informaciones en Catalán, Gallego y Vasco --- but then in first segment supposed to be Catalan, instead played a song in Castilian, without apology or explanation. 1245 into Galician news, which is always the most reliable of the three; 1250 intro in Basque but then as usual news summary in Castilian about Basque country, 1254 closing in Basque, back to Castilian for promo of Nuestra Música (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SRI LANKA. 15745, June 5 at 0208 weak, fluttery talk, seemed English, into music. Wish I had time to dig deeper, but it must be the only station scheduled here, SLBC, Ekala, 35 kW and 350 degrees per Aoki (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** TAIWAN [and non]. Radio Taiwan Int. (RTI) Listeners Club meeting details (with picture slide show) is now available via RTI web site. Click on: http://english.rti.org.tw/english/special/club/India_Delhi_Kolkata.htm (Swopan Chakroborty, Kolkata, India, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Unfortunately, thumbnail size only, not automatic, not captioned (gh) ** TINIAN. 13760, June 6 at 0607 M&W in Chinese, but unstable carrier kept breaking up, distorted; went off the air for a few seconds at 0608. While VOK uses this frequency a lot, per Aoki at this hour it`s RFA in Chinese. Such a defect one would not expect from IBB but the breakup did not seem like jamming from another transmitter, and there was no separate jamming of the usual sort audible (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** TONGA. TP's for 06-04-08 Tonga 1017 kHz --- Set my Perseus to 1017 and Total Recorder. Could definitely hear them at 1100 with what sounded like their NA at sign-off. Didn't seem to be there beyond that. Of course lots of adjacent splatter, but it rated a "7" on our scale. I'll have to keep monitoring them. Agree that they've improved something. It's been years since I've heard them with decent audio (Walt Salmaniw, Victoria, BC, June 4, IRCA via DXLD) Hi Walt, John and I also thought we were hearing their NA at 1100, but they clearly kept on going until nearly 1200 when they disappeared into the muck. We had island music continuing after 1100, and the language sure sounded like Tongan. I suppose it could have been another station, but who? I sure hope A3Z Nuku'alofa is back for good. Not only do I miss their programming, they used to be a good bellwether station to indicate potentially good South Pacific conditions on the band (Guy Atkins, Puyallup, WA USA, http://www.perseus-sdr.blogspot.com ibid.) ** TURKEY [and non]. TURKEY/CANADA: VOT 7325 via SAC June 5 at 0300 sign-on in analog. Nearly // to 5975 direct, off by half second. 73/Liz (Cameron, MI, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) I use the log above as an excuse to append this, with solar flux at incredibly low 65: does it ever descend to 64? (gh, DXLD) Solar-terrestrial indices for 04 June follow. Solar flux 65 and mid- latitude A-index 4. The mid-latitude K-index at 0300 UTC on 05 June was 1 (07 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) ** U K [non]. BBC Mundo Radio, Spanish via WHRI 9410 weekdays at 12- 13: Still has classical music fill during last half on M/W/F, checked Friday June 6 at 1249 in a movement from Mendelssohn`s Octet, which is the same as I heard weeks ago. Not only do they play the same music M/W/F of a single week, but their selexion is so limited that there are also repeats from previous weeks. 1257:30 seguéd to something else, destined to be chopped off two minutes later, as always unannounced (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U K. BBC News Set To Music --- Waveguide June 5, 2008 A live BBC News bulletin is being set to music by cellist Julian Lloyd Webber and an orchestra. The musicians will perform next to a giant screen broadcasting pictures and sound and react accordingly. Serious items will be reflected by music in a minor key while light reports will be in a major key. Lloyd Webber said he was not sure how the experiment, at Birmingham Town Hall, would work but said he was "very excited". The musicians will perform next to a giant screen showing the World News Today on BBC Four this evening at 19:00. Lloyd Webber said his cello would play the part of the bulletin's presenter, Zeinab Badawi. He and an orchestra made up of students from the Birmingham Conservatoire have been given a basic musical score to work from. However, their conductor will divert them from it to reflect the live news stories. He said: "I've always been interested in the belief that classical music is a living, breathing thing that can be involved in contemporary culture. "This could not be more contemporary than this - it's the news as it happens. "It's an experiment - I honestly I don't know how it's going to go but it's something interesting and I'm very excited about it." http://www.waveguide.co.uk/news080605.htm#BBC%20News%20Set%20To%20Music (via Mike Terry, dxldyg via DXLD) ** U K [and non]. Some VT Communications changes: Trans World Radio Africa from June 1 1730-1800 on 9805 DHA 250 kW / 230 deg to EaAf Tigrinya Sun, ex Fri Leading The Way, all cancelled from June 1: 0330-0400 on 9845 SKN 300 kW / 090 deg to WeAs Persian/English Fri 0330-0400 on 9845 SKN 300 kW / 070 deg to RUS Russian/English Sun (DX Mix News, Bulgaria, June 6 via DXLD) ** U K. Re 8-067: Droitwich 1934 film --- Very good Mike. Many thanks for drawing this to our attention. It's now one of my YouTube favourites! It was interesting to hear the commentary describe all power measurements relating to the station in horsepower. For example, it gave the total power required from the diesel engines running the generators as being nearly 2,000 horsepower. Using the formula of 1 hp = 746 watts, this gives a power requirement of almost 1,500 kW. I see from the WRTH 1947 that the two transmitters were 150 kW longwave and 60 kW mediumwave, i.e. a total of 210 kW. The difference between these two figures (1,500 and 210 kW) would be accounted for by the efficiency of the generators and the transmitters, and ancillary power consumption (lighting, other equipment, etc). (Chris Greenway, BDXC-UK via DXLD) ** U S A [non]. Frequency changes of Radio Liberty: 1600-1700 NF 11895 LAM 100 kW / 092 deg, ex 9565 in Tajik 1600-1800 NF 11975 LAM 100 kW / 092 deg, ex 11895 in Turkmen (DX Mix News, Bulgaria, June 6 via DXLD) ** U S A. EUA, 7811, 04/06 2350, AFRTS Key West, Florida, at 2350- 0128, ID 2359 "You are listening to American Forces Network...Florida" by OM, talks OM & YL EE; 0020 music "New York" by Frank Sinatra. Poor audio quality, weak signal, USB, English, 15111. Rec: DEGEN 1103 Antenna: Single dipole for 80 meter 73' s (José Ricardo M de Oliveira, Rio de Janeiro - RJ Brasil, BCDX via DXLD) With such a poor signal, it`s not surprising he could mis-hear something; I can`t imagine AFN ever giving a local ID for the Florida USB relay. Music too is only fleeting and not intentional programming on this network. Per http://myafn.dodmedia.osd.mil/AFNRadio.aspx which is in PDT = UT -7 as if that were the worldwide standard! The Alan Colmes talkshow occupies the entire 2206-2300 UT period on weekdays (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. WBCQ web site anomalies --- Hello Glenn, We had some difficulties over the past few days with extended downtime from our web hosting service, so I am moving the WBCQ site (as well as all my personal sites) to a new hosting provider. The main WBCQ site will be offline for a day or two, but the forums and schedule are up at new locations: http://forum.wbcq.com http://schedule.wbcq.com Regards, Lw (Larry Will, June 4, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. Hi Glenn, A follow up concerning my logging last week on 11170 kHz. Last evening, 6/5, I tuned in to this frequency at 0115 and heard the recitation of the Rosary in Spanish. At 0127 female vocals were heard singing “Ave María,” followed by a clear ID as “Radio Católica Mundial.” The signal peaked at S5 dB, with incessant static bursts (Ed Insinger, NJ, June 5, DX LISTENING DIGEST) WEWN ** U S A. DRM: It's in the works at WYFR, but I couldn't tell you when it will make its debut. Internal politics and choice of build-out vendors. It may be a while before any ones and zeros hit the airwaves from Okeechobee. I'll cue everybody when it's about to happen (JT, May 24, drmna yg via DXLD) ** U S A [non]. Additional transmissions of WYFR via Media Broadcast from June 5: 1800-1900 on 13790 WER 500 kW / 180 deg to WCAf in English 1900-2000 on 11865 NAU 500 kW / 187 deg to WCAf in English (DX Mix News, Bulgaria, June 6 via DXLD) ** U S A. Dear Mr. Hauser: Assuming you are not aware; according to Central Florida Radio: http://www.cflradio.net/ ``True Oldies No More 6-1-08 --- WEUS-AM 810 quietly changed formats this weekend from Scott Shannon's True Oldies Channel to religious/ brokered programming.`` And it's true, sad to say. Sincerely and Best Wishes, (Mark C., June 4, DX LISTNENING DIGEST) ** U S A. The last radio column in the Washington Post WEAKENING SIGNALS --- THE LISTENER SIGNS OFF AT A TIME WHEN RADIO'S FUTURE IS FUZZY --- By Marc Fisher, Washington Post Staff Writer, Sunday, June 1, 2008; M03 Bill Watson might play a four-hour piece by Bach, and then slap it on again, just because he felt like it. Or he might interrupt a Mahler symphony mid-spin, deciding instead to recite poetry or blend news bulletins with reports from his "Roman Empire correspondent," Edward Gibbon. Long John Nebel, a former carnival barker who once sold lucky numbers on the streets of downtown Washington, filled the night with hours- long interviews with people who had traveled on flying saucers, which might be followed by a visit from Malcolm X, who might join his host in a lengthy discourse on the marvels of Chock Full o' Nuts doughnuts. And Don Imus, long before he aged into a marble-mouthed crank, dragged himself into the studio each morning to dazzle impressionable teens by spicing up his program of pop hits with skewerings of Richard Nixon, charlatan preachers and all manner of phonies. Watson's nightly lectures and odd juxtapositions taught me classical music, Nebel's unbounded curiosity about implausible conspiracies and the unfathomables of cosmology introduced me to the suggestive mystery of the night, and Imus's bad-boy prankishness showed me that adults didn't have to lose their adolescent passions. And all this happened on the little radio I kept by my pillow through most of my youth. This is the last edition of The Listener, a column I have been writing on and off since 1995, and as I look back on some of the characters I have written about here and in "Something in the Air," my book about radio and what happens to old media when new technologies come along, I find a business and an art form in trouble: Just when radio cries out for creative revival, it is instead slipping into a disgruntled decline. Today, hardly anyone turns on the radio expecting to be lured into intimate obsessions with voices that return each night, baring their souls and insisting on a relationship with the listener. Instead, we seek more voyeuristic entertainment in the far more random worlds of Facebook and MySpace, places where the lines between friend and stranger are fuzzy enough to deliver a bit of a thrill, but where expectations are lower and the talent is mostly anonymous and amateur. Depressed by the rise of new technologies and their own fading place in the media landscape, neither those who own and run AM and FM radio stations nor even the new (but not new enough) satellite pay radio services are nurturing the kind of eccentric, iconoclastic voices that made radio so alluring from the 1950s into the '80s. Through those decades, when TV dominated American popular culture, radio was at once a mass medium and a clubhouse, a place where listeners could believe themselves to be part of an unseen community of like-minded people. Today, with the Internet having taken over as the primary provider of semi-private meeting spots, radio stations are cutting costs and bleeding talent, ceding the leading edge to the Web's collection of micro-audiences and the iPod's promise of infinite, but closely held, choice. Writing this column in recent years, I could have easily done nothing but chronicle the departure of radio's most talented voices, as the Greaseman, Don Geronimo, Dennis Owens, Chris Core and Cathy Hughes left their microphones. Or I could have profiled all the stations that once sounded like Leesburg, the Eastern Shore or the District, stations that silenced local programs, choosing instead the cheap route of taking nationally syndicated music and talk shows off the satellite. Radio's troubles have tracked the broader national decline of locally distinctive popular culture, as big media companies sought to save money by spurning the medium's uniquely local nature and instead serving up whatever programming was least offensive to the largest possible coast-to-coast audience. But instead of dwelling on the deterioration of radio's quality as an entertainment and news provider, I devoted many columns to sifting through efforts by Internet, satellite and digital radio entrepreneurs to figure out how to make money by introducing listeners to new music. Yet the more I listened to the likes of Pandora.com, Last.fm, Slacker.com and all manner of music blogs and Web radio, the more I heard the sound of automation -- sleek, efficient recommendation engines scientifically selecting the music I am most likely to like, yet missing out almost on what radio once offered: a glimpse into the hearts and passions of personalities who knew what music was new and cool, voices that offered a guided tour of unknown worlds, and sometimes even a frontal assault of the unexpected. New media pioneers are working tirelessly to solve this apparently simple puzzle: In a media landscape in which we are each empowered to go our own way, how will we learn what is new and good? And if we do find our way there, how will we become part of a community sharing those riches? In the easy decades of a tightly constricted mass media, there were three TV networks, monopoly newspapers and a handful of radio stations in each place. That lack of choice meant that much of popular culture was middle-brow in ambition and middling in quality. But the nation was guaranteed a common conversation about music, politics and nearly every other aspect of life. The challenge for all media now is to find a path back to mass, while retaining as much as possible of the freedom and access that the infinite range of the Internet promises. The programming on the radio these days does not light a way toward that goal. Music radio seems superfluous -- a selection of tunes nowhere near as varied as what iPod users choose for themselves, and without the added value that knowledgeable and entertaining DJs once provided. With the strong exception of public radio and a handful of all-news local stations such as Washington's WTOP, radio has largely gotten out of the news business -- too expensive. And the local talk programs that once made it easy for a traveler to figure out his location without ever glancing at a road sign have largely given way to Rush Limbaugh and a legion of imitators. Despite this gloomy picture, radio's first 75 years have made it clear that there is an elemental desire for audio accompaniment, especially in the car, and so there is a future for something that may or may not carry the name "radio." The XM and Sirius pay satellite services won't make a lot of sense once free Internet radio is easily available in cars, but whatever entity XM and Sirius morph into after the government rules on their merger proposal, they will be well positioned as a leading provider of audio programming, whether we listen on a cellphone, PDA or in-car Web receiver. Similarly, National Public Radio is now engaged in an existential struggle with the local public stations that from its beginning have been its financial foundation and sole means of distributing content. Inevitably, public radio's unique programs will be available by whatever technological means develop to satisfy Americans' desire to listen to music and hear the news. The old delivery systems will either die off or change functions, just as the arrival of TV changed radio's role from the main stage of popular culture to a utility providing headlines, traffic reports, temperature and the latest pop hits. The next decade or more will be a transitional time, as radio, like newspapers and television networks, forswears allegiance to any one means of distribution and declares itself platform-agnostic. Those media that, like the record industry, cling to old technology and a collapsed business model will see their futures crumble before their eyes. Radio, shedding talent as fast as it loses audience, is rapidly becoming irrelevant to the younger generation. Yet most Americans still listen to something for much of the day. Radio could be the way into those ears, but only if it invests in creating compelling reasons to be there, only if it grabs hold of us the way the voices of past decades connected to the loves, pains and dreams of young listeners. As always, the future lies in the past (via Kevin Redding, ABDX via DXLD) ** U S A. Re 8-067, Cucamonga pirate on 1010: THIS JUST IN: CHAFFEY COLLEGE STUDENTS HIT AIRWAVES, Wendy Leung, Staff Writer, Article Created: 05/10/2008 08:18:36 PM PDT RANCHO CUCAMONGA - Nobody at Chaffey College considers the school's tiny, unmarked radio studio a music museum, but maybe they should. Inside a room the size of a spacious walk-in closet, a recently acquired radio system - equipped with iPod docks and a 30-watt transmitter - dominates. Nearby are more old-school equipment - multiple turntables, a box of eight-tracks and a clunky reel-to-reel player. It's hard to believe that the community college, which journeyed from the reel-to-reel format to digital files, has never had a radio station until now. In the past, students who learned radio broadcasting had only an audience composed of their teachers and classmates. This year, under the tutelage of broadcasting professor Daniel Jacobo, students have been showing off their skills on-air on 1010 AM and online at http://www.chaffey.edu/broadcast The station airs several live and taped student shows on weekdays with a music feed that fills in the gaps. Jacobo, who wants the station to eventually become a community forum, thinks college radio has a significant role to play. The station's lineup clearly reflects the diversity of the college. From a sports talk show to a Chicano/Latino culture program, Jacobo said the students have worked really hard in developing their radio personalities. Jacqueline Clark, 25, is also known as "DJ Jacky" on her show focusing on campus news and entertainment gossip. Clark appears to be a natural on-air. Last week, she did her first on-air interview with some of the school's football players. "As soon as you put the headphones on, you're a different person," she explained. "It just flows." Clark has been waiting a long time for the radio program to get started. It took four years for Jacobo to raise the funds needed to start a radio station. For now, it’s young students like Verónica Quiroz, 20, who are dominating the airwaves. Quiroz said her show is "kinda like KIISFM, a little rock, a little hip-hop." In preparation for finals week, she has been playing a lot of up-tempo dance music - by Justice and Simian, for example. "Usually in class, I pay attention and do my work so not a lot of people know who I am," Quiroz said. "Broadcasting brings out my personality." Challenging exercise Quiroz said the most nerve-wracking part is dealing with all the equipment. Most of the time, the students play the roles of radio host and sound engineer simultaneously. "They're actually doing this," said Jacobo, rubbing his belly while patting his head. Marissa Norys' schedule doesn't allow her to do a live show so she tapes it in advance. Norys, 20, has a lighthearted show dedicated to relationships. "It's like `Sex In the City' with a college atmosphere," she said. On a recent show, she explored the age-old question of whether two people can remain friends after a breakup. Norys doesn't consider herself a feminist but gender equality is a topic that comes up often on her show. "You hear Mark and Brian doing these funny shows but you don't really see women doing it," Norys pointed out. Afira Miller, 32, is part of a trio that hosts "Hot List." It's a hip- hop and R&B show mixed in with sports, politics and celebrity gossip. "Kind of like Big Boy and Steve Harvey," she said. Miller is a single mother taking six classes this semester and being on-air helps her escape. "I guess I get into character," she said. "My energy is way up when I walk through the door." Jacobo said the radio has opened up many quiet students like Miller. "Some of the more reserved students come here, and they're able to express who they are without having to be embarrassed," he said. Ted Nares' collection of 5,000 CDs makes it easy for him to host "The Lodge," an underground-music show. "It's an ode to the obscure," he said. Nares, 28, started developing his music library at age 16, when he started working at a convenience store. "My whole paycheck went to music," he said. Nares said after a couple of months of broadcasting he's getting the hang of being a DJ. Recently, Nares listened to a recording of his first show and was so embarrassed by his inexperience, he broke the CD in half. He's more confident now and has recently developed a four-song segment using cover songs to show the relationships between musicians. For instance, he once played Nick Cave, then Johnny Cash doing a cover of Cave, which was followed by Pulp and then Cave covering Pulp. Nares said his goal is to introduce people to new music. "There's just a lot out there that I'm not hearing," he said (Inland Valley Daily Bulletin, Ontario, CA 5/10/08 via Robert Wien, CA, a.k.a. Las Cruces NM, IRCA DX Monitor June 7 via DXLD) ** ZIMBABWE. Heads roll at ZBC --- June 4, 2008 By Our Correspondent HARARE - A total of eight senior journalists have been suspended at the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC) amid accusations they are sympathetic to the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC). Topping the long list of the journalists suspended Tuesday night at Pockets Hills, headquarters of the government-owned and Zimbabwe's only public broadcaster are Robson Mhandu, the general manager, Television Services, Patrice Makova (news editor Television Services) and Steven Ndoma (deputy editor-in-chief). The others are Robert Tapfumaneyi, Brian Paradza, Monica Gavhera, Lawrence Maphosa and Sibonginkosi Mlilo. Their suspension follows that of former chief executive Henry Muradzikwa who was fired last month for allegedly failing to ensure a victory for President Robert Mugabe who was trounced by MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai. Tapfumaneyi is particularly accused of deleting a tape, which had recordings of speeches made by Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Union leaders Wellington Chibhebhe and Lovemore Matombo. "The state wanted to use the tape to aid in the prosecution of Chibhebhe and Matombo but it turned out the tapes had been deleted," said a ZBC insider. Chibhebhe and Matombo were arrested after the Workers Day celebrations on May 1 at Dzivarasekwa Stadium. They were charged with inciting workers to revolt against President Robert Mugabe's government. The suspended ZBC workers are barred from setting foot at Pockets Hills and other premises of Zimbabwe Broadcasting Holdings, among other conditions. Since stepping into the shoes of Muradzikwa, Muchechetere has dramatically changed news content and programming, filling an estimated 99 percent of the news slots with Zanu-PF propaganda in the run-up to the June 27 presidential run-off. Muchechetere was not available to comment. But the Zimbabwe Union of Journalists (ZUJ), president Matthew Takaona and the Media Institute of Southern African (MISA) Zimbabwe Chapter national director Takura Zhangazha, confirmed some of the suspended employees had been in touch with their respective organisations over their plight. "ZUJ condemns the suspension of the journalists from ZBC by the new management," said Takaona in a statement to the media. "The suspension constitutes the most deplorable form of unfair labour practice as it is irrational, unlawful and personal," said Takaona, noting that this was happening hard on the heels of the dismissal of Muradzikwa. Zhangazha said: "It seems there are deliberate attempts to undermine the ability of professional journalists at ZBC to discharge their duties. Those not supporting the ruling party are surely going to be hounded out of the ZBC." (Source? via David Pringle-Wood, Zimbabwe, June 6, DXLD) PRESSURE RAMPED UP ON ZIMBABWEAN MEDIA --- With state media brought to heel, the authorities are turning on private newspapers. By Jabu Shoko in Harare (ZCR No. 149, 4-Jun-08) As President Robert Mugabe intensifies his crackdown on political dissent in the run-up to the second round of the presidential election, the media have become prime targets. Journalists have been arrested, articles rejected by the state press, and a shipment of newspapers set alight in the government’s attempts to silence voices critical of Mugabe. “Under these circumstances, the June 27 presidential election run-off cannot, for all intents and purposes, be called a free and fair contest,” said Gorden Moyo, the executive director of Bulawayo Agenda, a political pressure group. . . http://www.iwpr.net/?p=zim&s=f&o=345005&apc_state=henh (Institute for War & Peace Reporting, via DXLD) UNIDENTIFIED. Hello Glen[n], I’ve got one UNID pirate logging from last evening. I continued listening, since reception was decent. Haven’t heard this one before and the ID is new to me. 6/6 on 6925.38 USB at 0130 with program of continuous music. Euro/disco style with male vocals, bordering on hard rock. Tough copy at first due to operating off frequency. Finally settled down and cleared up at 0140 on 6925.40 USB. Music with no announcements, lots of electronic synthesizers and reverb electric guitar. Selection at 0142 entitled “Time To Kill,” followed by “What Could I Say,” both with male lead vocals. Others followed, including “Make You Want To Cry” and “Call It Love If You Want To.” Continued with no ID until 0206 UTC, when a male announcer said: “The preceding program was a presentation of Union Allied Interested,” then sign off (Ed Insinger, NJ, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. Saludos cordiales. 15460, NO ID, 1717-1725, escuchada el 5 de junio con emisión de música sin pausa cubana, SINPO 44444 (José Miguel Romero, Burjasot (Valencia), España, Sangean ATS 909, Antena Radio Master, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Yes, very strong here too from tune-in 1745. Quickly scanned 9 thru 17 MHz bands and found no //. Of course, this time of day is normally siesta for all the RHC transmitters, most likely a test from there. Not // Martí 13820 (Glenn Hauser, OK, ibid.) Saludos Glenn, es probable que se trate de algún test de RHC; a las 1733 sufrió un corte de aproximadamente un minuto y medio, luego reanudó la emisión, se aprecia muy interferida por la Voz de Rusia en su servicio en italiano en 15465, también en su servicio en francés que comienza a las 1800. Veremos si confirma RHC esta emisión, por si acaso le he enviado la escucha al profesor Arnaldo Coro. La señal es buena aquí en Valencia, pero muy interferida por VOR. 73 (José Miguel Romero, ibid.) 15460: Thanks to Glen[n] and José. Signal at 1820 is 34233 in Europe. Playing nice Cuban music. My second unusual Cuban catch of the day!! [see CUBA: 11760] (Dan Goldfarb, Brentwood, England, ibid.) I wasn`t able to listen continuously, but whenever I checked it, 15460 was still music with no announcements. Did anyone hear any? Around 1807 song was ``Cuba Libre``, so doubts arise whether it could possibly be RHC. Is that song banned by the DentroCubans? Another evergreen about 15 minutes later, ``Guantanamera``. José Miguel also noticed those two songs and others were heard several times during the period he monitored, 1710-1815. I heard it go off abruptly at 1859* sharp, which is another indication it was not Habana, but some professional operation. By the end the signal had weakened considerably. Probably a new clandestine service testing from some NAm site? Further chex needed between 1700 and 1900, or maybe it starts earlier (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Saludos Glenn, respecto a esas canciones, cómo curiosidad, han sido emitidas varias veces durante la transmisión, me mantuve a la escucha desde las 1710 hasta las 1815 aproximadamente, no escuché ninguna identificación, tan sólo un corte abrupto a las 1733 que duró aproximadamente minuto y medio, pude escuchar varias veces las mismas canciones repetidas, "Guantanamera", "Cuba Libre" y otras, muy extraño. Veremos si mañana y en los próximos días se repite, test de emisión??, pruebas de RHC??, probable nueva clandestina para Cuba??, respecto a esto, me intriga el horario de emisión, parece muy pronto para emitir hacia Cuba, o quizás no (José Miguel Romero, Spain, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Cuban music test on 15460 is on at 1559 already June 6; I missed exactly when it came on. Anyone with DF to help locate it? (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) The Cuban music is also heard in Copenhagen at 1625 UT, but rather weak. 73, (Erik Køie, Denmark, June 6, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Hi Erik, 1710, en Valencia, España, Mx "Cuba Libre", SINPO 45544. 73 José Miguel Romero, Spain, June 6, ibid.) Saludos Glenn, respecto a la posible ubicación de esta transmisión, puedo adelantar que se capta aquí en Valencia con la antena telescópica de la Sangean, incluso si la antena está recogida, señal muy fuerte, descarto procedencia de América. Me inclino a Europa y próximo a mi QTH, quizás Reino Unido, Francia o Alemania. Otra posibilidad, norte de África, mas lejos no (José Miguel Romero2, Spain, ibid.) Seems NAm to me, not from Eurafrica (gh, DXLD) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ UNSOLICITED TESTIMONIALS ++++++++++++++++++++++++ Dear Glenn, Many thanks for the news pages over the last year; they are very much of help to me in my monitoring the bands. Alf Brimming, Bristol, UK (via Mike Barraclough, WDXC) PUBLICATIONS ++++++++++++ NEW PERSEUS DATABASES Hello Glenn, a new version of the Perseus databases is available at http://www.4shared.com/dir/5567845/166a39bd/sharing.html Included are the following updates: Nagoya 03062008 KOJE 03062008 KOMEX 03062008 DXCP 30052008 Eibi 29052008 Niven 24032008 EMWG 21032008 KOJE and KOMEX have been updated completely by OM Tapio Kalmi from Finland. Both lists now show sunrise and sunset times for all transmitter locations as well as the distance to your own location. The same is true for MWList done by Günter Lorenz from Germany and the Brazilian DXCP by Marcelo Bedene. Tnx to all! On the first page of the databases you now can submit your own coordinates which will be used for all lists that offer those result columns. The logsheet (last page) is based on the 0.7 version of Perseus_Log_and_Tuner by Wolfgang K. Meister, OE1MWW. A bug in the S-meter routine has been resolved. All lists can control the Perseus receiver. Have fun! vy 73 (Willi, DJ6JZ, Passmann, Germany, June 4, http://www.radio-portal.org/sdr.html SDR-Special, DX LISTENING DIGEST) CHUCK BOLLAND`S DATABASE http://www.orchidcitysoftware.com/IMAGE59.HTML Just updated and upgraded the freeware database I wrote with EIBI's data at the above link (Chuck Bolland, Clewiston, Florida, NRD545, June 6, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) LANGUAGE LESSONS ++++++++++++++++ NATIONAL SPELLING BEE I am always amused that ESPN carries this annual event where young people try to spell complicated words, an activity for which English is the most suitable language in the world. Why is this not open to adults?? I believe it was originally on sibling network ABC, but I missed it then. So totally mental activity like this is considered a `sport`?? But this time I was really put off by the correct spelling being put up on the screen shortly after it was pronounced, not giving viewers a chance to think about it like the stalling contestants! I was further put off when one young lady finalist lost out because she spelt ÉCASSÉ with an extra E on the end! From the pronunciation one could not possibly tell whether the adjective was masculine or feminine, as should have been obvious to anyone who knew the first thing about French. Yet her spelling was ruled incorrect without a second thought or a challenge. Masculine always trumps? Wait a minute – what`s a French word, complete with accents visually altho ignored audibly, doing in an English spelling bee? Somehow this has apparently been declared an `English` word, along with a string of other French words. And how can it be spelt correctly or incorrectly without specifying the accents? I protest! (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) MUSEA +++++ HELP BLETCHLEY PARK Hello Folks, Apparently BP can sustain itself for just another three years; it is run on what it earns and the help given by volunteers, no more. If you have an interest in Bletchley Park, the Enigma machine or recognise things would not be as they are now without the activities of BP staff then please consider: If you would like to make an online donation to Bletchley Park Trust, please go to http://www.bletchleypark.org.uk/ or, only if British: Sign the petition lobbying the Prime Minister to act to help preserve Bletchley Park, please go to http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/BletchleyPark/ Thanks. (Paul, G7VAK, ENIGMA 2000, monitoringmonthly yg via DXLD) BIG JON AND SPARKY Saturday morning radio on the ABC Network, aired from 1950 through 1958 I am told that the show also ran weekdays. The show emanated from San Francisco. The show, on Saturdays, would start off with the refrain "NO School Today" by Sparky and then the tune "Teddy Bear's Picnic" Because of my interest in Radio history and programming, I am often asked about the intro and the lyrics, so here they are, if anyone would care to sing along. http://12121.hostinguk.com/tedybearpicncpiano.mid for the tune Lyrics: WORDS TO THE TEDDY BEAR's PICNIC SONG If you go out in the woods today You're sure of a big surprise. If you go out in the woods today You'd better go in disguise. For every bear that ever there was Will gather there for certain, because Today's the day the teddy bears have their picnic. Picnic time for teddy bears, The little teddy bears are having a lovely time today. Watch them, catch them unawares, And see them picnic on their holiday. See them gaily dance about. They love to play and shout. And never have any cares. At six o'clock their mommies and daddies Will take them home to bed Because they're tired little teddy bears. If you go out in the woods today, You'd better not go alone. It's lovely out in the woods today, But safer to stay at home. For every bear that ever there was Will gather there for certain, because Today's the day the teddy bears have their picnic CHORUS Every teddy bear, that's been good Is sure of a treat today There's lots of wonderful things to eat And wonderful games to play Beneath the trees, where nobody sees They'll hide and seek as long as they please Today's the day the teddy bears have their picnic CHORUS ----------------------- If you search the Internet you will find air checks of the show, as well as find various episodes on Old Time Radio sites. Free OTR Shows - Old Time Radio To listen to any of the shows in our archive, click on any of the links below. These shows lack the tune intro, due to copyright issues. 19xx-xx-xx AA The Kidnapping Case Continues 19xx-xx-xx AB The Kidnapping Case Continues 19xx-xx-xx AC Whos Who 19xx-xx-xx AD Whos Who Continued 19xx-xx-xx AE The Kidnapped Car is Sighted (short) 19xx-xx-xx AF Sparky Tracks Down a Clue 19xx-xx-xx AG Sparkys Private Detective Agency (Pete, KZ1Z, Lost in the happy memories of AM, NRC-AM via DXLD) I'm not sure, but didn't Big John and Sparky wind up on Family Radio years after their run on commercial radio ended? (Larry Stoler, ibid.) Larry is correct. I had that question ever since I saw a listing for the program on an OTR webpage. I grew up in the New York metro area (north Jersey). Starting in the mid 60's WFME Radio in Newark was just bought by Family Radio. They carried the show. It was hosted by John Arthur who was the host and producer of the original Big John And Sparky. They would play one of the 15 minute shows followed by a recorded story from the bible. The program was half an hour. I remember discovering it soon after we got a new portable AM/FM radio. Just for fun I found an episode on the net, downloaded it and gave it a quick listen. Yes, the voice was the same as the John Arthur who did the shows on WFME. I am not sure if during the FME airings whether the original airchecks from the 50's were used. See what happens when you cross a broadcast nut with a DXer and OTR nut (Dave Marthouse, http://www.wodiradio.com ibid.) "Teddy Bear's Picnic", the "William Tell Overture", and other theme songs like the one to "Sergeant Preston of the Yukon" (from another classical piece - can't think of the title now) are permanently engraved in my memory banks (Paul Swearingen, Topeka, ibid.) Donna Diana Overture, by Reznicek. I can hear it now (Glenn Hauser, ibid.) Very good. Now let's see who remembers the source of the music from "I Love a Mystery." (Pete Taylor, Tacoma, WA, ibid.) Wow, Pete. Don't ever think I ever listened to that one. Thanks for the title and artist, Glenn (Paul Swearingen, Topeka, ibid.) Me neither; er, Reznicek was the composer, not artist (gh, DXLD) I can hear it in my mind's ear, but I could not title it without Google and Wikipedia. The title is appropriate for the melody. [earlier:] This would be impossible today, of course, but I remember, when I was growing up in Corvallis, Oregon, I would occasionally, during early Saturday DX session, hear Big John & Sparky on the Caldwell Idaho station on 1450 from 300 or so miles out. Must have been on a Sunday morning in the hour or so before KORE signed on. Didn't that show have a segment where they went under the sea and did gargly talk? Other early morning kids shows had characters like Froggy the Gremlin, Smilin' Ed McConnell, Buster Brown was on a show sponsored by the shoes of the same name ... wait ... the show I heard on the Idaho station was something called Coast to Coast on a Bus ... or at least it had a segment with that title. These are some memories that are some what fragmented ... like my short term memories (Qal R. Mann, Krumudgeon, ibid.) DIGITAL BROADCASTING DRM: AUSTRALIA; BULGARIA; CUBA; KUWAIT; ++++++++++++++++++++ NETHERLANDS; USA: WYFR. IBOC: see OKLAHOMA AND: RADIO EQUIPMENT FORUM +++++++++++++++++++++ CBS FM HD ANTENNA TOWER PORTLAND OREGON Had a chat with my neighbor who is the chief engineer for CBS radio in Portland, OR. Construction has started on the new antenna tower for the 5 HD FM stations that CBS owns in Portland. He mentioned that the cost of the antenna is $1,000,000. It has a elevator that stops 60' from the top of the tower. The location is on the hill near the other towers above the city of Portland. He said that it would be a long time before CBS considers HD for KFMD 970 AM. Also mentioned that one the guys building the tower, his next job is setting up a 200 kw MW station. My neighbor forgot what country the station was in (Dennis Vroomski, Salmon Creek, WA, June 4, IRCA via DXLD) Woah, $1 million for an Antenna? I`m no engineer, but that seems very very steep to me. $1 mil is probably for the entire HD conversion for all 5 stations. How can he forget what country HE is going to set up a new 200 kW AM station in? When he remembers what country it's in, let us know (Paul Walker, Ord NE, http://www.realradiousa.com ibid.) $1 million does not surprise me at all, Paul. A lot of stations spend far more than that on new antenna projects. He is probably talking about the entire antenna project - not just the antenna itself. He mentioned a tower with an elevator in it. And you must consider all of the ancillary equipment. And there may even be a structure included in that price. Antenna projects can be very expensive. When a couple of suburban FM stations decided to back door into the Denver market a couple years ago they built a 2,000 foot tower on the very rural prairie 45 miles east of Denver. In order to secure approval from the county commissioners to build the tower they had to also agree to fund construction of a new control tower for the Front Range Airport which is 30 miles away from the antenna tower. It is the tallest control tower in the US. What do you think that antenna project cost? When my current employer built the new transmitter site for KCKK-AM, which is on county wildland property, they had to also agree to fund construction of a new office and maintenance garage facility for the county highway department. That antenna project cost about $3 million. When my employer moved 105.5 into the northeast CO market they bought a historic former AT&T Long Lines microwave relay site on top of Buckhorn Mountain west of Fort Collins for the antenna facility. This was originally one of the relay stations on AT&Ts first transcontinental microwave system. It is at 8,300 feet above sea level. This is a huge two-story facility that was built during the cold war era. It was hardened against bomb blasts and had decontamination shower facilities at the entrances. It held living quarters and mess hall facilities for an entourage of resident technicians. It contained a fully operational backup generator powered by a diesel locomotive engine. And it had one of those huge 4-leg towers next to it that was typical of the microwave relay towers of the era. The line of site coverage from here is amazing. With binoculars on a clear day you can see well into WY and incredibly far out onto the eastern CO plains. I'm estimating that the facility has about 20,000 square feet of floor space. Our equipment probably occupies about 2% of the structure. Another very expensive antenna project. BTW there is some interesting historic information and photos of this facility from 1955 and 1975 at http://long-lines.net/places-routes/Buckhorn-Mtn/index.html (Patrick Griffith, CBT CBNT CRO, Westminster CO http://community.webtv.net/AM-DXer/ http://community.webtv.net/N0NNK/ ibid.) PROPAGATION +++++++++++ Geomagnetic Summary January 16 2008 through May 31 2008 (it’s been a while – pb) Tabulated from email status daily. Date Flux A K Space Wx January 2008: 16 74 14 2 no storms 17 73 12 1 no storms 18 74 10 2 no storms 19 71 14 2 no storms 20 71 12 2 no storms 21 70 8 1 no storms 22 72 2 1 no storms 23 70 2 1 no storms 24 71 2 2 no storms 25 71 4 1 no storms 26 71 4 3 no storms 27 73 8 1 no storms 28 72 3 2 no storms 29 71 4 2 no storms 30 72 5 1 no storms 31 73 1 0 no storms February 2008: 1 72 8 3 no storms 2 71 16 4 no storms 3 72 18 3 minor 4 71 13 3 no storms 5 71 10 1 no storms 6 71 3 1 no storms 7 72 2 1 no storms 8 71 5 1 no storms 9 71 6 2 no storms 10 72 5 2 no storms 11 73 19 3 minor 12 72 20 2 no storms 13 72 15 2 no storms 14 71 16 2 no storms 15 71 12 4 no storms 16 70 10 1 no storms 17 70 12 2 no storms 18 71 8 2 no storms 19 71 9 2 no storms 20 72 8 2 no storms 21 71 19 1 no storms 22 72 6 1 no storms 23 72 6 2 no storms 24 72 4 2 no storms 25 71 5 3 no storms 26 71 4 1 no storms 27 71 4 2 no storms 28 71 4 3 no storms 29 70 33 3 no storms March 2008: 1 70 24 4 no storms 2 69 21 3 minor 3 69 19 3 no storms 4 68 7 1 no storms 5 68 7 2 no storms 6 69 12 2 no storms 7 70 2 0 no storms 8 71 2 0 no storms 9 70 13 3 no storms 10 70 10 3 minor 11 70 21 2 no storms 12 70 17 2 no storms 13 69 15 3 no storms 14 70 14 2 no storms 15 70 13 3 no storms 16 70 12 2 no storms 17 70 10 2 no storms 18 70 6 2 no storms 19 70 4 2 no storms 20 69 6 1 no storms 21 68 10 2 no storms 22 68 10 1 no storms 23 70 5 2 no storms 24 72 8 1 no storms 25 79 4 0 no storms 26 89 5 3 minor 27 82 24 4 minor 28 85 22 3 moderate 29 83 18 3 minor 30 83 25 2 no storms 31 81 10 1 no storms April 2008: 1 79 4 1 no storms 2 78 3 0 no storms 3 76 1 1 no storms 4 76 1 1 no storms 5 73 6 4 no storms 6 71 15 3 moderate 7 69 15 2 minor 8 69 17 4 no storms 9 70 10 2 no storms 10 68 12 2 no storms 11 68 12 2 no storms 12 67 5 1 no storms 13 68 13 2 no storms 14 68 8 2 no storms 15 69 8 0 no storms 16 69 1 1 no storms 17 70 13 2 no storms 18 69 7 1 no storms 19 70 6 1 no storms 20 71 5 1 no storms 21 71 5 3 no storms 22 71 5 1 no storms 23 71 5 3 no storms 24 71 5 5 minor 25 71 27 2 minor 26 70 16 2 no storms 27 70 10 3 no storms 28 69 11 4 no storms 29 68 13 3 no storms 30 69 12 1 no storms May 2008: 1 69 6 3 no storms 2 67 6 3 minor 3 68 12 1 no storms 5 67 10 1 no storms 6 68 7 4 no storms 7 68 12 2 no storms 8 67 12 2 no storms 9 67 4 1 no storms 10 66 4 0 no storms 11 67 3 1 no storms 12 67 4 1 no storms 13 68 3 2 no storms 14 68 5 3 no storms 15 68 7 2 no storms 16 71 3 1 no storms 17 72 4 1 no storms 18 71 2 1 no storms 19 72 2 1 no storms 20 69 9 1 no storms 21 69 9 3 no storms 22 69 11 3 no storms 23 69 15 3 no storms 24 68 10 3 no storms 25 69 7 2 no storms 26 68 8 2 no storms 27 68 8 1 no storms 28 68 7 2 no storms 29 68 6 3 no storms 30 68 12 2 no storms 31 67 9 3 no storms (via Phil Bytheway, IRCA DX Monitor June 7 via DXLD) KN4LF Daily LF/MF/HF/6M Frequency Radiowave Propagation Forecast #2008-22 has been published on Friday 06/06/2008 at 1430 UTC, valid 0000 UTC Saturday 06/07/2008 through 2359 UTC Friday 06/13/2008 at http://www.kn4lf.com/kn4lf6.htm 73 & God Bless, (Thomas F. Giella, KN4LF, Lakeland, FL, USA, June 6, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ###