DX LISTENING DIGEST 8-121, November 24, 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 1435 Tue 1200 WRMI 9955 Tue 1630 WRMI 9955 Wed 0630 WRMI 9955 [or new 1436] Wed 1230 WRMI 9955 [or new 1436] WBCQ is also airing thru November, repeats of recent WOR editions, M-F at 2030 on 7415 SHORTWAVE AIRINGS OF WORLD OF RADIO 1436 Wed 2200 WBCQ 15420-CUSB Thu 0630 WRMI 9955 Thu 1530 WRMI 9955 Fri 0030 WBCQ 7415 Fri 0200 WRMI 9955 Fri 0900 WRMI 9955 Fri 2030 IPAR/IRRS/NEXUS/IBA 7290 Fri 2130 WWCR1 15825 Sat 0000 WBCQ 5110-CUSB Area 51 Sat 0900 WRMI 9955 Sat 1730 WWCR3 12160 Sun 0330 WWCR3 5070 Sun 0730 WWCR1 3215 Sun 0900 WRMI 9955 Sun 1615 WRMI 9955 Mon 2300 WBCQ 7415 [reconfirmed Nov 24] Tue 1200 WRMI 9955 Tue 1630 WRMI 9955 Wed 0630 WRMI 9955 [or new 1437] Wed 1230 WRMI 9955 [or new 1437] Latest edition of this schedule version, including AM, FM, satellite and webcasts with hotlinks to station sites and audio, is at: http://www.worldofradio.com/radioskd.html For updates see our Anomaly Alert page: http://www.worldofradio.com/anomaly.html WRN ON DEMAND: http://new.wrn.org/listeners/stations/station.php?StationID=24 WORLD OF RADIO PODCASTS VIA WRN NOW AVAILABLE: http://www.wrn.org/listeners/stations/podcast.php OUR ONDEMAND AUDIO: http://www.worldofradio.com/audiomid.html or http://wor.worldofradio.org ** ABKHAZIA. Abkhazian R, Sukhumi at 0500-0600 UT on usual 9494.74 kHz, but today Nov 24 also on \\ program with same power level 9535.00 kHz. Latter window gap is open between 5-6 UT. Co-channel REE Noblejas leaves 0500, and RL Biblis in Russian appears from 0600. At 0700 only 9494.74 was still in progress in Russian language, but 9535 was OFF (Wolfgang Büschel, Germany, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ALGERIA [non]. Winter B-08 of RTAlgeria, not the Holy Qur`an radio: 0400-0457 5865 ISS 500 kW / 162 deg CeEaAf till Feb. 28, 2009 0400-0457 7295 ISS 500 kW / 162 deg CeEaAf from Mar. 01, 2009 0500-0557 5865 ISS 500 kW / 194 deg NoWeAf till Feb. 28, 2009 0500-0557 7295 ISS 500 kW / 162 deg CeEaAf from Mar. 01, 2009 0600-0657 5865 ISS 500 kW / 194 deg NoWeAf till Feb. 28, 2009 0600-0657 7295 ISS 500 kW / 194 deg NoWeAf Mar. 01, 2009 / alt. 7115 1800-1857 9390 ISS 500 kW / 162 deg CeEaAf 1900-1957 9390 ISS 500 kW / 162 deg CeEaAf 1900-1957 7455 ISS 500 kW / 194 deg NoWeAf till Feb. 28, 2009 1900-1957 9825 ISS 500 kW / 194 deg NoWeAf from Mar. 01, 2009 2000-2057 7455 ISS 500 kW / 162 deg CeEaAf till Feb. 28, 2009 2000-2057 9390 ISS 500 kW / 162 deg CeEaAf from Mar. 01, 2009 2000-2057 7455 ISS 500 kW / 194 deg NoWeAf till Feb. 28, 2009 2000-2057 9825 ISS 500 kW / 194 deg NoWeAf from Mar. 01, 2009 2100-2157 7455 ISS 500 kW / 162 deg CeEaAf 2100-2157 5865 ISS 500 kW / 194 deg NoWeAf till Feb. 28, 2009 2100-2157 7295 ISS 500 kW / 194 deg NoWeAf from Mar. 01, 2009 2200-2257 5865 ISS 500 kW / 194 deg NoWeAf till Feb. 28, 2009 2200-2257 7295 ISS 500 kW / 194 deg NoWeAf from Mar. 01, 2009 (DX Mix News, Bulgaria, Nov 24 via DXLD) ** ANDAMAN & NICOBAR IS. 4760, AIR Port Blair, 1518-1531 + 1547, Nov 21, in vernacular and English, 1530 "News at nine", recently this has become the strongest AIR on 60m, //4775, 4880, 4970, 5010, 5040 and 9425, after the news a panel discussion in English about the Indian Navy and the Somali pirates (Ron Howard, Asilomar Beach, CA, Etón E1, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ASCENSION. 21470, BBC, 1523, 11/23/08, English. A correspondent report on a donkey-carrier service delivering books to rural schoolkids in Africa. Strong signal, but also the only one audible on 13m. Good (Mark Schiefelbein, MO, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ASCENSION. Just when we are enjoying reliable reception of Star Radio & Cotton Tree News, 0700-0800 on 9525, they step up a band to iffier 25m, where on 11875 I could only detect some music and flutter at 0700 Nov 23. That`s the NF reported by Kouji Yamada, Japan Premium. Next night, Nov 24 at 0700, nothing audible on 11875 but WEWN Spanish squealer quite audible on 11870 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** AUSTRALIA. Hello Glenn, Chris Hambly, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, asked me to send this to you. HCJB DX Partyline is back to its normal time. Heard on Saturdays on 11750 kHz at 0755z. Regards from (Chris and David Vitek, Nov 24, DX LISTENING DIGEST) The 11750 transmission had been completely missing from initial B-08 schedule, presumably due to antenna work/relocation. It`s 0730-0930, 50 kW at 120 degrees, completely back? (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** AUSTRIA. LONG DOMINANT PUBLIC BROADCASTER FALLS ON HARD TIMES Austria may have one one of Europe’s richest public broadcasters, but ORF is currently coping with a €100 million budget shortfall. ORF managers, under direction from the Trustees, are slashing almost everything they can think of to save almost €85 million next year. Follow the Media’s Michael Hedges has the details. Read the report: http://followthemedia.com/pubserve/orf24112008.htm (November 24th, 2008 - 13:41 UTC by Andy Sennitt, Media Network blog via DXLD) SW is already so insignificant that it is not mentioned (gh) ** AUSTRIA [non]. Re 8-120, listening from Salzburg: >> 207 kHz - relay of DLF, obviously from Southern Germany. Aholming near Deggendorf. Replaced Erching due to the construction of the new Munich airport, went on air in 1989 with a Telefunken/Transradio S4008 transmitter (similar to S4005, just for longwave instead of shortwave) that as of Oct 10 has been replaced by a new TRAM/P 500L solid-state transmitter, cf. http://www.transradio.de/html/aholming.html (illustrated) >> 612 kHz - Radio Serbia 1 from Belgrade. Ooops, that's Sarajevo. >> 765 kHz - Option Musique from Sottens. Very strong with heavily >> compressed audio. Sounded like it was coming from a rather old tx, >> possibly with valves instead of transistors. Tube PA yes, but not too old, I think the last generation of Brown Boveri tube transmitters, similar to the shortwave transmitter that was in use at Sottens from 1989 to 2004: http://www.biennophone.ch/MW-Sender.htm#Sottens And yes, the audio on 765 is just a constant floor of noise. I can lively imagine how it must look on a level meter. >> 801 kHz - Bavarian Open Radio. No longer, has in May been renamed into on3radio. BR's new youth station, launched in October 2007 although no FM service is possible. Thus it's also on mediumwave, and for that all special broadcasts have been taken off 801/729 and put on a new digital channel called B5 plus (it's also in the ARD radio mux on Astra 1H). And a few days ago a new private station called Ego FM has been launched on the former FM frequencies of Radio Melodie (it's on Astra 1H, too). The format of Ego FM is so similar to on3radio that I can't help but suspect that this is a revenge from the commercial broadcasting scene for on3radio. >> 828 kHz - New Dutch station from Netherlands. It's called CAZ! (in Germany also derided as KOTZ!), a former SBS operation bought in last year by Arrow who took it off FM and put Arrow Classic Rock (ex. Lopik 675 kHz and before that from 1998 to 2003 on this very 828 kHz outlet) on these frequencies instead. The Rotterdam transmitter on 828 kHz carries CAZ! since July 10st, back then it had been announced that it would be just a placeholder for a planned talk format. But who knows if this talk station will ever see the light of the day. >> Sunrise Radio - 1458 kHz - if radio turned away from >> Brookmans Park you got that old heterodyne courtesy >> of Albania and their off-channel transmitters! The other way round this means that Brookmans Park causes serious interference to Radio Tirana in German, often rendering it unusable. This was not the case in the past, and I have an impression that the Fllaka signal has considerably weakened due to the transmitter no longer running at 500 kW or/and a decreased efficiency of the antenna system (Kai Ludwig, Germany, Nov 23, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BANGLADESH. 4750, Bangladesh Betar, 1533-1551, Nov 23, all in English, news (items about Jimmy Carter, Bangladesh, etc.), ID "Bangladesh Betar", into program about political matters, many recorded speeches, poor, mixing with a strong CNR-1 (Ron Howard, Asilomar Beach, CA, Etón E1, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BELARUS. 2340, Belaruskae R, Minsk 0123 UT 23/11, f pks, good audio, 2 x 1170 4680, Belaruskae R, Minsk, 0123 23/11, v poor, 4 x 1170 (Tim Bucknall, Congleton, Cheshire, UK, Icom R9500 + welbrooke ala 1530 outdoor loop, harmonics yg via DXLD) ** BHUTAN. 6035, BBS, 1445-1456, Nov 23, phone-in show, "Hello, who is this?", most of his callers were young girls, played EZL songs, poor due to splatter from a strong 6040 (Ron Howard, Asilomar Beach, CA, Etón E1, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BRAZIL. Guarujá 5980 fora do ar! Há cerca de 4 dias que a Guarujá de Florianópolis está sem sinal na faixa dos 49 metros. Provavelmente tal problema deve ser referente as fortíssimas instabilidades que afetam aquela região do estado. É uma lástima! Pois as pessoas de outros estados e na região central e oeste de SC estariam muito melhor informada pelo rádio ao-vivo da situação por-lá, além de rotas alternativas devido aos inúmeros desvios nas rodovias federais e estaduais. Está aí o grande papel do rádio em Ondas Curtas, que cobrem uma vasta área! (Édison Bocorny Jr., Nov 24, radioescutas yg via DXLD) Caro amigo Edison, e demais amigos da lista, É realmente, uma lástima, não termos a Guarujá de Florianópolis, no ar neste instante, para nos informar com precisão das notícias de Sta. Catarina. Não sei a localização dos transmissores e antenas da emissora, mas acredito que estes estejam na área afetada pelo sinistro, visto que ela saiu do ar. É nestas horas que vemos a grande importância e papel que o rádio (principalmente em OC) tem no trabalho de apoio e informação nos momentos que a sociedade mais precisa. É por isso que acredito muito na perenidafde do rádio. Imaginem se em Santa Catarina, hoje, existissem outras emissoras de OC transmitindo de pontos diferentes... estariam informando o restante do país com precisão e estariam prestando um apoio inestimável á população afetada pelo esta catástrofe. Um abraço a todos, (Adalberto Marques de Azevedo, Barbacena - MG - Brasil, ibid.) Amigo Adalberto e demais, Acabo de falar com o Geraldo Nunes da Rede Eldorado a respeito da Radio Guaruja, me informou que saiu do ar por mitivo das chuvas mesmo mas, já retornou. QRV (Ulysses Galletti, ibid.) Caro amigo Ulysses, e demais amigos da lista, Muito grato pela precisa informação á cerca da Rádio Guarujá de Florianópolis. Mesmo o horário não sendo favorável, fui verificar a sintonia e confirmei, com auxílio do amplificador de RF MC/NS, que a mesma está realmente transmitindo neste instante. Neste instante (1725 UT), o sinal, para mim, é muito baixo, mas permite distinguir a transmissão efetiva desta emissora, nos 5980 kHz. Provavelmente, no início da noite terei melhores condições de captação e assim terei informações, com notícias "in loco", dos problemas da catástrofe ocorrida no estado. Um abraço a todos, (Adalberto Marques de Azevedo, Barbacena - MG - Brasil, ibid.) Os transmissores da Guarujá de Floripa (OM e OC) ficam a poucos metros da estrada que faz a ligação da BR-101 com o centro da cidade. Também na Capital de SC, a Rádio Comunitária Campeche (98.3) saiu do ar por precaução. A pequena construção onde emissora funciona estava sofrendo infiltração. Mas isso não é nada. Triste são as mortes a lamentar. Muito triste (Lucio Haeser, Brasília, ibid.) Mais precisamente na beira da Via Expressa, lado Bom Abrigo... (via de acesso da BR-101 com Florianópolis), perto do Supermercado Angeloni. Ali está a antena de 1420 kHz (torre) e a antena de ondas curtas (Rudolf Grimm, São Bernardo, SP, ibid.) ** BRAZIL. Assunto: Cultura fora do ar em 31 metros? Caros amigos, Agora mesmo, estive verificando se a Rádio cultura estava no ar em 31 metros, e a frequência de 9615 kHz estava vazia prá mim. Se a Bandeirantes está chegando muito bem, em 9645 kHz, sendo uma emissora localizada na mesma cidade, a questão não é por problema de propagação. Alguém sabe me informar se a Cultura (atualmente Cultura Brasil) está com seu transmissor dos 9615 kHz, fora do ar? Tenho certeza, que o pessoal da capital paulista e cidades satélites, terão condições ideais para nos fornecer essa informação. Um abraço a todos, (Adalberto Marques de Azevedo, Barbacena - MG - Brasil, Nov 24, radioescutas yg via DXLD) ** BRAZIL. 9819.9, R. 9 de Julho at 2228 UT. Soft vocal ballad sounding a lot like Willie Nelson's "To All the Girls I've Loved Before," announcements in Portuguese with mentions of São Paulo and kHz at 2230. Into telephone dialog with young lady; lots of chuckling by the male interviewer. Another ballad at 2239 that sounded much like the previous one. Fair strength but sharp QSB; separable from 9820 with sync detector (Bob Hill, MA-USA, DXplorer Nov 17 via BC-DX Nov 25 via DXLD) About all I`ve heard is the het (gh, OK, DXLD) ** BRAZIL [and non]. Caros amigos, Existe uma verdadeira briga na frequência de 9820 kHz, neste momento (2215 UT). A Rádio 9 de julho e a CNR2 da China, transmitem simultâneamente na canaleta, se revesando quem fica mais forte em que momento. Ás 2220 a Rádio 9 de julho passou a se sobresair sobre a emissora chinesa, e no momento está retransmitindo a programação da Rádio Aparecida. Vou reverificar esta frequência às 2300 UT, pois neste horário inicia uma emissão da Rádio Havana, nesta mesma frequência e pretendo ver como ficará a canaleta. Caros amigos, São 2326 UT, e como eu imaginava, a emissão da Rádio Havana, iniciada às 2300 UT, na mesma canaleta da Rádio 9 de julho, está ëntupindo" frequência de 9820 kHz, não permitindo se democular nenhuma das emissoras que estão transmitindo simultâneamente. Caros amigos, Este fato tem atrapalhado bastante algumas captações, principalmente nesta banda de 31 metros, pois as emissoras teimam em ficar todas reunidas em algumas poucas canaletas e deixam o restante do espectro desta banda totalmente vazio. Realmente, não dá prá entender este planejamento de frequências. Um abraço a todos, (Adalberto Marques de Azevedo, Barbacena - MG - Brasil, Nov 23, radioescutas yg via DXLD) ** BRAZIL. 10000, 23/11 1807, Observatório Nacional, Rio de Janeiro-RJ "Observatório Nacional, desesseis horas, sete minutos. zero segundos" 44444 MVB, Video escuta : http://br.youtube.com/watch?v=V2rcaVyHoWc (MARCELO BEDENE / EDUARDO DOURADO, CURITIBA - PARANÁ - BRASIL, Sony ICF-2001D - Antena CAGE 10m, DX CLUBE DO PARANÁ, http://www.dxclube.com.br dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Something new? WRTH 2008 does not list any time station from Brazil nor does http://www.dxinfocentre.com/time.htm (Glenn Hauser, ibid.) Yes, something new. I will seek more information (Marcelo Bedene, Curitiba-PR-Brasil, ibid.) More logs of this from the dxclube pr group: 10000, 23/11 2327, R. Observatorio Nacional, programa fornecendo horario de minutos a minutos, sinal de 44444, excelente (py5aap Aparecido Francisco Morato, Sept 22, gg46qp cornelio procopio pr, radio kenwood ts 570D, dxclube pr yg via DXLD) Ué... desde quando será que o observatório nacional RJ está transmitindo na freqüência??? Seria por isso que ultimamente a freqüência emitia um sinal estranho ao comumente escutado desde os EUA? Me corrijam os mais entendidos em utilitárias por favor. 73 (Marcelo Bedene, Curitiba-PR, ibid.) Marcelo, Não precisa os colegas entendidos em utilitárias para essa informação, mas é claro que a opinião deles é muito bem vinda e esclarecedora. O colega Morato se equivocou ao publicar o seu log, mas é entendido por todos a sua informação e agradecemos pela iniciativa do colega. Claro que se faz necessário à informação correta que se pode ser encontrada no seguinte site http://tf.nist.gov/timefreq/stations/wwv.html A transmissão, colega Morato, não é do observatório nacional, mas sim do National Institute of Standards and Technology Radio Station dos EUA, segundo o site que consultei, e dependendo se a locução é feita por uma mulher ou por um homem essa tx vem do Havaí ou Colorado respectivamente. 73 (Jorge Freitas, SWL1023B, Feira de Santana Bahia, ibid.) Morato meu caro, de onde vc tirou a informação que a escuta era do observatório nacional? Lembrando que isso é uma lista de discussão de um maravilhoso hobby, com todos os erros e acertos, ok? 73 (Marcelo Bedene, ibid.) Se voce sintonizar, verá que de minuto em minuto eles falam e dá o horario, ok meu irmão, 10000 -Observatorio Nacional - 11,33,00 ouvida neste momento (Morato, ibid.) Amigo Freitas, não ouve engano não, é de fato observatorio nacional meu irmão (Morato, Nov 23, ibid.) Olá Morato! Realmente a transmissão em 9999 kHz, segundo o colega Sarmento, é do Observatório Nacional com um novo serviço de sincronização da hora pelas ondas curtas. Parabéns Morato por ter sido o pioneiro na escuta e em logar essa novidade. Um abraço, (Jorge Freitas, Feira de Santana Bahia, ibid.) OK Morato, Quando ví o seu e-mail já era tarde e tinha desligado o rádio. Deveria ter confirmado a escuta para depois ter dado a resposta. Mais uma vez meus parabéns pela escuta e por ter sido o primeiro a ter logado a emissora do Observatório Nacional. Um forte abraço, (Jorge Freitas, ibid.) Enc: gravação da escuta observatorio Nacional From: (aparecido francisco morato, ibid.) Que maravilha Morato!!! Parabéns pelo ineditismo da escuta. Isso me lembrou a radio relógio do RJ em OM cuja sintonia aqui em Curitiba, bem antigamente ( final dos anos 70) , era facilmente alcançada. :-) Um abraço (Marcelo Bedene, ibid.) Well, if he had made clear that the announcements were in Portuguese, no one could have suggested he was really hearing WWV/H (gh, DXLD) And from the radioescutas yg: Olá amigos da lista! Estou sintonizando neste instante a emissão do Observatório Nacional em 10 MHz com sinal práticamente local. Está sendo realmente uma grata supresa me deparar com esta transmissão dos sinais do relógio atómico em Ondas Curtas com tamanha qualidade de emissão. Acredito que os sinais estejam partindo mesmo do Rio de Janeiro. A voz do anúncio horário é a mesma conhecida da Rádio Relógio do Rio de Janeiro. 10000, 23/11 2152, Observatório Nacional, QTH?, sinal horario, ann. FV ID/QTR, 1952 hs. 45444 MV RX: Yaesu-Sommerkamp FRG-7, Antena long wire 10/14m + acoplador indutivo. Um abraco a todos e boas escutas! (Michel Viani - Osasco - SP - Brasil http://www.radioescutas.com radioescutas yg via DXLD) Ciao ! Muito Bem Marcelo ! Muito oubrigado !!! http://www.on.br/ A pagina WEB : http://www.horalegalbrasil.mct.on.br/ permite gozar ao vivo...... anuncios todos as 10 secundos ...... 6 anuncios pra MINUTINHO... .. Comentários, críticas e sugestões são bem vindos. MCT - Observatório Nacional Divisão Serviço da Hora Rua Gal. José Cristino, 77 - São Cristóvão CEP 20921-400 Rio de Janeiro - RJ BRASIL Email : dsh@on.br Bom escutas ! 73's (Dario Monferini, playdx yg via DXLD) First website above also leads to timezone maps, including DST (gh) 10000 BRASIL: Observatório Nacional, Rio de Janeiro-RJ, PP, 23/11 1639. Time pips, no minuto completo, YL: ‘Observatório Nacional, 14 horas, 39 minutos, 0 segundo...’, novamente time pips. A voz feminina é a mesma que ultimamente transmitia (ou ainda transmite) pelos 580 kHz, Radio Relógio Rio de Janeiro, ao fundo da programação religiosa, 45544. Rx: Kenwood R-1000, Ant.: Horiz 20 m cordoalha, Acc.: Tuner TEB STA-1, pré-amp MFJ1040C (Rudolf Grimm, São Bernardo-SP, Brasil, radioescutas yg via DXLD) Oi Sarmento, colegas da lista! A rádio do ON é novidade? Ou já transmitiu em anos anteriores? --hg (Huelbe Garcia, Nov 24, ibid.) Aqui na Grande Porto Alegre, mais precisamente em Novo Hamburgo, a rádio Observatório Nacional chega bem. Mas afinal? De onde parte o QRG 10.000 KHZ? De Brasília? Se for, DEZ A ZERO em cima da Nacional da Amazônia em 11780 KHZ. Em 6185 KHZ,durante o dia, nem o cheiro! e a noite, bate lá no fundo do poço com outras emissoras de fundo que chegam a se sobrepôr na coitada RNA com seus 250 KW apenas na teoria (Édison Bocorny Jr., ibid.) ** BRAZIL. Caros amigos, São 1700 UT e estou captando transmissão espúria da Rádio Globo, apresentando o programa "Quintal da Globo" em 13695 kHz. Como a frequência mais alta outorgada á Globo, está em 11805 kHz, esta transmissão, em 13695 kHz, está totalmente incorreta. O Jorge Freitas, de Feira de Santana-BA, já nos tinha avisados, aqui na lista, destes problemas que vem ocorrendo com as transmissões da Rádio Globo. Nesta mesma canaleta está ocorrendo a transmissão, da Radio França Internacional, que emite, em francês, neste horário, desde Issoudun na França, com 500 kW e deste modo está muito mais forte que a transmissão incorreta da Globo, mas esta simultaneidade de emissões atrapalha a demodulação de ambas. Estou usando um Degen DE1103 com antena Long-Wire, Balum 9:1 e Amplificador de RF MC/NS. Um abraço a todos, (Adalberto Marques de Azevedo, Barbacena - MG - Brasil, Nov 24, radioescutas yg via DXLD) ** BRAZIL [non]. Overall there aren't very many stations carrying Brazilian Hour, but looking at http://www.brazilianhour.org/playlist.htm it seems to still be in production. That page has "Listen Now" for over a dozen past programs, which might make it less necessary to find the show airing on a station. Hope you're doing well. Happy Thanksgiving! (Kevin A. Kelly, Bedford, Massachusetts, USA, publicradiofan, Nov 24, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Here`s the PRF listing for Brazilian Hour: http://www.publicradiofan.com/cgibin/program.pl?programid=1203 (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BULGARIA. Received more than an hour-long documentary CD about R. Bulgaria. It would be better to listen to if divided into bands (chapters). Don`t like choice of 0630 and 1130 UT but can`t complain as these are beamed to London (David Crystal, Israel, Nov World DX Club Contact via DXLD) Now 0730 and 1230, of course; any better? (gh) ** BULGARIA. R. Bulgaria`s warbling transmitter was back on 15700, Nov 23 at 1433 check. Gone again Nov 24 at 1400. Alternate day operation? May I suggest that they take it off and keep it off until repaired. Also 7400 warbling at 2209 Nov 24 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BURMA [non]. 9415, 1450-1500, CLANDESTINE, 21.11, Democratic Voice of Burma, via Gavar, Armenia, Burmese talk, 33333, best in LSB due to QRM from Greece 9420, heard // 17495 via Madagascar (35232). Best 73, (Anker Petersen, Skovlunde, Denmark, on my AOR AR 7030PLUS with 28 metres of longwire, via Dario Monferini, playdx yg via DXLD) I`ll bet 9415 and 17495 were not synchronized (gh, DXLD) ** CANADA. The applications of CIGM-790 Sudbury ON to move to FM (93.5 MHz. 100 kW) and CFDR-780 to move to FM (92.9 MHz, 63 kW) have been approved by the CRTC: Exchange of radio assets between Newcap Inc. and Rogers Broadcasting Limited and conversion of CIGM Sudbury and CFDR Dartmouth to the FM band The Commission approves the applications by Newcap Inc. (Newcap) and Rogers Broadcasting Limited (Rogers) for authority to exchange the assets of CIGM Sudbury, Ontario and CFDR Dartmouth, Nova Scotia and for broadcasting licences to continue the operation of the undertakings. The Commission also approves the application by Newcap for a broadcasting licence to operate a new English-language FM station in Sudbury to replace AM station CIGM. In addition, the Commission approves the application by Rogers for a broadcasting licence to operate a new English-language FM station in Dartmouth to replace AM station CFDR. 25. The Commission also approves the application by Newcap Inc. for a broadcasting licence to operate a new English-language FM radio programming undertaking in Sudbury to replace AM station CIGM. 26. In addition, the Commission approves the application by Rogers Broadcasting Limited for a broadcasting licence to operate a new English-language FM radio programming undertaking in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia to replace AM station CFDR. 27. Upon surrender of the current licences, the Commission will issue a new broadcasting licence to Newcap to operate CIGM on the FM band and a new broadcasting licence to Rogers to operate CFDR on the FM band. The terms and conditions of licence for each station are set out in Appendices 1 and 2, respectively. The implementation of each undertaking is subject to the notification by the Department of Industry, discussed in the appendices to this decision. 28. As set out in Appendix 1 to this decision, Newcap is authorized to simulcast the programming of the new FM station on CIGM for a transition period of three months following the commencement of operations of the FM station. Pursuant to sections 9(1)(e) and 24(1) of the Broadcasting Act (the Act) and consistent with the applicant’s request, the Commission revokes the licence for CIGM effective at the end of the simulcast period. Issuance of the broadcasting licence to operate an English-language FM radio programming undertaking in Sudbury, Ontario. Terms: The licence will expire 31 August 2011. The station will operate at 93.5 MHz (channel 228C1) with an effective radiated power of 100,000 watts. Issuance of the broadcasting licence to operate an English-language FM radio programming undertaking in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. Terms: The licence will expire 31 August 2011. The station will operate at 92.9 MHz (channel 225C1) with an average effective radiated power of 63,000 watts. 73, (via Deane McIntyre VE6BPO, Nov 24, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CHINA. 4220, Qinghai PBS, 2326, 11/20/08, listed Tibetan. Interesting pop music that sounded like a fusion between Chinese and South Asian tunes, then a long conversation between two people who sounded like they were both on the phone. First time heard here since last winter, listed as a seasonal freq only. Poor. 5050, Guangxi FBS, 2259, 11/16/08, Vietnamese. Theme music, IS, bilingual ID, and into a female presenter with news in Vietnamese. // 9820 noted with better signal. This frequency usually covered by Brother Stair (via WWRB) but missing or late signing on this day - on at 2335 recheck. Poor (Mark Schiefelbein, MO, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CHINA. Re 8-120, CNR-1 schedule changes: Dear Karel, I checked your interesting observation this afternoon (Nov 22), but both 4460 and 4800 kHz (CNR-1) signed off at the usual time at 1735. AIR Hyderabad continued on 4800 till 1744*. So I guess, that you heard a prolonged transmission on Nov 18 because of a special (for me unknown) event. Yes, China has introduced its winterschedule about a week ago. Now Xinjiang is back as usual on 3990, 4330, 4500, 4980 and 5060 during the dark hours, as an example. But thank you for the observation! Best 73, (Anker Petersen, Denmark, via Karel Honzik, Czechia, HCDX via DXLD) Hi, thanks to Anker Petersen for his info on SW frequencies where CNR- 1 keeps its night time silent period (1735-2000 UT). It seems the CNR- 1 change applies to their on-line distribution only. In fact I was listening to the CNR programs on internet. But there was the silent period 1735-2000 UT also on internet (last time observed on Monday, Nov 17, then 24h). Otherwise it seems there is no difference between on-line and on-air versions at other CNR programs (Karel Honzik, ibid.) ** CHINA. 7270, 1445-1455 21.11, Nei Menggu PBS, Hohhot, Mongolian announcement, Buddhist monks intoning, 43444 // 7210 (32322) (Anker Petersen, Skovlunde, Denmark, on my AOR AR 7030PLUS with 28 metres of longwire, via Dario Monferini, playdx yg via DXLD) Do the Chicom really allow Buddhists to intone on state-controlled radio? (gh, DXLD) ** CHINA. 5000, CNR-1, 1441-1451 + 1504, Nov 22, first time I have ever heard them here, clearly parallel with 5030, under WWV and WWVH. Strange! Not heard here on Nov 23. 4940, Voice of Strait, 1501, Nov 22 (Sat.), no English program heard today. Safe to now say their program in English has indeed changed schedule to just Sunday, from 1500-1525. On Nov 23 (Sun.) , 1500- 1525, in English, heard same format as reported last Sun., but today had poor reception due to QRM from a fairly strong AIR Guwahati (mostly music and as much as I love to listen to subcontinent music and singing, it really can be a good blocker). 9530, Firedrake, 1503, Nov 21, not here every day, but is fairly often heard (ever other day?). On 9000 noted the usual 5 minute gap (off the air) at ToH. Nov 23 no Firedrake on 9000, so another move? (Ron Howard, Asilomar Beach, CA, Etón E1, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CHINA [and non]. CNR-1 echo jammer on 7525, Nov 24 at 1420, // 6040. 7525 is scheduled 14-15 only with VOA Chinese via Thailand (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CONGO DR [non]. Señal de intervalo de VT Merlin en 9635, según Aoki en esa franja horaria R. Okapi desde Meyerton. 9635.0, 1639, AFS, VT Merlin-Meyerton, Sintonia (sched a R. Okapi), 22/11, Mx, 35433. Cordialmente, (Tomás Méndez, El Prat de Llobregat- Barcelona España, logsderadio yg via DXLD) ** COSTA RICA [non]. Re 8-120, RFPI RIP? Glenn, I talked with James Latham in September, I believe it was. He said that Joe Bernard, Jean Parker, and he - the three who had kept the RFPI audio up and running online - had all agreed that it was time to move on to other things in their lives which had evolved. James Latham now coordinates volunteers working with inner city youth in Saint Thomas, Virgin Islands. Jean Parker, who used to host Disability Radio Worldwide, is a stringer for NPR and other broadcasters, working out of Pune, India. Joe, last I heard, was in computer recycling in Oregon. 73s (Franklin Seiberling, IA, Nov 23, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Franklin, Yes that's about it. you might add that the online activity never brought the station's listeners up to the level of what it had been on shortwave. I think that says a lot about SW broadcasting. Anyway due to listenership levels, it became less and less viable. It was sad to stop, but hard to justify so much time placed into it with so few listeners. We do plan on keeping the memory of RFPI alive. Jean and I meet and talk about it often, and I started writing the book about the station that will tell some stories that never had been told before to the public. I started the book project in earnest about 6 months ago by sorting through the stations files, photos and 15 years of news letters. I had tried to write the book before but the sadness of what happened was too difficult to deal with. Regarding the web site, I need to talk to Jean, but in my opinion it should stay up with updates added (James Latham, VI, Nov 23, via Franklin Seiberling, Iowa City, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CUBA. What does Arnie say? --- Since Arnie has quit (suspended?) posting his DXers Unlimited scripts, and no one that I know of is archiving audio of his shows, and since I have not been listening to them on the air for quite some time, I would urge those who have been listening and are listening to pass on any useful info he may rarely impart about Cuban broadcasting, or RHC scheduling, etc., in particular. Tnx (Glenn Hauser, Nov 23, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Is this still the schedule for DXers Unlimited? Tuesday and Saturday Europe 2110 GMT Caribbean 2310 GMT North America 0140 GMT 0340 GMT 0540 GMT I'll record it when I find it. But I won't record Brother Scare. Tonight's "Breakthrough" was about the Cuban weather forecasting system: http://www.mediafire.com/?2qiznogznmi (Terry Wilson, MI, ibid.) I believe so, times approximate and variable; NAm next UT days (Glenn, ibid.) ** CUBA. I'm not a very serious DX'er, but have been hearing Radio Reloj on 570 kHz fading in and out with WMCA, and WSYR alternating, during the past week, at about 0400-0700 UT. My QTH is in southern NH, about 50 miles north of Boston, in the country. (Joe Smith, NH, Nov 24, DX LISTENING DIGEST) continued at RADIO EQUIPMENT FORUM ** DESECHEO. KP5, DESECHEO ISLAND (Press Release #2, November 23rd - DXpedition Dates Announced). "The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service has notified the team that February 12-26, 2009, will be the dates allocated for the radio operation. These dates are coordinated with other USFWS research activities scheduled on other parts of Desecheo Island as well as scheduling USFWS security personnel for the camp. Fifteen operators will be allowed on the island at any given time. A total of 6-8 stations will be operational, including 160-6 meters. A reconnaissance trip to Desecheo is scheduled for Friday, December 19th. Three team members, USFWS personnel and an UXO (unexploded ordnance) expert will sweep and clear the assigned area of UXO and other hazards. There will be no radio operations. The 15-man team will assemble in Puerto Rico on February 8, 2009, for mandatory UXO training. The next three days will include team operations training, and last minute preparation and staging of the several tons of equipment for transport. On February 12th, landing will commence and two stations will be immediately activated. Likewise, stations will continue to operate until the final moments before departure on February 26th. Halfway through the operation, on February 19th, approximately half of the operating team will be replaced with fresh operators for the final week. The team has been diligently planning antennas and propagation paths to take advantage of every possible band opening to Asia, where Desecheo is #2 on the Most Wanted List and to Europe, where it is #3 on the Most Wanted List. Contributions are being solicited. To assist us and for the latest news, please go to the team's website: http://www.kp5.us 73, Glenn Johnson, W0GJ. Bob Allphin, K4UEE. Desecheo 2009 co-leaders" (via Ohio/Penn DX Bulletin No. 885, November 24, 2008, Editor Tedd Mirgliotta, KB8NW, Provided by BARF80.ORG (Cleveland, Ohio), via Dave Raycroft, ODXA yg via DXLD) ** DJIBOUTI. 4780.03, R. Djibouti, 0345, 11/23/08. Best reception ever, reaching good signal level. Despite CODAR, local dialect heard. Music very much like that heard on R. Zanzibar. Announcements at 0400:12 by low-pitched OM. Studio audio low compared to mx. Faded down by 0415 (Jerry Strawman, Des Moines, IA, AOR 7030+, JRC NRD-545, Wellbrook 330S 1.1 Meter Loop, Alpha Delta Sloper, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** ECUADOR. 11700-11705-11710 DRM, HCJB, 1515, 11/17/08, Portuguese. Partial decode and intermittent audio of HCJB's DRM transmission in Portuguese, listed as being 4 kW to Brazil. ID showed up in software as "HCJB Voz Global" (Mark Schiefelbein, MO, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ECUADOR. Frequency & time change HCJB Global Spanish/German in DRM: 1100-1300 NF 15280 QUI 004 kW / 035 deg to WeEu from Nov. 21 0830-1030 on 11625 QUI 004 kW / 035 deg to WeEu till Nov. 20 (DX Mix News, Bulgaria, Nov 24 via DXLD) ** EGYPT. Winter B-08 of Radio Cairo 0700-1100 on 15710 ABZ 100 kW / 250 deg Arabic^ WeAf 1015-1215 on 15170 ABZ 250 kW / 090 deg Arabic ME/AFG 1215-1330 on 17835 ABZ 250 kW / 090 deg English SoAs 1230-1400 on 15710 ABS 250 kW / 106 deg Indonesian SoEaAs 1300-1600 on 15080 ABS 250 kW / 241 deg Arabic WeAf 1330-1530 on 11510 ABZ 100 kW / 070 deg Farsi TJK 1430-1600 on 12170 ABZ 250 kW / 070 deg Pashto AFG 1500-1600 on 6255 ABZ 250 kW / 330 deg Albanian ALB 1500-1600 on 9250 ABZ 250 kW / 050 deg Uzbek UZB 1530-1730 on 17810 ABZ 100 kW / 170 deg Swahili CeEaAf 1600-1700 on 15285 ABZ 100 kW / 160 deg Afar EaCeAf 1600-1800 on 6270 ABZ 250 kW / 090 deg Urdu SoAs 1600-1800 on 12170 ABZ 150 kW / 195 deg English CeSoAf 1700-1900 on 6860 ABS 250 kW / 005 deg Turkish TUR 1700-2300 on 9250 ABZ 250 kW / 180 deg Arabic# EaAf 1700-1730 on 15285 ABZ 100 kW / 160 deg Somali EaCeAf 1730-1900 on 15285 ABZ 100 kW / 160 deg Amharic EaCeAf 1800-1900 on 6255 ABZ 250 kW / 330 deg Italian WeEu 1800-2100 on 9990 ABS 250 kW / 241 deg Hausa WeAf 1900-2000 on 6255 ABZ 250 kW / 330 deg German WeEu 1900-2000 on 6860 ABS 250 kW / 005 deg Russian WeRUS 1900-2030 on 9310 ABZ 100 kW / 250 deg English WeAf 1900-2400 on 6290 ABZ 250 kW / 315 deg Arabic^ WeEu 1900-0030 on 11540 ABZ 100 kW / 160 deg Arabic* CeEaAf 2000-2115 on 6255 ABZ 250 kW / 330 deg French WeEu 2000-2200 on 6860 ABZ 250 kW / 110 deg Arabic AUS 2030-2230 on 9280 ABS 250 kW / 241 deg French WeAf 2115-2245 on 6255 ABZ 250 kW / 330 deg English WeEu 2215-2330 on 9360 ABZ 250 kW / 245 deg Portuguese SoAm 2300-0030 on 6850 ABZ 250 kW / 330 deg English NoAmEa 2330-0045 on 9360 ABZ 250 kW / 245 deg Arabic SoAm 2330-0045 on 9250 ABS 250 kW / 241 deg Arabic SoAm 0000-0700 on 6290 ABS 250 kW / 315 deg Arabic^ NoAm 0030-0430 on 6850 ABZ 250 kW / 330 deg Arabic NoAmEa 0045-0200 on 9915 ABS 250 kW / 252 deg Spanish SoAm 0045-0200 on 7535 ABZ 250 kW / 315 deg Spanish NoAm 0045-0200 on 9360 ABZ 250 kW / 245 deg Spanish CeAm 0200-0330 on 7535 ABZ 250 kW / 315 deg English NoAm ^ General Service # Waadi e Nile Radio * Voice of Arabs (DX Mix News, Bulgaria, Nov 24 via DXLD) ** ETHIOPIA. 5950, 0455-0535 22.11, Voice of the Tigray Revolution, Addis Ababa Vernacular talk, music from Horn of Africa 22222 QRM WYFR 5950 (Anker Petersen, Skovlunde, Denmark, on my AOR AR 7030PLUS with 28 metres of longwire, via Dario Monferini, playdx yg via DXLD) ** FAROE ISLANDS. Re Update on Faroe Islands 531 kHz Transmissions, from John (GM4SLV) in 8-119 Is the transmitter still on air - has Beromunster upped its power - or is it just propagation? I was hearing a very strong signal from Switzerland again this Sunday morning around 0730 (Nov. 23). There was at least one other rumbling underneath, but no splatter was heard around the frequency. Can't say I've heard Faroese in the last few days (Noel R. Green (NW England), dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Heard Akraberg a week ago (Nov. 15th) with very good signal, see http://mediumwave.info/loggings.html (Ydun Ritz, Denmark, ibid.) ** GREENLAND. 3815 USB, 2035-2113* 21+22.11, KNR, Tasiilaq Greenlandic announcement, local pop songs, 2100 talk with poor audio (in Greenlandic, not Danish), one jingle heard on 21.11 at 2106, abrupt s/off 34232 QRM weak utility or HAM conversation (Anker Petersen, Skovlunde, Denmark, on my AOR AR 7030PLUS with 28 metres of longwire, via Dario Monferini, playdx yg via DXLD) So they still haven`t made a one-UT-hour-later shift due to going off DST --- or is there misinfo about DST observance there? (gh, DXLD) 3815, 22.11 - 1515 Grönland med sin eftermiddagssändning med religiös musik. Hördes från 1500 fram till cd 1515 med QSA 1-2. SA (Stig Adolfsson, Sweden, SW Bulletin Nov 23 via DXLD) ** INDIA. 9870, AIR-Bangalore, 1506, 11/23/08, Hindi. South Asian pop with a string of commercials with random English words ("hypertension", "family", etc.) sprinkled in, then what sounded like the news at 1515. Normally a good signal in the morning anyway, but blasting in with S9+20 signals and little to no fading this morning. // 9425 noted with slightly weaker signal and running slightly behind. Very good (Mark Schiefelbein, MO, DX LISTENING DIGEST) + ANDAMAN & N ** INDONESIA. 3344.95, RRI Ternate (presumed), 1425-1435, in BI, woman with a phone-in show, fair. Not often that I hear this above threshold level. Noted that 3325 was not on the air today (Ron Howard, Asilomar Beach, CA, Etón E1, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INTERNATIONAL VACUUM. XM AND SIRIUS MERGER IS GREAT NEWS FOR LISTENERS --- November 23, 2008 Star-Telegram By Buzz McClain This month, XM Satellite Radio and Sirius Satellite Radio merged their programming so that subscribers to either service would get the same channels. And I'm loving it. I've had both services since they began because I despise what is on "terrestrial" radio. The repetition of hit songs, the shrill and repetitive talk shows and the lack of rich variety is depressing. Worse, the average FM station airs 23 minutes of commercials an hour between the mindless "morning zoo" blabbing and the stale hot hits. . . http://www.star-telegram.com/living/story/1050690.html (via Mike Terry, dxldyg via DXLD) ** KALININGRAD [and non]. Kaliningrad: 22 Nov, V of Russia, 7340 at 2220z, in Portuguese, listed as 150 kW at 245 degrees (Jerry Lenamon, Waco Texas, Eton E1, with sloper, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) See the Voice of Russia schedule in DXLD 8-117. Apparently this is Novosibirsk, beaming back to Europe, in use 2000-2300 for French, Spanish and Portuguese. With 200 kW this is clearly the "real" Novosibirsk site in the southern outskirts of the town, existing since the fifties an equipped with about 20 transmitters or so, now upgraded to the Sneg-M 100 kW modernization type (original Sneg's are 50 kW): http://maps.google.de/?ie=UTF8&ll=54.925021,82.858973&spn=0.018225,0.038624&t=h&z=15 The HFCC basket "NVS" also contains transmissions via another site, in the village of Raduga near Oyash, about 80 km northeast of Novosibirsk. The shortwave side of this site, built in the seventies, consists of three 1000 kW Buran transmitters, usually run at 500 kW. So one can tell apart both sites by way of the power. If you want to catch transmissions from Bolshakovo (Kaliningrad district): Current schedule for Voice of Russia is 0700-0900 and 1100-1500 on 9435 (Russkoye Mezhdunarodnoye Radio and Sodruzhestvo into the Caucasus region), 1000-1100 on 9720 (German), 1600-2300 on 7285 (Sodruzhestvo and Russian world service), 1630-1900 on 5975 (Serbocroatian and Bulgarian) and 1800-2200 on 5950 (French). I think at present no other station uses this site for shortwave transmissions (Kai Ludwig, Germany, ibid.) How does one decide what is the correct schedule (or source)? HFCC B08 shows KLG (Jerry Lenamon, ibid.) ** KOREA NORTH. 2850, 2225-2245, KRE, 21.11, KCBS, P`yongyang, Korean talk, songs 34333 CWQRM, heard // 3220 Hamhung (23232 Utility QRM), 3350 P'yongsong (33333 Utility QRM), 3480.9 Wonsan (13222 Utility QRM) and 4450 Pyongyang (45333). 3250, 2220-2230 21.11, Voice of Korea, P`yongyang Japanese talk, short interlude of instrumental music 34332 Utility QRM (Anker Petersen, Skovlunde, Denmark, on my AOR AR 7030PLUS with 28 metres of longwire, via Dario Monferini, playdx yg via DXLD) ** KOREA NORTH [non]. Open Radio For North Korea - ORNK --- A QSL letter arrived after a 12 months waiting period - Signed by a Han Gwang Hee. The B08 schedule is now at 1300 UT on 11510 and at 2100 on 9950 (Peter Ng, Malaysia, Nov 24, dxing.info via DXLD) Aoki has B08 as 1300-1400 on 7515 via Tashkent; 2100-2200 on 9950 via Armenia; so has frequency just changed at 1300? (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** LITHUANIA. R. Vilnius is dropping 7325; now 9770 is the only frequency on 310 degrees to NAm between 00 and 03, including English at 0030 and 0130? (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MALAYSIA. 15295, Suara Malaysia/Voice of Malaysia, 1606, Nov 21, in Arabic, strong signal (Is this a new 250 kW transmitter?) but somewhat over modulated and with a slight hum. Nov 23 at 1602 they were off the air (Ron Howard, Asilomar Beach, CA, Etón E1, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MEXICO. 6104.9, XEQM, Mérida, 11/16/2008, 0545-0615, great Mexican music, man talk, phone conversations with listeners. Fairly good signal, improved since earlier modulation problems. Thanks to info from Julián Santiago Díez de Bonilla reporting in Condiglist, I sent MP3 clip and report to station tech, Ing. L. Orlando González Balam tecnico @ rasayucatan.com and got reply within hours. Still using same call, XEQM as in past when relayed Tus Panteras, and refurbished but same homebuilt 250 watt xmtr feeding quarter wave dipole. Currently relaying Mérida FMer La Candela, but when technical difficulties are worked out, it will rebroadcast XEMQ, 810 kHz, now called R. Yoo'l I'ik, which programs in one of the local, Mayan-based Indian languages (Don Jensen, Kenosha WI, NASWA yg via DXLD) 6104.9, Spanish, poor audio, a lot of music and Coca Cola commercials. Not religious, I think. Heard this one 0403-0430 Nov 22 with SINPO 23443. Candela FM. 73's (Claes Olsson, Port Charlotte, FL, Cumbre DX via DXLD) No sign of it here Nov 23 around 1330 (gh, DXLD) See UNID 4800 ** MONACO [non]. TWR Monaco? Several databases (as well as Flashsheet entries) list Monaco as the source of a TWR transmission in English around 0800 on 9800. Looking at the WRTH I do not see Monaco listed (unless I missed it). Can someone clarify or verify this? For confirmation should I send the report to the US address? Thanks, (Mike Rohde, OH, Nov 22, NASWA yg via DXLD) Mike, For some reason the WRTH has always hidden some of these entries under the parent organizations` location. Check the USA section on page 473 of the 2008 WRTH. Although the Monaco address isn't listed, the website for TWR Europe is, http://www.twr.org/europe Without checking, I am sure the address appears at the website (you may even be able to send an electronic report through the web portal - if memory serves me correctly). Passport also lists TWR under USA but does have an address for the Europe organization on page 306 of the 2009 edition: Trans Word Radio Europe Postfach 141 A-1235 Vienna Austria I hope this helps. They have been a good verifier in the past so you should have good results. 73, (Rich D`Angelo, PA, ibid.) And the transmitter site is in France so you haven`t really heard Monaco, anyway... 73, (Glenn Hauser, ibid.) Glen[n], That is what I thought I could find no transmitter site in Monaco used by TWR (Rohde, ibid.) Glen[n] is correct. There is not and never has been any xmtr within the borders of Monaco. It is physically too small. If, however, you use the NASWA Country List, Monaco is virtually unique -- by special rule that dates back to the 1960s -- in that list user may count the extraterritorial xmtr sites as Monaco. It is a rare exception (Don Jensen, WI, ibid.) And when I hear Greenville I want to count it as São Tomé, OK? (gh) ** MYANMAR. 5985.00, 1355-1410 21.11, Myanma R, Nay Pui Taw Bamar ann, Burmese pop songs, 32322, QRM Voice of Turkey 5980 and two stations on 5990 (Anker Petersen, Skovlunde, Denmark, on my AOR AR 7030PLUS with 28 metres of longwire, via Dario Monferini, playdx yg via DXLD) ** NEW ZEALAND. New B-08 R New Zealand Int`l from Nov. 3/11/17 [with kW / degrees] : 1059-1258 13660 RAN 050 / 325 AM NWPac, Bougainville, PNG, Timor, As 1059-1158 9870 RAN 025 / 325 DRM NWPac, Bougainville, PNG, Timor, As 1259-1550 6170 RAN 050 / 000 AM All Pacific 1400-1430 9750 WOF 035 / 102 DRM WeEu, Sat only 1551-1650 6170 RAN 050 / 035 AM NEPac, Fiji, Samoa, Cook Isl 1551-1650 7145 RAN 025 / 035 DRM NEPac, Fiji, Samoa, Cook Isl 1651-1750 9765 RAN 050 / 035 AM NEPac, Fiji, Samoa, Cook Isl 1651-1750 9890 RAN 025 / 035 DRM NEPac, Fiji, Samoa, Cook Isl 1751-1850 9765 RAN 050 / 035 AM NEPac, Fiji, Samoa, Cook Isl 1751-1850 9890 RAN 025 / 035 DRM NEPac, Fiji, Samoa, Cook Isl 1851-1935 11725 RAN 050 / 035 AM NEPac, Tonga, Fiji, Samoa, Cook Isl 1851-1935 9890 RAN 025 / 035 DRM NEPac, Tonga, Fiji, Samoa, Cook Isl 1936-1950 11725 RAN 050 / 000 AM All Pacific 1936-1950 11675 RAN 025 / 000 DRM All Pacific 1951-2050 11725 RAN 050 / 000 AM All Pacific 1951-2050 13730 RAN 025 / 000 DRM All Pacific, ex 15720 >> Nov. 20 2051-2235 17675 RAN 050 / 000 AM All Pacific 2051-2235 15720 RAN 025 / 000 DRM All Pacific 2236-0458 15720 RAN 050 / 000 AM All Pacific 2236-0458 17675 RAN 025 / 000 DRM All Pacific 0459-0658 11725 RAN 050 / 000 AM All Pacific 0459-0658 11675 RAN 025 / 000 DRM All Pacific 0659-1058 9765 RAN 050 / 000 AM All Pacific 0659-1058 9870 RAN 025 / 000 DRM All Pacific (DX Mix News, Bulgaria, Nov 24 via DXLD) I much prefer the schedule versions with AM and DRM separate rather than intermixed. Note that *no* 100 kW powers are shown, the rating of both transmitters on AM. That could explain why RNZI`s signal has generally seemed weaker lately. Saving 50 kW at expense of fringe areas (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** NIGERIA [non]. 15480, 14.11 1600, Aso Radio, Abuja, Nigeria in lots of noise and statics was heard with drums, identifications and otherwise talk in presumed Hausa. S 2-3 only. BEFF (Björn Fransson, Sweden, SW Bulletin Nov 23 via DXLD) ** OKLAHOMA. – TECHNICAL CHANGES – – APPLICATIONS FROM EXISTING / PROPOSED FACILITIES: OK Woodward 95.9 KOPA 25 kw/100 m, XL to 36-36- 56/ 100-52-17; CL to Balko; Class A to C3 (Dec VHF-UHF Digest via DXLD) CALL LETTERS ASSIGNED OR CHANGED: OK, Woodward, *95.9 KZCU (KOPA, now noncommercial, owned by Cameron University (Oct-Nov FMedia! via DXLD) So yet another satellite of KCCU Lawton (gh, Enid) NEW FM STATIONS GRANTED: OK, Woodward, *88.1 23400 h,v; 224 m. The University of Oklahoma, 52 km (Oct-Nov FMedia! via DXLD) ** PAKISTAN. 4790.08, 0245-0315 fade out 21.11, R Pakistan, Rawalpindi III, Urdu comments, Pakistani folksongs, 0300-0310 English news (poor modulation), 0310 folksongs 34232 CODAR QRM (Anker Petersen, Skovlunde, Denmark, on my AOR AR 7030PLUS with 28 metres of longwire, via Dario Monferini, playdx yg via DXLD) ** PALAU. T8WH sked: see U S A [and non]. WHR ** PAPUA NEW GUINEA. 7325, Wantok Radio Light (tentative), Port Moresby. November 23, English, 0805-0838 local style music selections and female talks, 0827 seems an ID followed by a pop music in English, 0833 outside talks. Ending here and starting there gray-line at the time of this listening. 23222. 73 (Lúcio Otávio Bobrowiec, Embu SP Brasil - Sony ICF SW40 - dipole 18m, 32m, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PAPUA NEW GUINEA. 3335, R East Sepik, 1245-1313*, 11/23/08, Tok Pisin/English. Easy-listening tunes to closing comments, national anthem and several minutes of open carrier at 1300, then the music started back up again (presumably a relay of the national network). Abruptly pulled the plug at 1313. Fair/poor (Mark Schiefelbein, MO, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PORTUGAL. Glenn, If you would like to see a panorama of Lisbon go to Astronomy Picture of the Day: http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap081122.html (Wells Perkins in N.J., Nov 24, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Very nice; some antenna towers toward sunset. Maybe Carlos Gonçalves can identify them (gh, DXLD) ** ROMANIA. 23 Nov, R Romania International, 6115 at 2310, 300 kW at 307. // 6015 not as strong with a bearing more to the south. As others have noted, RRI's new transmitters have improved their coverage to among the best from Europe (Jerry Lenamon, Waco Texas, Eton E1, with sloper, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** RUSSIA [non]. Voice of Russia 1800-1900 Sat 22 Nov 2008 --- Tuned in at 1800 on 6245 on a Degen DE1102. This was soon ditched at 1803 after hearing the quality of the signal. Superb VERY strong signal and no interference at all. I have my main receiver connected to an equalizer and hifi speakers and this was switched on to fully appreciate Music and Musicians which follows the news. This hour`s transmission sounded as good as a mono FM broadcast and was very enjoyable. It's unfortunate that it's only 2 hours a week. Regards (Harry Brooks, North East England, UK, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Finnish 1800-1830 6245 Grigoriopol MDA 500 Mon-Fri Norwegian 1830-1900 6245 Grigoriopol MDA 500 Tue,Thu Swedish 1830-1900 6245 Grigoriopol MDA 500 Mo,We,Fr Which program on Sat & Sun ?? from Moldova powerhouse, at 309 degrees main lobe towards Krakau, Berlin, Hamburg, Edinburgh (Wolfgang Büschel, ibid.) English (Brooks, ibid.) see also KALININGRAD ** RUSSIA. Checking for Radio Rossii parallels, 0108-0118, Nov 24: 5935 (poor under QRM), 7140 (poor), 7200 (very good), 7320 (fair), 7345 (poor with QRM). Surprised to hear them doing so well this early. Too much QRM to hear 6075 at this time, but heard them at 0140. 6075, Radio Rossii Kamchatka (presumed ID) via Petropavlovsk- Kamchatka, checked again and found them well on top of the QRM, 0140- 0200, Nov 24; surprised to find another time besides 0810-0900 that broadcasts their local programming (probably on from 0110-0200); many mentions of Kamchatka; gives phone numbers; at 0143: "This is Kamchatka"; Russian ballads and pop songs; 0200 strong DW sign-on; at 0200 clearly heard just the "Programa Radio Rossii" ID after the pips, was fair till 0200. 6085, R. Rossii via Krasnoyarsk, at 0205, Nov 24, noted parallel to 5935 (poor-fair under QRM), 6075 (poor mixing with DW), 6140 (poor), 7200 (fair with QRM), 7320 (fair), 7345 (fair). Quick check at 0241 found them not in parallel with the other R. Rossii stations (and of course not parallel to GTRK Magadan either), so assume this could be their local/regional programming, but needs more monitoring to know just what it is. Must be from 0210-0300. 7320, GTRK Magadan, 0224-0300, Nov 24; local/regional programming (assume from 0210-0300); BoH jingle and ID (could not make it out, but clearly no mention of "Rossii"); per helpful input from Mauno Ritola who listened to my audio clip, they gave telephone numbers and address to Magadan and Magadan oblast weather so clearly this was a local/regional program; folk song; fair-poor; parallel to 5935 (poor under QRM), after 0300 went back to "Programa Radio Rossii" IDs (Ron Howard, Asilomar Beach, CA, Etón E1, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** RUSSIA [non]. Voice of Russia via Chita-VOR 7335 0455 English 444 Nov 11 YL and OM VOR World Service ID 0458. IS 0459 by an OM as This Is Radio Moscow 0500 then News items. // 9840 [333] Petropavlovsk, 9855 [333]. Relay unknown (Stewart MacKenzie, CA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) VOR on 7335 is via French Guiana, as we have been reporting in detail in DX Listening Digest (Glenn Hauser to Stewart, Nov 17, via DXLD) VOR website lists Chita as the transmitter site (Stewart MacKenzie, WDX6AA, Nov 18, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Stewart, WHAT VOR website gives such transmitter sites? In any event, it`s wrong, or outdated. The accurate info is in the HFCC file: 7335 0200 0600 6-8 GUF 250 318 1234567 261008 290309 D F VOR GFC If you still refuse to believe this, I will not waste any more time trying to convince you. 73, (Glenn to Stewart, via DXLD) Chita, Voice of Russia 7335 0418 English 444 Nov 23 Classical music. YL announcer 0420 with Bach music and Mozart music on the Music and Musicians program. 9840[333] Petropavlovsk and 7150[333]Armavir (Stewart MacKenzie, CA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) How many lists and DX publications will leave this unchallenged and uncorrected? Stewart never answers either about exactly where to find the supposed websites giving him all this erroneous site info which he believes contrary to all current evidence. I do see however, in WRTH 2008 frequency list page 575, that TCH = Chita is given for VOR on 7335. Which means nothing, as that was published almost a year before the Guiana French relays began unexpectedly. So a year ago VOR had some transmission, surely not to NAm, from Chita. Is PWBR `2009` any help? Of course not! The GUF relay also took them by surprise, and already in print by the beginning of the B-08 season. It does show Chita 7335 at 18-20 UT only, for Africa (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SOUTH CAROLINA [non]. Brother Scare is supposedly scheduled 15-17 UT on WBCQ 9330, but Sunday Nov 23 he was already ranting as I tuned by at 1425 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) See also USA: WWRB; UNIDENTIFIED 13810 ** SRI LANKA [non]. 6045, IBC Tamil (tentative), 0007-0043, Nov 24, was checking for Mexico and heard this. English commentary about UN and cease fire, 0015 into assume Tamil, some pop music, seemed to sign-off around 0100, poor with a het (Mexico QRM?), first time I have ever noted them here (Ron Howard, Asilomar Beach, CA, Etón E1, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SUDAN [non]. 7315, 0435-0510, CLANDESTINE, 22.11, R Dabanga, via Wertachtal, Germany. Vernacular ann, ID's, songs from the Horn of Africa 45434 - not faded in on // 13800 (Anker Petersen, Skovlunde, Denmark, on my AOR AR 7030PLUS with 28 metres of longwire, via Dario Monferini, playdx yg via DXLD) 13800, 21.11 0430, Radio Dabanga, Dutch initiative via Madagascar, identifying ”Radio Dabanga – Darfur Radio” and playing nice music from Sudan. Local language. // 7315 (Germany), where the German outlet was about 1 second before the Madagascar one. S 3-4 on both. BEFF (Björn Fransson, Sweden, SW Bulletin Nov 23 via DXLD) MADAGASCAR- 13800.00, 0445-0508, R. Dabanga, (Sudanese, Arabic and local languages)- Nov 23 Male and female talks, mentioned many times 'Radio Dabanga...', typical local music in the background, at 0450 announcements and music. 35232 (DG-B). Audio file- http://www.ipernity.com/doc/denisgouveia/3484547/ (Denis Gouveia, Brasil, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SUDAN [non]. 17745, 19.11 1500, Sudan Radio Service via Sines, Portugal with lots of talks about Somalia and Horn of Africa music. S 2-4. BEFF (Björn Fransson, Sweden, SW Bulletin Nov 23 via DXLD) ** TAJIKISTAN. 4765.02, Tajik Radio (tentative), 1510-1518, Nov 21, sounded similar to Russian but reception too poor to really make out, first time I have heard them (Ron Howard, Asilomar Beach, CA, Etón E1, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** THAILAND [and non]. RNW has received word from VT Communications that the BBC's relay station at Udorn Thani in Thailand will resume normal operations tomorrow, 25 November. The station has been off the air following flooding in the region. This means that the temporary BBC transmissions via RNW Madagascar have now ended (Andy Sennitt, RNW, 1430 UT Nov 24, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Remarkable signal from Thailand relaying BBCWS on 15310, heard with sports bulletin before closing at 1400, Monday 24. This 290º on 19m, few chances this is their back lobe. Frankly, clean and strong arrival that reminds me when BBC Caribbean Service at 2200 was available from relatively neighbor Furman last year. 73 (Raúl Saavedra, Costa Rica, ibid.) See what Andy Sennitt posted eleven minutes earlier: Nakhon Sawan is again on air only from tomorrow. So today 15310 must have originated from elsewhere, probably a UK site, considering this good transatlantic signal (Kai Ludwig, Germany, ibid.) Apparently it is already back on the air, according to an email I just received from Alok das Gupta, who is hearing all frequencies loud and clear. It apparently came on earlier today, but as far as Madagascar is concerned we did not receive the notice to cancel until after the start of business this morning. The message from VT did not specify an exact time when it would resume operation. I hope they weren't running the frequencies that were scheduled from Madagascar today, otherwise there would be two transmitters carrying the same programme but probably with different audio delay, as the BBC audio to Madagascar was fed via an ISDN line while Nakhon Sawan takes a satellite feed (Andy Sennitt, Netherlands, ibid.) Andy, Does RNW typically use ISDN lines to feed the overseas transmitter sites? If so, would there one line for each transmitter? (Jerry Lenamon, Waco TX, ibid.) No, we don't. We were originally told that the BBC relays would be for a few days, and with agreement of VT it was decided that an ISDN link would be sufficient. Our own programmes are always delivered via satellite. Basically, all the satellites we use regularly carry the different RNW streams 24/7, so the relay station just picks up the appropriate stream. But ISDN can be used as a backup in emergencies. (Andy Sennitt, ibid.) ** TIBET. 6200, "Holy Tibet" program via Xizang PBS - Lhasa, 1630- 1700, Nov 24, all in English, " ... will learn more about Tibet: the people and the culture, on Holy Tibet", talking about the money the government puts into Tibet to help it develop, mostly plays indigenous Tibetan music and chanting/singing, woman describes in detail the various features of the Potala Palace (White Palace, etc.), "Don't miss visiting the Potala Palace", says something like: "Holy Tibet is the window to the world for Tibet" (Ron Howard, Asilomar Beach, CA, Etón E1, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** TURKS & CAICOS. The following article about Turks & Caicos finances may help explain why it may have taken months to restore electricity. http://www.caribbeannetnews.com/turks/turks.php?news_id=12375&start=0&category_id=37 (Mike Cooper, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Viz.: BRITAIN TO TAKE OVER ADMINISTRATION OF TURKS AND CAICOS FINANCES | Published on Friday, November 21, 2008 PROVIDENCIALES, Turks and Caicos Islands: Sources within the Turks and Caicos government have disclosed that Britain is sending two administrators to provide direction and management of all government funds in the territory. Caribbean Net News contacted PDM opposition Leader Floyd Seymour, who confirmed this information. At the same time, Britain will provide five million pounds of relief funds following extensive damage suffered during Hurricane Ike by Grand Turk, South Caicos and Salt Cay. One of the new administrators will reportedly be in charge of overseeing the disbursement of the hurricane relief funds and the other administrator will oversee all financial operations of the incumbent government until further notice. When the hurricane struck, the TCI government was and continues to be in a deficit position financially and has therefore no reserve resources for providing relief except for donations. The deficit position for year ending March 31, 2007 was 31 million dollars and year to date is 13 million, for a 7-month period. The Michael Misick- led government continues to spend in excess of revenues. However, questions asked in the House of Assembly by the opposition failed to elicit any official confirmation of the current financial position. Floyd Seymour, Leader of the Opposition People's Democratic Movement Seymour said that this is one reason why the Public Accounts Committee has not been set up by government. He stated it would reveal continuing government mismanagement of the people’s monies. One example Seymour provided was that Premier Misick has continued to spend government funds on the use of a private plane. "This budget year (seven months), he has expended $1.7 million on the plane alone. The monies Misick allocated for hurricane relief was only $1.3 million. It has been announced by Deputy Premier Floyd Hall that 1,000 homes were affected by the hurricane so this amount is just inadequate for numerous folks who have lost complete roofs and suffered extensive damage," Seymour said. Appointed Member of Parliament Doug Parnell, who also confirmed the appointment of the two British administrators, told Caribbean Net News that this is the direct result of what he described as “voodoo economics” practiced by Misick and Hall. When pressed for the meaning of this, Parnell explained that the government’s income was spent enlisting support for their mismanagement by hosting parties and musicals and other distractions while the Premier and his ministers were using government funds to enjoy a lavish life style. "The roof on the North Caicos High School main building remains missing," Parnell said. "Presumably this should have been immediately repaired under the government’s six million dollar disaster insurance payout. It is time for responsible and experienced management to be put in place and Britain is moving to do this." (via Mike Cooper, DXLD) ** UGANDA. Und heute kam auch noch eine det. QSL-Karte mit dem Slogan "Dunamis Broadcasting - A Christian Voice for Uganda" aus Toronto: HAGCM, P. O. Box 425, Station "E", Toronto, Ontario M6H 4E3, Canada (Patrick Robic, Austria, A-DX Nov 24 via BC-DX Nov 25 via DXLD) ** UKRAINE [and non]. Rusia y Ucrania. La tensión política entre los citados dos países parece haberse traspalado al ámbito de la radiodifusión. Tras haber empleado durante muchos años la emisora “la Voz de Rusia” transmisores ucranianos para sus programas ahora se ve precisada a utilizar para los mismos, instalaciones situadas en otros países. El pasado 1 de noviembre Ucrania suspendió el contrato que tenía con Rusia para el uso por ésta, concretamente por la emisora “La Voz de Rusia” de las dos últimas frecuencias en onda media: la de 936 y la de 1431 kilohercios. En estas dos frecuencias ya se emiten programas radiales domésticos de Ucrania. Por Rumen Pankov, Versión en español: Mijail Mijailov http://www.bnr.bg/RadioBulgaria/Emission_Spanish/Theme_Espacio_diexista/Material/08.11.23+DX.htm (R. Bulgaria DX via José Miguel Romero, dxldyg via DXLD) ** UKRAINE. UCRANIA, 15635, Radio Ukraine Int., Lviv, 1215-1225, escuchada el 23 de noviembre [domingo] en inglés a locutor con comentarios, anunciando horario y frecuencias de emisión, también por Internet, emisión en paralelo por 9950, ID "Ukraine Radio", posible programa diexista, anuncia horarios de Canadá y Monaco con posible emisiones en ucraniano, "Radio Rumania Int... Ukranian... Vatican Radio ...Ucranian...", en paralelo por 9950, SINPO 45444 (José Miguel Romero, Burjasot (Valencia), España, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Yes, that`s a seasonal feature of RUI`s DX program --- giving schedules for all broadcasts in the Ukrainian language from other stations. Certainly nice to be able to do that, altho slightly OT for a program in English! (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U K. 24 Nov 08 (World Day) --- Found several decent frequencies for the Beeb's Network Africa this Local Evening. I'd still rather listen to them on SW, even though I can stream them online or find them overnight on MW and FM. 7255 kHz via Ascension @ 0327 GMT: http://www.mediafire.com/?oyjy3zmmnoj 6190 kHz via Meyerton @ 0330 GMT: http://www.mediafire.com/?ey5ymyyomfy 6145 kHz via Meyerton @ 0333 GMT (w/interference from Cuba on 6140): http://www.mediafire.com/?t1mmvrrgztz 6005 kHz via Ascension @ 0334 GMT (w/interference from Cuba on 6000): http://www.mediafire.com/?mgirm4yjtyn (Terry Wilson, MI, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A [non]. Frequency change for Voice of America: 1530-1600 NF 9465 LAM 100 kW / 092 deg, ex 9605 in Georgian 1600-1700 NF 7435 UDO 250 kW / 305 deg, ex 7180 in Bangla 1830-1900 NF 9625 LAM 100 kW / 102 deg, ex 9750 in Azeri (DX Mix News, Bulgaria, Nov 24 via DXLD) ** U S A. I thought there was a prohibition for VOA to have programming on US stations intended for US domestic consumption. That said, I am hearing VOA on WFED 1500 right now, perhaps as a filler. 11/23 1115 UT (Bill Harms, MD, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Bill, As a former VOAer, I can say that to the best of my knowledge there's been no change in the law. Where is your location and where is WFED located? Is that the previous WTOP located now in Maryland? I couldn't pick them up on 1500. Too much slop. I'm about five miles west of Philadelphia (Bruce Barker, ibid.) Yes, it is the former WTOP on 1500. I am ignorant of the law, I was just asking. Also, I don't want to get any of the fine folks at Bonneville in trouble. Perhaps they did not know. The people at Bonneville are a friendly lot and I don't want to say or do anything to be offensive (Bill Harms, MD, ibid.) And they are Bill`s coreligionists (gh) Bill, Hearing 'Issues in the News' right now on WFED. Something changed, someone changed power or pattern because it is coming in now nicely. Like I said, as far as I know the law hasn't changed. Maybe WFED has an exemption or something. I don't know but there used to be a strict ban on publication or broadcast of any VOA material in the United States for domestic consumption. I wouldn't worry about getting anyone in trouble. People get themseves in trouble. You didn't do anything wrong or offensive. It's an interesting issue and some in Congress have been talking about getting the ban lifted (Bruce Barker, ibid.) The schedule on the WFED 1500AM website shows several VOA programs during the week, Tuesdays 10 am "VOA's Our World", 10.30 am "VOA's Press Conference USA", 11.30 am "VOA: Issues in the News"; Thursdays 11.30 am "VOA's Encounter". Nothing listed in the weekend schedule but I am hearing VOA's "Issues in the News" online at 1145 UT, presumably a repeat of the weekday program? (Tony Rogers, Birmingham (UK), ibid.) Yes, they repeat a lot of their weekday programming on the weekends (Bill Harms, Elkridge, Maryland, ibid.) Kim Elliott has clarified this, and surely that has appeared in DXLD. VOA may not make any effort to be broadcast on US stations, but as long as stations initiate it, that`s OK. I can`t think of a better place for VOA than on WFED in Washington (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Thanks to Glenn and Dr. Kim for the clarification about rebroadcasts of VOA programing (Bruce Barker, ibid.) And there are a number of ethnic US stations which take VOA programming in their own languages (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. I recently signaled that the only Greenville usage of 15580 was currently 21-22 UT, but now that`s changing with another hour added, 17-18 UT, ex-Bonaire (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. On 20 Oct I listened on 5109.82 USB at 0120-0220, SINPO 35333, expecting to hear WBCQ. I heard Radio New York International, many IDs, pop songs, male announcer, ad for Fair Radio, and may have heard mentions of BCQ and The Planet. I am usually asleep at this hour (David Crystal, Israel, Nov World DX Club Contact via DXLD) ** U S A. WWRB update: Greetings: The Brother Stair broadcast sked is as follows: [timezone not specified, apparently EST, which is not the zone WWRB inhabits] 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM 9385 [1300-2200 UT] 5:00 PM to 8:55 PM 3215 [2200-0155 UT] 9:00 PM to 12:00 AM 3145 [0200-0500 UT] 12:00 AM to 7:55 AM 3185 [0500-1255 UT] We have garnered plenty of new listeners using the 3.215 MHz frequency plus ending forever, the perception the other station's Transmission signal is superior to WWRB shortwave (Dave Frantz, WWRB, Nov 23, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Dave Frantz notified us that WWRB has a new frequency at 02-05 for Brother Stair, 3145. He also claims that their next newest frequency, 3215 at 22-02 proves once and for all that WWRB`s signal is better than WWCR`s, which is on the same frequency after 02. So I was monitoring the changeover Nov 24: WWRB 3215 went off at 0156* after Dave instructed listeners to retune to 3.145, which he must have mentioned 10 times. Signal was S9+20. WWCR came up on 3215 at 0159, S9+25. Sorry, Dave, you lose. And WWRB 3145 from *0159 was quite a bit weaker than 3185 and 3215, not only signal but considerably undermodulated, and still the case when next checked at 0455. We`ll see if some military/utility user of 3145 objects to WWRB, as someone must have to 3270 which was only briefly in use. [see also USA] WWCR, 13845, PMS with big crackle on modulation, splattering at least 10 kHz either side, Nov 24 at 1507, but then cleared up at least for the moment. I can imagine that someone was jockeying the dish to lock in on the best satellite signal (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. World Harvest Radio B-08: From program schedules on website Nov. 23. Daily except where indicated. [with bracketed annotations by gh, starting with this: as we discovered when trying to confirm a DX program, much of this schedule is hypothetical] WHRI Angel 1 0500 - 1100 7315 Mon-Fri 0500 - 1100 11565 Sat/Sun 1100 - 1200 7315 1200 - 1300 7335 [collides with CHU] 1300 - 1600 9495 Sat/Sun 1600 - 2000 9495 [you mean 16-18, 19-20? Can`t be both 9495, 17650] 1800 - 1900 17650 Mon-Fri [still includes Ethiopian clandestines?] 2000 - 2100 9495 Sat-Thu 2000 - 2100 15665 Fri (V. of Biafra Int. in Ibo) [mostly English] 2100 - 2200 7315 2200 - 2300 7335 [collides with CHU] 2300 - 0500 7315 WHRI - Angel 2 0000 - 0200 7385 0200 - 0300 7490 Sat 0200 - 0300 7385 Sun-Fri 0300 - 0700 7385 0700 - 0900 5875 Sat/Sun 0700 - 0900 11565 Mon-Fri 0900 - 1000 5875 1000 - 1100 9865 (DW in German) 1100 - 1200 5875 1200 - 1300 9410 [BBC in Spanish M-F] 1300 - 1600 9840 Sat/Sun 1600 - 2000 9840 2000 - 2100 9515 2100 - 2200 9525 2200 - 2300 9615 2300 - 2400 7335 T8WH - Angel 3 0700 - 1200 9930 1200 - 1500 9930 Sat/Sun 1200 - 1500 9930 Mon-Fri (Sound of Hope in Chinese) 1500 - 1800 9905 (Radio Free Asia in Chinese) 1800 - 1900 9955 1900 - 2200 9875 (Radio Free Asia in Chinese) T8WH - Angel 4 0100 - 1000 15680 1000 - 1300 12130 1300 - 1400 11880 [Democratic V. of Burma] 1400 - 1500 9955 1500 - 2200 9930 WHRA - Angel 5 0500 - 0700 7465 1200 - 1500 15665 1500 - 1600 13650 Sun 1500 - 1600 15665 Mon-Sat 1600 - 1800 17650 1800 - 1900 15665 Mon-Fri 1800 - 1900 13730 Sat 1800 - 2000 17650 Sun 1900 - 2000 13730 Mon-Sat 2000 - 2100 7520 Mon-Fri 2000 - 2100 11740 Sat/Sun 2100 - 2300 7520 2300 - 0500 5850 WHRI - Angel 6 0700 - 1300 7385 1300 - 1600 11785 Sat/Sun [Hmong 14-1530 Sat, 14-15 Sun] 1600 - 2300 11785 2300 - 0700 5875 (Bernie O'Shea, Ottawa, Ontario, Nov 23, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. Has KCTA 1030 gotten a night time authority change? They are booming in here tonight. I also heard them at 4 am today [1000 UT Sunday Nov 23]. This is 50 kW daytime and 1 kW night. Unusual to hear them at these times (Alan Furst, Round Rock, Texas, AR 7030 with Quantum Loop 2.0, ABDX via DXLD) I'll bet that's who I was hearing --- just before 1900 EST [0000 UT], I was tuning past 1030 and noticed some talk under WBZ - somebody giving an 800 number. I tried to tweak things to bring them up at TOH, but they seemed to disappear abruptly without an ID. Anyway, if it was KCTA, I don't need 'em! (Barry McLarnon, VE3JF, Ottawa, ON, ibid.) They are off the air per a check a couple of minutes ago, but they are a frequent violator of their authorized operating hours. For a few weeks earlier this year they were running their OC all night and were using their 50 kW day power before Boston sunrise. They seem to be 100% automated and are a real rinky-dink operation (Harry Helms W5HLH, Corpus Christi, TX EL17, 0145 UT Nov 24, http://harryhelmsblog.blogspot.com/ ibid.) ** VANUATU. 7260, R. Vanuatu (tentative), Port Vila. November 23, 0704 local music which sounded like the music at this link, recorded in 2006. http://www.freewebs.com/audiodx/r.vanuatu3945khz.040806.0920utc.mp3 OM talks with local accent, 0715 female talks segment sometimes male, 0723 folk music. At 0720 started to mix signals presumed of Mongolian Radio with a female choir music, 0728 returned Vanuatu signal but briefly till 0729. At this time (0704-0729 and more) have gray-line here and there. At tune-in 23322 (Lúcio Otávio Bobrowiec, Embu SP Brasil - Sony ICF SW40 - dipole 18m, 32m, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** VENEZUELA. This week`s Frontline on PBS, first airing UT Wednesday Nov 26, is about Hugo Chávez and his Aló, Presidente show, which I think is supposed to resume Nov 30 now that the elexions are over (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** VIETNAM. 12019.50, 1025-1035, Voice of Vietnam in English, describing a poem translation from Vietnamese to English, but it is losing lot of the meaning, 1027 ID and postal address, end programme suddenly at 1029, starting a new programme in Indonesian at 1030 with news, good reception, // 9840 only fair here as other stations using this frequency at this time, 22 Nov 08 (John Kecskes, Kenwood R - 5000 with A/D sloper DX antenna, HCDX via DXLD) I think he is somewhere in Australia, but why doesn`t he say so? (gh) UNIDENTIFIED. MW harmonic on 2730? Over the past week, I have noticed a broadcast signal on 2730 kHz. It is audible here in New Hampshire and has also been heard in Colorado and North Carolina. I suspect this is the third harmonic of an MW station on 910 kHz, but the audio here is weak and I have not gotten a clear ID despite listening for a few hours. Does anybody know which MW station is putting out a harmonic signal on 2730 kHz? -- All rights reversed. (Rick van Riel, NH, Nov 23, MWDX yg via DXLD) This was in DXLD 8-117: ``2730, WSBA York PA; 0024-0049+, 9-Nov; News- Radio 9-10... & WSBA 9-10 IDs; Penn State spot and college FB scores; ads for Sure-Fine Market and Churchill Mortgage; spot for Lancaster. Mainly distorted with occasional short, clear peak. 3 x 910; nothing on 2 or 4 x 910 & only WFDF Farmington Hills MI on 910 (Harold Frodge, Michigan Area Radio Enthusiasts DXpedition, Brighton MI, Drake R8B + 65' TTFD + 500' unterminated NE/SW beverage, DX LISTENING DIGEST)`` Or course, there could be more than one 910 station harmonicizing at the moment (Glenn Hauser, ibid.) UNIDENTIFIED. 4665 UNID in possible Spanish, 11/16, 2005-2041. Two men talk for possible sport (soccer?) live (a man with excited talk, mostly unclear and barely audible); not sure if one station or two co- channel broadcasts here; heard in LSB with fast QSB and strong statics; from 2031 increasing audio at times; very poor with nir 12 [?]; (first time heard on this frequency Oct. 26 2115-2131 with two men talking - barely audible for few minutes on Nov. 22 at about same time, then faded out - any idea?) (Gianni Serra, Italy, NASWA Flashsheet via DXLD) Mixing product? Unseems harmonic (gh, DXLD) UNIDENTIFIED. 4800.0, AM, UNKNOWN, 0635-0657, Nov 22, Spanish, talk with some music, some of the music might have sounded religious in nature. Did not sound like a South or Central American station. Poor (Mike ROHDE, OH, NASWA Flashsheet via DXLD) Surely it is XERTA, heard any night here. They have religious-sounding music, are in Spanish, not S or Central American, run all night unlike the Guatemalan (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. 6074, 8GAL CW marker started late Nov 23 at 1401:30 as I had about given up waiting for it after Russia 6075 1400*. I also noticed the timesignal from that was almost 10 seconds slow. Copy of very weak 8GAL was virtually at the imagination level, but I did make out one or two matching letters (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. 23 Nov at 1810 noted an unid HOA sounding station on 6889.3 kHz. Radioplay, phone-ins and music. Not sure about the language. I had to leave the radio after 1930, but Mauno Ritola had monitored their sign-off being at 2056. Not very strong signal. 24 Oct I monitored the frequency and the station was audible already around 1500 with much stronger signal. They had sports news, talks and phone- ins again. Heard mentions of Somalia and Oromiya, but I heard no ID. Heard one slogan which seemed to start with word "Halkani..." but that could have been some other similar sounding word. I didn't check the sign-off time today, but they were still audible around 2000. Any ideas? (Jari Savolainen, Kuusankoski, Finland, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED [non]. Looking for Myanma radio on 9730 on 2300 on 21/11 I found an unknown station at 2309 with talks in an unknown language that seems as Hmong or something similar with something as chanting on 2310 to 2317 by a young boy. There are 2 audio clips with this station. If someone can identify this language or station please let me know. Notice: Did not found any entry on Aoki or Eibi listing (Zacharias Liangas, Greece, DX LISTENING DIGEST) I haven`t listened to it, but FEBC, Bocaue, Philippines is scheduled in Hmong on 9730 at 2300-2330 (gh, DXLD) As in HFCC (Liangas, ibid.) UNIDENTIFIED. 13810, Nov 24 at 1505 audio cutting out, sounded like AWR theme music, then into African harmony. Trouble is, this is scheduled as Brother Scare via Nauen, but unlike his programming; feed mixup or change? (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. Log Nov 24 early morning: OHR. 19m Radar. Es war sicher das Cyprusradar, habe es heute bei 15600 kHz gefunden, 30 kHz breit, 50 Pulse/sec, Nov 22, 1400 UT. (73 de Wolf DK2OM, DARC/IARU bandwatch Nov 22 via Wolfgang Büschel, DXLD) Nov 24: 1110 UT OHRadar Zypern 15788 - 15822 kHz. (wb) Early morning WOODPECKER signal. Against? Once again noted like a woodpecker jammer in 0500-0600 UT timeslot, with breaks of a minute in between. Not strong though, maybe coming from the Americas / Alaska ? 8-9 kHz wide pulses. Noted like a garden fence on 6009, 6024, 6086, 6146, 6329, 6519, 6556, 6575, 6826, 7188, 7198, 7241, 7257, 7314, 7323, 7362, 7424, 7485, 7537 kHz, but not heard after 0600 UT anymore. (wb, Nov 21 / 24) Broadband buzz on 10354-10386 kHz at 0555 UT. (wb, Nov 24) Puzzle: An like Iranian bubble jammer noted on 7686-7690 kHz slot at 0535 UT (all: Wolfgang Büschel, Nov 24, Stuttgart, Germany, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ UNSOLICITED TESTIMONIALS ++++++++++++++++++++++++ Hello Glenn! Just starting to listen again after being away from the bands for quite some time. I recall your reports on RCI in the late 1970's. THANK YOU for keeping us listeners informed for so many years! (Joe Smith, NH, Nov 24, DX LISTENING DIGEST) RADIO EQUIPMENT FORUM +++++++++++++++++++++ ALUMINUM SIDING AFFECTS AM RECEPTION? Equipment is a 1960's Realtone Globepacer portable (purchased new), with a 30' random wire outdoor antenna and RG-58 lead-in plugged into the ext. antenna jack. Receiver does have its own AM-loop antenna, but I tested and the external made a difference in signal strength on AM. Will try Terk tunable AM-loop antenna next but my house has older aluminum siding which may affect reception? May have to go outside for results? Signal sounds very similar to Scottish listener with specialized equipment who posted Reloj on YouTube but mine has fading. Happy Holidays to you and yours! (Joe Smith, NH, Nov 24, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Interesting question about aluminum siding. One would think not, but that much metal, even if non-ferrous might have some shielding or skewing effect. Who has a more definitive answer? (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) PUBLICATIONS ++++++++++++ INTERNATIONAL RADIO STATION LINX World DX Club website updates --- Hi all, I've been updating the web page containing links to International Radio Station webpages, and there are now links to over 40 stations linking direct each of the following pages (where such pages are available): Home page Frequencies Programmes Live streams Archive/podcasts These are presented in an easy-to-use grid format at http://www.worlddxclub.org.uk/WDXC_links_stations.html Take a look! I hope that you find this of use. (And any suggestions for additions are welcomed!) (Alan Roe, England, Nov 23, http://www.worlddxclub.org.uk WDXC yg via DXLD) LANGUAGE LESSONS ++++++++++++++++ ENGLISH PREPOSITIONS Some of our non-native-English-speaking contributors have a lot of trouble with prepositions, which don`t correspond with the preps in their own language. Here is a simple tip, which I hope those needing this information will be reading: AT a time, ON a date. A frequency could be preceded by either AT or ON, but ON is more common (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Re: HCJB begins a new series of DRM test transmissions 1200-1300 UTC Low-German and German. 1130-1300 UTC Low-German and German. 8 comments so far: 1 ruud November 22nd, 2008 - 12:34 UTC What would be Low-German, is this simple German?? 2 Andy Sennitt November 22nd, 2008 - 13:22 UTC From Wikipedia: Low German or Low Saxon (in Germany: Plattdüütsch or Nedderdüütsch; in Netherlands: Nedersaksisch or Nederduuts) is any of the regional language varieties of the West Germanic languages spoken mainly in Northern Germany and eastern parts of the Netherlands. More information at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Low_German 3 Harald November 22nd, 2008 - 19:47 UTC and it is spoken by German minority communities in parts of North, Central and South America and in parts of the ex-USSR. 4 Steven Allan November 23rd, 2008 - 1:03 UTC After considerable surfing, I find that although Low German means lots of things, it is recognised as a separate language spoken in localities in North Germany, the Netherlands and elsewhere. However, it is broken up into numerous dialects, all of which are spoken by minorities and in view of the fact that everyone who speaks it speaks something else as well, what is the point of broadcasting in some general version of it? The fact that Ruud is Dutch and did not even know what it was and that Andy lives in the Netherlands and had to look it up on Wikipedia says everything about how widespread it is not. We would appear to have one hour per day in a dubious minority language broadcast on a minority channel in a minority mode. I wonder how many listeners they are expecting. 5 Andy Sennitt November 23rd, 2008 - 12:26 UTC Well, HCJB already broadcasts in Low German, but its decision to start doing it in DRM mode in the middle of the working day in the target area is strange, to say the least. The HCJB Low German website lists a DRM transmission in Low German at 2100 UTC on 15360 kHz, but I don’t know if the new one is a replacement or an additional one. It appears that its target audience is “Russian Mennonites”, though I doubt many of them have DRM receivers. I think this is more of a technical experiment than a serious attempt to get listeners. Interestingly, Ruud’s original question was “is this simple German?” Now, given that I don’t speak German but understand a little, I find that the Plattdeutsch website is a little easier to follow than other German sites I know. So the answer is probably “yes”, maybe something akin to VOA’s Special English. The website is at http://plattdeutsch.hcjb.org/ 6 Kai Ludwig November 23rd, 2008 - 14:03 UTC Of course this DRM thing is just a technical experiment. The broadcasts itself started in 2002, and for the real-world audiences they are distributed in AM via the Pifo transmitters for the Americas and via Wertachtal for Europe, plus via webcast. Indeed the Russian Mennonites in North America are the primary, original target audience. Thus HCJB labels these programmes also as Plautdietsch, as this particular variant of Low German is called. Note how linguists not only argue whether or not Low German (indeed in High German called “Plattdeutsch”; “Niederdeutsch” is technocrat speak) is a language on its own, they also argue if the variants called Dutch Low Saxon belong to German or rather Dutch. As a matter of fact native speakers of German can understand Dutch, and Low German is somehow “in between High German and Dutch” (although linguists would presumably scream over such a description). It should be also mentioned that just a few decades ago those working in the education system (at least the East German one) considered it as desirable to eliminate all dialects and wanted people to speak aseptic High German only. Thus it is in my opinion quite hypocritic if their decline is now lamented from this corner. Another aspect: The original Brandenburg variant of Low German is more or less gone; people now speak Berlinerisch instead. Icke berlinere, wa? 7 ruud November 23rd, 2008 - 14:58 UTC Thanks for all the answers. PlattDeutch is often used by the German Landersender such as NDR3 and WDR 3, in the North this quite the same is the local language spoken in the Netherlands. I remember co-productions between RTV Noord (NL) and NDR 3 (Germany) in the same language which was spoken on both sides of the border. During the carnaval season many stand-up comedians in Germany can be seen on TV doing their show in PlattDeutch. Will the Germans run out for the shops to by DRM receivers to listen to the HCJB programmes in their own local language? I wonder if there is an international broadcaster doing programmes in Scottisch or Welsch? Or Frisian, which is not a dialect but a language. 8 Steven Allan November 23rd, 2008 - 15:03 UTC A lot of what Kai said is in agreement with my findings and the reason that Andy finds Low German easier to understand than High German is probably because it is closer to English and ABN, rather than actually being simpler. I also found that the words high and low refer to the height of the land, High German being spoken in the higher lands of Austria and Southern Germany and Low German being spoken in the lower lying areas of Northern Germany and the Netherlands (Media Network blog via DXLD) DIGITAL BROADCASTING DRM: ECUADOR; NEW ZEALAND; LANGUAGE LESSONS ++++++++++++++++++++ Re: POST-FEB. 17TH ANALOG LIKELY This is similar to something that I dreamed up, earlier this year (or maybe late last year) that all major markets maintain one full power analog station, preferably a low V, to promote safety, public service and DTV transition info. All of the broadcasters in the area would have to "program" the station with the community service programs that they already run and then break in for severe weather or other EMS situations. Each month a different station would rotate EMS duties. This could go for 2-5 years or so. Obviously the programming would be so boring it would not in itself keep someone hanging onto analog - but in the time of an emergency, an old, analog, battery operated TV would work. FEMA could fund this. Another tangent: I think that some folks may understand all of the nuances of the DTV switch but can not afford to switch (can't make up the difference between the coupon and box cost) or unable to physically make the switch. My dad resembles that remark. He and his wife are on fixed Social Security incomes, live in a rental house about to blow down and he can't get the $40 coupon because he has a PO Box (from what he told me). He lives near Rockingham NC and can get some of the Charlotte analogs and maybe a SC station or too but he can not get any FOX network TV stations, reliably. He is in no condition to install an antenna and the landlord is no help, I'm sure. What is he to do? I can't afford to get him satellite service and he would need something better than a 40 year old bent piece of junk half laying on the roof to get DTV. I'm also not a climber and he is several hundred miles away, so I'm not much help. 73, (Dave in Indy Hascall, Nov 24, WTFDA via DXLD) Me? I'd rather see FEMA making sure that in every market, there's a big-signal radio station that's ready to either provide emergency coverage itself or simulcast the TV station. That pretty much seems to happen now, anyway. Also - who'd maintain the aging transmitter in your example? Who'd be responsible for tower rent or maintenance --- or for the power bill for the remaining analog? Well, there's one small ray of light here - the rules changed a couple of months ago to allow PO Boxes to receive the coupons. I wish I had better news beyond that. s (Scott Fybush, NY, ibid.) I think the cost (which can be as low as $10) is not as big a factor as just being able to receive DTV stations. It can cost a lot more than $10 to get the right antenna and especially if you have to pay to get it installed. The promos for DTV boxes make it sound so simple -- just get the box and hook it up and now you have DTV. As our group knows it isn't always that simple. I have hooked up several homes (for friends and neighbors) and have had pretty good results. But I have been DXing DTV since early in 2000 when only one area station was on the air and know some tricks just as most of you do. I set one up for a friend Saturday who lives between 70 and 80 miles from the Kansas City transmitters. They had an antenna for the KC analog UHFs and although he works for KTWU-11 he couldn't figure the box out. We were able to use his existing antenna and they got all but KCPT-DT 18. However, I did bring along a ChannelMaster 4228 and was able to get KCPT-DT on their deck and even with the antenna in their living room. They are, fortunately, on a hill but still at almost 80 miles I think that is pretty good. They could afford cable but didn't want the extra expense for something they really didn't need. He is 70+ and still working. Area stations still aren't providing information that is very practical which doesn't help so I have volunteered to help out. The KTWU promotion director doesn't have a clue. I know as I used to work with him until I retired four years ago. The chief engineer wants to do a program and would like to have me on the show to help explain how to receive DTV. I hope I can help revise their printed and web materials which need a lot of help. The deadline is fast approaching and so is winter and I still wonder how the FCC could have been so stupid to make the switch in February. Two local stations (KTWU-DT 23 and WIBW-DT 44 will revert back to channels 11 and 13) will change bands without a chance for viewers to be able to find out if they can actually receive the new DTV channels before the switch. The KTWU CE says he will change over from analog to digital on the night of February 17. Of course the transmitter will need to be changed to transmit digital but the channel 11 antenna is new and he says it will be used for digital. Viewers who can now get DTV channels 23 and 44 may not necessarily get DTV channels 11 and 13. KSNT-DT 28 will move back to channel 27 and KTKA-DT 48 will go to channel 49 so they will be OK. I might add that the 4228 is working well at receiving KMBC-DT 7 from Kansas City in several spots where I have tried it. I have told the KTWU chief as it could help people watching KTWU-DT on channel 23 get the station when it goes to channel 11. He said there have been some problems in fringe areas receiving channel 23 but it is side mounted and the DTV on channel 11 will be at the top of the tower. Well, at least we are not in Fargo! (Dave Pomeroy, Topeka, Kansas, ibid.) Some of our Weather-Radio transmitter sites in Canada need snowmobiles to reach in the winter. I guess that's why IC decided on August for our switchover. Some access roads are bad enough in the summer never mind winter (easy to sink in mud in many places or hit rocks). I bottomed out my Camaro on a few of these. Mind you, I shouldn't be driving a Camaro to a xmtr site, but that's another story. Could be interesting in the US if there's any winter storms causing havoc with the switchover - making access to the transmitter building impossible (especially an ice storm). And how are people supposed to climb their roofs and adjust their antennas with ice and snow on them? (Bill Hepburn, Ont., ibid.) ###