DX LISTENING DIGEST 9-049, June 24, 2009 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 2009 contents archive see http://www.worldofradio.com/dxldmid.html NOTE: If you are a regular reader of DXLD, and a source of DX news but have not been sending it directly to us, please consider yourself obligated to do so. Thanks, Glenn SHORTWAVE AIRINGS OF WORLD OF RADIO 1466, June 25-July 1 Thu 0530 WRMI 9955 Thu 1900 WBCQ 7415 Fri 0000 WBCQ 5110-CUSB Area 51 Fri 0100 WRMI 9955 Fri 1130 WRMI 9955 Fri 1900 WBCQ 7415 Fri 2030 WWCR1 15825 [or 2029] Sat 0800 WRMI 9955 Sat 0800 IPAR/IRRS/NEXUS/IBA 9510 [except first Sat] Sat 1630 WWCR3 12160 Sun 0230 WWCR3 5070 Sun 0630 WWCR1 3215 Sun 0800 WRMI 9955 Sun 1515 WRMI 9955 [suspended, until July?] Mon 0500 WRMI 9955 Mon 2200 WBCQ 7415 Tue 1100 WRMI 9955 Tue 1530 WRMI 9955 Tue 1900 WBCQ 7415 Wed 0500 WRMI 9955 [or new 1467 starting here?] Wed 1530 WRMI 9955 Wed 1900 WBCQ 7415 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 or http://schedule.worldofradio.org or http://sked.worldofradio.org 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://podcast.worldofradio.org or http://www.wrn.org/listeners/stations/podcast.php OUR ONDEMAND AUDIO: http://www.worldofradio.com/audiomid.html or http://wor.worldofradio.org EDITOR`S NOTE: This is probably our biggest single issue ever, as it accounts for more than two weeks` worth of material. In order to enjoy some other activities and do a little travelling, I took a few days off --- if I took the Internet with me, it wouldn`t be a vacation. And then kept falling behind faster than getting ahead. But I kept at it until this date I am more or less caught up. But this is taking entirely too much of my time, however it is split up. I have always enjoyed ``putting it all together``, compiling info into something that is more than the sum of its parts, but it does amount to a lot of duplication of effort. I noted that only a couple of readers enquired about the delay in publishing this issue. There is so much news of interest for DXLD, that it takes more than one day`s work to put it into an issue; otherwise, I would try to compile and publish whatever comes in every day, and then start over. What next? (gh) ** AFGHANISTAN. The last we heard from Al Muick was May 5, when he said he had been too busy to DX for the past month. Some recent inquiries have gone unanswered, but not bounced. Altho dangerous situations don`t seem to bother him, we are concerned and if anyone has heard from or about him lately, please let us know (Glenn Hauser, June 23, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ALASKA. ANTENNA CONSTRUCTION UNDERWAY FOR ALASKA DRM TESTS The experiment to see if an entire state can be covered by digital shortwave signals is slowly progressing, according to another NAB Show presentation. Dr. Donald Messer, longtime shortwave broadcasting and Digital Radio Mondiale proponent, updated attendees about his plans to test DRM for an ambitious “local” shortwave service covering the state of Alaska. . . http://www.rwonline.com/article/82654 (via Dick Pache, DXLD) Part of a longer article about IBOC: see DIGITAL below ** ALBANIA. R. Tirana, 13640, only and therefore best signal from Europe on 22m, S9+18, June 8 at 2025 with sports roundup in English, 2027:30 closing, theme, and off by 2028 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Hi Glenn, Checked Radio Tirana this evening at 2000 UT on 7465 and 13640. Both were supposed to be in English, but both were in Albanian. Do you, by any chance know of any changes in the schedule, or maybe just a mix up? (Christopher Lewis, England, June 12, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Hi Chris, Must have been a mixup (gh, to Chris, via DXLD) Dear Glenn in Oklahoma and Chris in London, My monitoring staff confirmed me today that on Friday, 12 June (10 anniversary of Kosova) at 2000 UT is broadcasted English according to the present schedule of Radio Tirana, and not Albanian by mistake. As for the Central Apparatus of Radio Tirana my staff told me that on 12 June evening there was one of the best technicians that never makes mistakes in delivering of the programs. Looking into your emails as below, it is not clear enough. Are you talking for the evening of 12 or 11 June for Albanian broadcast of Radio Tirana instead of English? Thank you very much for notification. Enjoy listening to Radio Tirana, (Drita Cico, ARTV-HF Manager & Head of Radio Tirana Monitoring since 1981, June 14, via DXLD) Dear Drita, The transmission I was referring to was neither the 11th or 12th. It was the 13th at 2000. As stated in the original e mail, I checked both 7465 and 13640 at 2000 UT and the transmission was in Albanian, not English. Also another thing I have noticed, the English transmissions on 7465 and 13640 are quite undermodulated after it had been good for quite some time. I hope this is of some use. Sincerely (Christopher Lewis, via Drita, ibid.) No, your original report was dated and received here on June 12, so could not have concerned June 13. Date mixup? (gh, DXLD) ** ALBANIA. ALBANIA DIGITALIZATION PROJECT SIGNED ON 2 JUNE BY OUR PRIME MINISTER Yesterday, I was talking with our Tech Dir Agron Aranitasi. He showed me the paper signed by our Prime Minister for the Digitalization of RTV broadcasting in Albania. Today, I went to ask for the date of this paper. His staff showed me the order and told me to search in the web of our Prime Minister (Kryeministria) date 2 June, His order 77. I did a glance on it. It was an order to create an ad-hoc commission to prepare the strategies for the digitalization broadcasting project that should be done in Albania till 2012. Our General Director is member of this commission, while vice/Prime Minister was nominated as responisble person to deliver this order to the relevant institutions (Drita Çiço, R. Tirana Monitoring, Jan 18, DX LISTENING DIGEST) What standard(s)? (gh) ** ALGERIA (?). 1071, R. Algérienne (?), Illizi, 2146-, 21 Jun, Arabic, prayer; 14431. I was unable to compare this against their other audible channels, and there's a good chance what I heard on this was Saudi Arabia. 73, (Carlos Gonçalves, Portugal, June 24, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Now that Spain, q.v. is off 1071 ** ANGUILLA. June 11 seems to be a watershed date. Not only does VOI lose its modulation, but Pastor Melissa Scott is in the clear without the crosstalk from 1610 programming which has been heard daily for a couple of weeks in the mornings. June 11 at 1347 check. Defunct Gene Scott also in the clear at 1502 check (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 11775, June 12 at 1330, PMS in the clear without crosstalk from 1610 programming. Also checked June 13: until 1330 sharp, could only hear DGS from this, but with SAH, Chinese mix from the jammer. Then DGS also in clear. I suspect the problem has not really been solved, but the power on 1610 during the morning reduced to the point where it does not get into the 11775 transmitter; elsewhen, the originally licensed 100 kW 1610 frequency is running a Nautel at full 50 kW power, ex-25 kW (Glenn Hauser, OK, WORLD OF RADIO 1465, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ANTARCTICA. LRA36 Arcángel op 15476.040, 1749 UT. With SS comments by male, weak and noisy (Maurits Van Driessche, Belgium, June 10, bdx via DXLD) Another pre-1800 log; how early might they come on now? (gh) ANTÁRTIDA, 15476, LRA36, Radio Nacional Arcángel San Gabriel, Base Esperanza, 1830-1908, 10-06, tangos y otras canciones argentinas, locutora, comentario sobre Buenos Aires y el crecimiento de su población, "De Esperanza al mundo", identificación: "Transmite LRA 36, Radio Nacional Arcángel San Gabriel...", más comentarios. 24322 (Manuel Méndez, Lugo, España, Grundig Satellit 500 y Sony ICF SW 7600G, Antena de cable 8 metros, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ANTARTIDA, 15476, LRA 36, Radio Nacional, Arcángel San Gabriel, Base Esperanza, 1820-1920, 18-06, canciones latinoamericanas, comentarios, locutora, identificación. Señal muy débil hoy. 14321 (Manuel Méndez, Lugo, España, escuchas realizadas en Camping de Reinante, Mar Cantábrico, Lugo, Grundig Satellit 500 y Sony ICF SW 7600 G, Antena de cable, 10 metros, DX LISITENING DIGEST) LRA36 tehoren op 15476.040, 1814 UT. Wel zwak in SS (Maurits Van Driessche, Belgium, June 18, bdx mailing list via DXLD) ** ANTARCTICA [non]. Re 9-048: I distinctly remember that the USSR used to have a special Polar Service on SW, once a week? Designated both for the Arctic and Antarctic; but don`t remember the times and frequencies. Details were probably in Roger Legge`s USSR HF Broadcast Newsletter (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 1981 Handbook schedule of the Foreign Service, Broadcasts in Russian, Fifth programme shows a programme 0900-0930 To Soviet Specialists abroad, Tuesdays and Fridays only. News and music on other days. This is one of several special programmes; at other times the service relayed the 2nd programme (Mayak). A note in the 1983 edition adds that: "At times when these special programmes are on the air listeners may hear the Home Service 2nd programme simultaneously on other frequencies. The latter may be either domestic shortwave transmitters or Foreign Service transmitters which use this programme as a fill-in between programmes in other languages." (Mike Barraclough, England, June 9, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ANTARCTICA [non]. BBCWS TO CONDUCT SPECIAL MIDWINTER BROADCAST TO ANTARCTICA The BBC World Service will be making a special midwinter shortwave broadcast to Antarctica on Sunday 21 June at 2130 UTC. The broadcast is directed to members of the British Antarctic Survey, and will be on the following frequencies: 5950 kHz (from Rampisham, UK) 7295 kHz (from Rampisham, UK) 7360 kHz (from Ascension Island) (Source: Travellin’ South blog http://alloutput.com/blog/ June 19th, 2009 - 11:56 UTC by Andy Sennitt, Media Network blog via DXLD) 1 comment so far 1 Kai Ludwig June 22nd, 2009 - 14:34 UTC This appears to be an annual special, communicated only to those involved in the operation of the Antarctic bases, and who knows for how many years they already do it. I saw an operational memo for it some years ago, where it had also been specified that the broadcast is to be preceded by ten minutes (or thereabouts) of interval signal. Makes one wonder what other undocumented shortwave broadcasts may exist as well, still not being discovered by the editors of specialized publications. It appears that this category is not limited to all the political stuff (what DXing circles call “Clandestine”). (comments, ibid.) According to the British Antarctic Survey blog above, they tested 16 June and 7295 gave very strong reception in Antarctica. Broadcast will include messages from home for members of the BAS at the Rothera station (Alan Pennington, BDXC-UK June 19 via DXLD) On air now! 5950 7295 7360 (Pennington, 2132 UT June 21, ibid.) Felix - DL5XL, operator DP1POL said: 5950 kHz channel was the strongest here in Antarctic, but all three signals of GOOD level. ``Der Empfang war auf allen drei Frequenzen gut, das beste Signal kam auf 5.950 kHz. Felix (DL5XL, DP1POL).`` Comment: Yes, greetings and kisses program like former R Budapest noted (via A-DX) From German Antarctic station Neumayer-Station III; had a mid-winter dinner last night, and reported temperature winterly minus 19 cC, and wind strength fresh breeze 5. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neumayer-Station_III http://www.awi.de/en/infrastructure/stations/neumayer_station_iii/ http://www.awi.de/en/infrastructure/stations/neumayer_station_iii/architecture/ http://www.awi.de/fileadmin/user_upload/Infrastructure/Stations/Neumayer_Station\_III/NMIII_english.pdf (Wolfgang Büschel, ibid.) Na hora aprazada sintonizei as 3 frequências e a que apresentava melhor recepção aqui em Limeira SP foi a de 7295 kHz com sinal forte e nítido. Foram mensagens e mais mensagens enviadas pelo ar até os pesquisadores que estão no território gelado e tocadas músicas com Elvis Presley, ABBA. Às 19h (hora de Brasília) ou 22h UT, encerraram- se as transmissões. Muito bom. O rádio ainda será útil por muito tempo (Luiz Chaine Neto, Limeira sp, Brasil, radioescutas yg via DXLD) Wish someone had posted this ahead of time to dxldyg (gh) ** ANTARCTICA [non]. Utilitária matutina --- Ola a todos, Ando meio sumido e em falta com meus radios e logs !!! mais hoje pela manhã liguei o receptor em 12207 USB e ouvi o navio polar Almirante Maximiliano, chamando Rio Grande do Sul e a base naval antártica no horario de 1140 UT, mais ninguém respondeu. O naviu é este da foto http://www.alide.com.br/joomla/images/phocagallery/noticias/mb07/h41_05.jpg Forte 73 a todos e ótimos DX (Eduardo Dourado, June 22, dxclubepr yg via DXLD) Oops, the jpg is forbidden (gh) ** ARGENTINA [and non]. 15345, June 8 at 2036, fast SAH from two carriers, no doubt the usual collision between RAE and Morocco; but as both vary up to 1 kHz, remarkable that they should happen to land in SAH range of each other. Could not hang around until 2100 to confirm whether RTM is now closing an hour earlier due to DST which started June 1, thus freeing 15345 for RAE to reach Europe in German until 2200, but would-be listeners there should check it (Glenn Hauser, OK, WORLD OF RADIO 1464, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Carrier quite close to 15344, not 15345, at 2145 June 11 and still after 2200, as I check the portable DX-398 in the yard while computer noise reigns inside. Assume this is RAE in a typical variation, not Morocco. Recheck at 2345 found 15344 a bit stronger with some Spanish- sounding audio. Tried again June 12 at 2128, this time with an external antenna clipped onto DX-398, and a bit more signal arrived, as heard RAE ID, presumably during German hour, still very poor. No sign of Morocco, presumably closing 15345 at 2100* now, and Argentina was again quite close to 15344, not 15345. Benelux reports also put it near 15344 (Glenn Hauser, OK, WORLD OF RADIO 1465, DX LISTENING DIGEST) On Fri 12th 1700 UT RAE German started on 15343.96 kHz, but wandered up to 15344.00 ... 15344.01 kHz at 2030 UT. Stronger than Morocco 15345.00, and used SYNC LSB mode on Eton E1, easily to follow the Italian, French, and English program of RAE. 73 wb (Wolfgang Büschel, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Sat 13 June pushing 2255 (correct time) in Metro Vancouver, the frequency was a mess. Morocco was still on-air with a fair signal but presumed off-frequency. RAE's weak carrier was causing poor audio. A re-check close to 2400 showed RAE alone with very poor signal. I didn't bother to try to measure an accurate frequency with the Eton E1 (Theo Donnelly, BC, June 14, ptsw yg via DXLD) Haven`t known Morocco to run much past 2200 even in standard time. And we have to be careful not to call it RAE on weekends, but instead R. Nacional (Glenn Hauser, DXLD) RAE seems be back on 15344.98 ... 15344.99 kHz tonight June 14, nearly exact on co-channel 15345 Nador Morocco. RAE was lately on 15343.96 ... 15344.01 kHz. 73 (Wolfgang Büschel, Germany, June 14, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1465, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 15345, Radio al Exterior [sic]; 2316-2323+, 16-June; Tango to fanfare at 2318+ into 2M in Spanish with Argentina news; RaE ID at 2322+ and back into music. SIO=353-; no // detectable on 6060 or 11710 (Harold Frodge, Midland MI, USA, Drake R8B + 125 ft. bow-tie; 85 ft. RW & 180 ft. center-fed RW, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 11710.7, RAE, 0234, 6/17/09. English service with usual program of news and music. Noisy due to local weather. Fair signal, but some fading present (Jerry Strawman, Des Moines, IA, Drake R8, Drake SPR-4, Icom R-71A, Alpha Delta SWL Sloper, Wellbrook ALA-100 Loop, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ARGENTINA. RNA e seus espúrios. --- Após meses, a Rádio Nacional da Argentina em 6060 na faixa dos 49 metros, prossegue emitindo espúrios pelo dial com seu transmissor desregulado, interferindo diretamente na Inconfidência 6010 de Belo Horizonte e na Gazeta 5955 kHz de São Paulo capital. De acordo com o EIBI, a RNA opera com 30 kW desde General Pacheco (Édison Bocorny Jr., Brasil, Jun 21, radioescutas yg via DXLD) Domingo à noite dia 21/6 às 19h30, hora de Brasília ou 22h30 hora UTC, mais uma vez detectei interferência que a RAE ou Rádio Nacional da Argentina provoca sobre a frequência de 6010 kHz da Inconfidência de BH. Já faz um tempão que isso acontece e a equipe técnica da RAE não toma providência. Enviei e-mail a eles até em nome de Ivan Barrera, coordenador de dexismo da emissora. O técnico de transmissor da Inconfidência também tomou conhecimento dessa interferência através de e-mail que lhe enviei. Argentino já é mau pagador de QSL quando você elogia, imagine quando se fazem observações de algo errado. Nos meus contatos via rádio com eles em todos esses anos nunca recebi QSL mesmo enviando meus reportes de recepção. Se algum argentino estiver lendo este reporte, que entre em contato com a RAE em Buenos Aires e comunique tal fato. Quem sabe vão se "mancar" Pouco-caso total. 73 (Luiz Chaine Neto, Limeira SP, ibid.) Luiz, Gostaria de acrescentar e, aproveitar para tomar as impressões do colegas, sobre as emissões da RAE em 11710 kHz. Ontem, a sintonizei forte, como de costume, porém, notei um defeito no som, como se a voz dos locutores estivesse trêmula e com um leve chiado. Será um defeito do transmissor, também em 25 metros? 11710, 1339, ARGENTINA, RAE, ss, talk OM/YL sobre cultura e arte argentinas, visita de Roberto Benigni a Buenos Aires, leve defeito no som, fading leve, 55444; 73's (Arthur Antonio Raimundo, Araçatuba SP Brasil, Latitude -21 13' 04'' Longitude 50 25' 55'', ibid.) Caro Arthur, O áudio da RAE em 11710 kHz é forte porque aumentaram a potência do transmissor e ainda falta regulagem. O áudio se apresenta um pouco saturado. É o que você notou. Pela minha experiência com transmissores, quando aumentamos a potência dele, o áudio satura conforme a abertura da propagação quando esta escancara. É meu caro, se nem a frequência de 6060 kHz eles acertam (espúrios em 6010 kHz). 73 (Luiz Chaine Neto, Limeira SP, ibid.) ** AUSTRALIA. VL8K, 2485, despite hi local line and storm noise level was audible June 20 at 1134 with enthusiastic Oz accent, sports? Around 9 pm local Saturday in NT. The others only detectable as carriers with BFO on, weaker 2325 and much weaker 2310. Of course it`s winter solstice there, which should boost the signals a little on the first hop from the tropix. I see that Katherine, not too far from Darwin, is totally tropical at 14 degrees S, the same latitude as Tegucigalpa is N; Alice is just barely south of the Tropic of Capricorn, with Tennant Creek in between. LSR today in Enid was 1114, which if we were observing local mean time on our clox, would be 4:42 am instead of 6:14 am CDT (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 2485, VL8K Katherine NT seems the best received of the three in Florida during 10 to 20 June. [Wilkner & Cedar Key](Bob Wilkner, Pompano Beach, Florida US, NRD 535D ~ Drake R8, June 22, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 4910, VL8T, Tennant Creek NT, 2155-2210, 14 Jun, English, music, talks, ABC news jingle thrown in at 2202, not on the hour; 35332; VL8A 4835 & VL8K 5025 both airing a different kind of program. 73 (Carlos Gonçalves, Portugal, June 24, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** AUSTRALIA. Hello Kevin, Radio Australia does not send out Verification Cards. Sorry (George Poppin, San Francisco, June 10, to Kevin Molander, via DXLD) Glenn - you were right - Radio Australia does not send QSL cards - maybe it's because they receive 1000 reception reports a year (Kevin Molander, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Axually, some QSLs were coming out a few months ago, and I sent Kevin those items from DXLD (gh) ** AUSTRALIA. 15180, RA in Indonesian, June 24 at 0604 with Berita, ID; poor, weaker than RA English on 15160. 15180 is Darwin at 290 degrees, 0600-0630, in Indonesian M-F, English Sat/Sun per Aoki. Last time we heard RA in the morning with sport special, the four 31m frequencies were split 50-50, but June 24 at 1204 RA news in English was on 9475 only, 1205 into LNL; while 9560, 9580 and 9590 were // with post-game discussion involving Queensland, also on 6020 and until 1200 also on 5995. By 1222 next check, sports had been replaced by the other talkshow from the so-called ABC Local Radio network, Nightlife ID in passing at 1231; guest was author of ``How America Rules the World``, Dr Keith Sutter. After 1300, 9475 into Chinese, and the others back to RA mainstream with news, 1305 Asia-Pacific (Glenn Hauser, OK, WORLD OF RADIO 1466, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** AUSTRALIA. Additional frequency of Radio Australia in English from July 4: 0000-0200 on 17665 DRW 250 kW / 317 deg to SEAs (DX Mix News, Bulgaria, 22 June via WORLD OF RADIO 1466, DXLD) ** AUSTRALIA. DAB+ on the ABC http://www.abc.net.au/corp/communications/s2600548.htm (Rob de Santos, Columbus OH, June 21, swprograms via DXLD) From July 1 ** AUSTRALIA. CRI on FM 88 Canberra http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/business/story/0,28124,25601423-7582,00.html (via Martin, ARDXC via DXLD) Also on other Chinese radio in Au ** BANGLADESH. Hello Friends, I am just back from providing Cyclone Aila Emergency Ham communication by National Institute of Amateur Radio (NIAR) in West Bengal. I was stationed at Kalitala on an island in India-Bangladesh border. While there, I monitored the broadcast bands as usual. Unlisted Bangladesh stations were heard on 1116 & 1215 kHz (Images /harmonics?!). 7250 is also noted with Home Service at around 0700 UT. Yours sincerely, (Jose Jacob, National Institute of Amateur Radio, Hyderabad, India, June 14, WORLD OF RADIO 1466, DX LISTENING DIGEST) See also INDIA ** BANGLADESH. BANGLADESH RADIO LAUNCHES COMILLA STATION Sun, Jun 14th, 2009 12:11 am BdST Dhaka, June 13 (bdnews24.com) - Information minister Abul Kalam Azad launched a new Bangladesh Radio station in Comilla on Saturday. The Comilla station has been running its test programmes for an hour each day since May 15. Mohammad Mahbubul Alam, director general of Bangladesh Betar, presided over the launch of the station at Bangladesh Betar Bhaban in Comilla. Read the full report here: http://bdnews24.com/details.php?id=87191&cid=2 (Source : bdnews24 via Alokesh Gupta, New Delhi, India, June 14, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1466, DXLD) WTFK? Maybe 1116, 1215? BBC Bangla struggles to switch to Bangladesh local time: see U K ** BELARUS. 6070, 1655-1710 16.06, Belaruskaje Radyjo 1, Brest Belarusian ann, pop songs 33423 heard // 6010, 6040, 6080, 6115, 7130 and 7280. 7265, 1700-1710 16.06, Belaruskaje Radyjo 2, Hrodna Belarusian conversation under heavy noise QRM 32432. Best 73, (Anker Petersen, loggings done at my AOR AR7030PLUS with 28 metres of longwire in Skovlunde, Denmark, via Dario Monferini, playdx yg via DXLD) 7210, 2040 21/06, R Belarus, English, desde Minsk-Kalodzicy, com 75 kW, YL apresenta nx, menção ao Brasil (se o programa for ao vivo provável referencia ao resultado do jogo do Brasil contra a Itália) entre as falas pop mx, // 7255, 34433. Em 7255 kHz forte QRM da R China em Russo na mesma frequência e o SINPO 32432 (Jorge Freitas, Feira de Santana, Bahia - Brasil, June 21, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** BOLIVIA. 4451.20, Radio Santa Ana, Santa Ana de Yacuma, 2335 to 2342; off at recheck. tnx log by Rogildo Fontenelle Aragão and monitoring by Lúcio Otávio Bobrowiec . 9 June [Wilkner] Pompano Beach, Cedar Key, Palm Beach, Clewiston, Coral Springs and Embu SP Brasil. [Florida/Brasil DX] 73s (Bob Wilkner, Pompano Beach, Southeast Florida, 10 June, NRD 535D ~ Drake R8, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 4451.20, Radio Santa Ana, Santa Ana de Yacuma 2317 to 2339*, seems reactivate but not heard 1000 to 1100. Threshold music and OM at times, deep fades. Happy to have them back. [Wilkner] Pompano Beach, Cedar Key, Clewiston, and Embu SP Brasil. [Florida/Brasil DX] 73s (Bob Wilkner, Pompano Beach, Florida US, June 11, NRD 535D ~ Drake R8, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 4781, R. Tacana, Tumupasa. June 14. Spanish, 0007-0030 flute & percussion music, sometimes male and female talks behind; male voice singing repetitive phrase alone with no intruments following him, 0027 canned ID by male “R. Tacana”. 23322 (Lúcio Otávio Bobrowiec, Embu SP Brasil - Sony ICF SW40 - dipole 18m, 32m, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1466, DX LISTENNG DIGEST) ** BOLIVIA. 3390, Bolivia seems long gone with the last good log by Dave Valko. [Wilkner] 4451.2, Radio Santa Ana seems regular from 2320 to as late as 0000 sign off, most days off by 2340. 12, 13, 14 June. 4781.73, Radio Tacana, Tumupasa, 2320 to 2330 with poor signal, 15 June, thanks Lúcio Otávio Bobrowiec log and tip. Same 16 June at 2320 (Bob Wilkner, Pompano Beach, Florida US, NRD 535D ~ Drake R8, June 22, WORLD OF RADIO 1466, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 4783.08, unID signal at 1020 to 1035 on 16 June may have been Radio Tacana with wandering transmitter? (Bob Wilkner, Pompano Beach, Florida US, NRD 535D ~ Drake R8, June 22, WORLD OF RADIO 1466, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 4796.48. Radio Lípez, Uyuni, 2339 noted in passing with fair signal. 11 June [Wilkner] Pompano Beach, Cedar Key, Clewiston, and Embu SP Brasil. [Florida/Brasil DX] 73s (Bob Wilkner, Pompano Beach, Florida US, June 11, NRD 535D ~ Drake R8, WORLD OF RADIO 1466, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 4796, R Lípez, Uyuni. June 19 2136-2201 Spanish Latin music selections, OM and YL talks, 2138 YL short ID on music “R. Lípez”, 2143 “Bolivia”. Short pieces readable, fady and noisy, 23522 (Lúcio Otávio Bobrowiec, Embu SP Brasil - Sony ICF SW40 - dipole 18m, 32m, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1466, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 4865, Bolivia, R Logos, Santa Cruz. June 19 Spanish 2203-2216 YL announcements about program “Especialísimo” wich consists of religious pop music, alternating fraternal & religious talks by a soft tone voice OM, “Dios nos habla através de los profetas, Dios nos habla de manera personal”. At peak 33522 (Lúcio Otávio Bobrowiec, Embu SP Brasil - Sony ICF SW40 - dipole 18m, 32m, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1466, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BOLIVIA. 5952.5, Radio Pio XII, Siglo XX, 2212-2238, 18-06, locutor, español, comentarios, "nuestros municipios", informes de corresponsales, "A través de nuestro programa", entrevistas con oyentes por teléfono. Débil, mejor en LSB. 13321 (Manuel Méndez, Lugo, España, escuchas realizadas en Camping de Reinante, Mar Cantábrico, Lugo, Grundig Satellit 500 y Sony ICF SW 7600 G, Antena de cable, 10 metros, DX LISITENING DIGEST) ** BOLIVIA. 6075, 0851 06/06, Radio Causauki [sic] Coca, Spanish, desde lauca, música boliviana, YL Talk e ID, anuncio “aos companheiros e companheiras” [sic, but presumably not really in Portuguese] de um sindicato, 33433 (Jorge Freitas, SWL1023B, Feira de Santana Bahia - Brasil, Degen 1103, Antena Dipolo de 16 metros e balum 4:1 em toroide Direção Leste/Oeste, HCDX via WORLD OF RADIO 1464, DXLD) 6075, R. Kawsachun Coca, Lauka. June 13 Spanish/Aymara 0958-1012 many IDs, OM “100% boliviana, 100% comprometido con los pueblos bolivianos, revolución democratica”, 1000 latin elation music, 1003 program “la voz del pueblo” with studio OM and outside female talks. 33533 (Lúcio Otávio Bobrowiec, Embu SP Brasil - Sony ICF SW40 - dipole 18m, 32m, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 6075, Radio Kawsachun Coca, Lauca Ñ, 1050-1057, June 13, Aymara, short talks in aymara language about the Peru´s farmers. 34433 (best reception from 11 UT). (Arnaldo Slaen, Argentina, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 6075, Radio Causachun Coca, 1024-1035 June 16, Noted a female in comments briefly then music with singing and flutes. At 1030 a full ID as "Radio Causachun Coca ..." canned. Following the ID more ads or promos are heard. Signal was fair (Chuck Bolland, Clewiston, Florida, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BOSNIA & HERZEGOVINA. QSL: International R. of Serbia and Montenegro. Freq: 9580. Date: 23-24 June 05. Time: 2356-0004. Received a Listeners’ Club partial/data card in 1445 days for an English report, local postcard, applause card and $1 (US). Station addy: Intl Radio of Serbia, POB 200, Hilandarska 2, 11000 Beograd, Serbia (Joe Wood, TN, MARE Tipsheet via DXLD) See also SERBIA ** BRAZIL. 2379.96, Brasil, Rádio Educadora de Limeira "possibly the one" with carrier 0950 to 1010 22 June; 0920 21 June (Bob Wilkner, Pompano Beach, Florida US, NRD 535D ~ Drake R8, June 22, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 2380, 0022 06/06, BRASIL, R Educadora de Limeira, Portuguese, transmissão do jogo Independente X Paulinea, Paulinea estava ganhando de 1X0, vinheta “futebol show é na Educadora”, 25332 (JJFS-B) 3140, 0100 06/06, R Cidade, (1ª harmônica [sic = second harmonic]), Portuguese, desde Corinto MG, com 0.25 kW, encerramento por OM com ID, musica sertaneja e fim da transmissão, 25332 (Jorge Freitas, SWL1023B, Feira de Santana Bahia - Brasil, Degen 1103, Antena Dipolo de 16 metros e balum 4:1 em toroide Direção Leste/Oeste, HCDX via WORLD OF RADIO 1465, DXLD) ** BRAZIL. 3255, Brasil, Rádio Educadora 6 de Agosto, Xapuri seemingly, with Portuguese threshold signal 0900 to 1000 on 20, 21, 22 June (Bob Wilkner, Pompano Beach, Florida US, NRD 535D ~ Drake R8, June 22, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BRAZIL. 4845.25, 2245-2255 14.06, R Cultura Ondas Tropicais, Manaus, AM, Portuguese ann, Brazilian pop songs, 43443. Mauritania was off the air, but some CODAR QRM. Best 73, (Anker Petersen, loggings done at my AOR AR7030PLUS with 28 metres of longwire in Skovlunde, Denmark, via Dario Monferini, playdx yg via DXLD) 4845.2, Rádio Cultura Ondas Tropicais, Manaus, 2205-2233, 18-06, locutor, comentarios en portugués, comentarios de fútbol, identificación: "Radio Cultura", canciones brasileñas. Se escuchaba bien, aprovechando que Mauritania, estaba fuera del aire, pues de lo contrario suele estar eclipsada por esta última. 24322. (Manuel Méndez, Lugo, España, escuchas realizadas en Camping de Reinante, Mar Cantábrico, Lugo, Grundig Satellit 500 y Sony ICF SW 7600 G, Antena de cable, 10 metros, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BRAZIL. Re 4885, R Difusora Acreana, Rio Branco, AC, 2245, Jun 08, reactivated! Portuguese religious programme, ID: "...Rádio Difusora Acreana, a voz da selva...", relay Voz do Brasil, S- 5. (Aragão in HCDX) Off past four months! (DSWCI DX Window Ed. Anker Petersen, via WORLD OF RADIO 1466, DXLD) And a log next to it reminds us that there is another Brazilian on same frequency --- the one we usually hear overnight (gh) 4885, R Clube do Pará, Belém, PA, 2154-2158, Jun 04, talk in Portuguese, 34333 (Bernard Mille, Bailleul, France, DSWCI DX Window June 10 via WORLD OF RADIO 1466, DXLD) Rádio Clube Do Pará (Belém). Freq: 4885. I received a no data confirmation letter, station post card, sticker, pennant, and lapel pin for one of the dozen or so reports I have sent in over the years. Each report contained an English report, local post card, an applause card, and some had IRCs or $1 (US). Station addy: Rádio Clube do Pará, Av. Almirante Barroso, Nº 2190-3º Andar, Belém-Pará-Brasil, CEP 66095- 000. I am really happy to get this one after all the years of trying. It contained a nice haul of goodies too! (Joe Wood, TN, MARE Tipsheet via WORLD OF RADIO 1466, DXLD) ** BRAZIL. 5990, Rádio Senado, Brasília, 2122-2201*, 18-06, Locutor, portugués: "Agora em Brasília são 6 horas, 23 minutos", noticias del senado brasileño, identificación: "Rádio Senado, Informação, Cultura, Cidadania", "Agora em Brasília são 6 horas, 29 minutos, programação musical", música y canciones brasileñas. "Agora em Brasília são 6 horas e 58 minutos, Rádio Senado termina as suas transmissões em ondas curtas, até as 7 da manhã". Luego a las 2200 inicio de "A Voz do Brasil" y a las 2201 fin transmisión. Página web de la emisora: http://www.senado.gov.br/radio/ 35433 (Manuel Méndez, Lugo, España, escuchas realizadas en Camping de Reinante, Mar Cantábrico, Lugo, Grundig Satellit 500 y Sony ICF SW 7600 G, Antena de cable, 10 metros, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BRAZIL. 6009.81, Rádio Inconfidência, Belo Horizonte, 0701-0720, June 12, heard after Cuba 6010 signed off at 0701. Local Brazilian music. Portuguese talk. ID at 0712. Fair level and in the clear after 0701 with no sign of Mexico or Colombia (Brian Alexander, PA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BRAZIL [and non]. O sinal da Rádio Bandeirantes não tem chegado com a qualidade de antes nos 25 metros por aqui [11925]. Chega com sinal moderado a fraco e com apito de interferência como o de outras portadoras. Já nos 31 metros [9645v] o sinal tem melhorado durante o dia. Em 6090 kHz à noite aqui em Feira de Santana o que se ouvi após as 0000 UT é a Caribbean Beacon (Jorge Freitas, Feira de Santana, Bahia - Brasil, June 21, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** BRAZIL. Missed checking last UT Sunday, a week after the first appearance of RNA on 6500 instead of 6185, but June 14 at 0513, it was back on 6185 as usual colliding with and atop XEPPM, nothing but the ute on 6500 (Glenn Hauser, OK, WORLD OF RADIO 1465, DX LISTENING DIGEST) As ondas curtas da Nacional, em 6185 kHz e 11780 kHz estão agora com áudio bom, porém, há entrecortes contínuos na transmissões. Esses entrecortes chegam a cortar sílabas do locutor e se destacam mais nas músicas. Mandei e-mail pra eles já faz um tempo e até agora não obtive resposta, e os entrecortes ou pipocar nas trasmissões continuam. 73 (Luiz Chaine Neto, Limeira sp, 1834 UT 17-6-2009, dxclubepr yg via DXLD) Same thing we have noted periodically, audio dropouts (gh, DXLD) ** BRAZIL. BRASIL – Ao que tudo indica, as rádios Marumby, de Curitiba (PR), e Transmundial, de Santa Maria (RS), estão inativas, respectivamente, em 9515 e 9530 kHz, em 31 metros. Há algum tempo não são captadas mais no Sul do Brasil. BRASIL – Ao que tudo indica, a Rádio Gazeta, de São Paulo (SP), está inativa na frequência de 9585 kHz, assim com a Canção Nova, de Cachoeira Paulista (SP), em 9675 kHz. A constatação é do Édison Bocorny Júnior, de Novo Hamburgo (RS). Segundo ele, também a frequência de 11805 kHz, da Rádio Globo, do Rio de Janeiro (RJ), também não tem sido captada, nos últimos dias, no Sul do Brasil. BRASIL – A Rádio Cultura Brasil, de São Paulo (SP), está sendo captada, em 9615 kHz, mas com alguns problemas técnicos. BRASIL – Após às 1900, no Tempo Universal, a frequência de 9645 kHz passa a ser ocupada pela Rádio Internacional da China, deixando o sinal da Bandeirantes, de São Paulo (SP), praticamente no “fundo do poço”. Pelo menos é o que ocorre no Sul do país. Em 13 de junho, em tal horário, o programa Concentração, apresentado por Ricardo Capriotti, deu lugar à programação em francês da emissora chinesa BRASIL – A Rádio 9 de Julho, de São Paulo (SP), está sendo captada em 9820 kHz, nos últimos dias, sem quaisquer problemas de modulação (Célio Romais, Panorama, @tividade DX June 21 via DXLD) ** BRAZIL. 10000, Observatório Nacional, Rio de Janeiro. June 23. Portuguese, 2013-2020 female time announcements every ten seconds “Observatório Nacional, dezessete horas, treze minutos, zero segundos, time pips...”. Weak 24522 (Lúcio Otávio Bobrowiec, Embu SP Brasil - Sony ICF SW40 - dipole 18m, 32m, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CANADA [and non! relay sites omitted]. Updated summer A-09 schedule of Radio Canada Intern[ationa]l: Arabic 0200-0300 on 5840 5950 0300-0400 on 7230 9520 1105-1205 on 7325 1900-2000 on 15180 15235 1905-2005 on 9515 Chinese 0000-0100 on 9690 11895 0105-0205 on 6100 1305-1405 on 7325 1500-1600 on 6110 11805 2105-2205 on 9515 2200-2300 on 9525 9870 English 0000-0100 on 11700 0005-0105 on 6100 0100-0200 on 9620 1500-1600 on 11675 17720 1505-1705 on 9800 DRM 1505-1905 on 9515 1700-1800 on 5850 Sat/Sun 1800-1900 on 9530 11765 17735 17810 2000-2100 on 15235 17735 2100-2200 on 9800 DRM 2305-0005 on 6100 Mon-Fri French 1700-1800 on 5850 Fri 1705-1905 on 9800 DRM 1900-2000 on 11765 13730 15320 17735 2005-2105 on 9515 2100-2200 on 9490 13650 15330 15235 17735 2300-2330 on 9525 Portuguese 2100-2130 on 17860 Fri-Sun 2130-2200 on 15455 17860 Fri-Sun 2200-2300 on 17860 Fri-Sun 2300-2330 on 13710 Fri-Sun 2305-0005 on 6100 Sat/Sun Russian 1405-1505 on 9515 [sometimes Portuguese as we have monitored --- gh] 1500-1530 on 11935 15325 1600-1630 on 11935 15325 Spanish 0000-0100 on 11990 13725 0200-0300 on 9755 13710 0205-0305 on 6100 1205-1305 on 7325 2200-2400 on 11990 15455 2205-2305 on 6100 (DX Mix News, Bulgaria, 22 June via DXLD) ** CANADA. CHOU 1450 Montreal, is the subject on the June 21/23 C`Est la Vie, CBC Radio 1, the show in English about French Canada. But CHOU is in foreign languages, such as Arabic for the Lebanese community, and they plan on developing a national network starting with Ottawa and Edmonton. Promo copy: June 21 and 23, 2009 --- This week on C'est la vie visit the biggest Arab radio station in North America. It broadcasts from the basement of a house in Montreal. Meet the man who started it. And discover the important role it plays in the community. That's on C'est la vie with Bernard St-Laurent, Sunday night at 7:30pm (8:30pm in the Maritimes, 9pm in Newfoundland) and Tuesday morning at 11:30am (noon in Newfoundland) on CBC Radio One. Audio: http://podcast.cbc.ca/mp3/cestlavie_20090621_17177.mp3 (Glenn Hauser, OK, WORLD OF RADIO 1466, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CANADA. CHTO-1690 Toronto ON has applied to the CRTC to increase its daytime power from 1 Kw to 3 kW. Night power will remain 1 kW. Toronto, Ontario, Application No. 2009-0785-0 Application by Canadian Hellenic Toronto Radio Inc. relating to the broadcasting licence for the ethnic AM commercial radio programming undertaking CHTO Toronto. The licensee proposes to change the authorized contours of CHTO by increasing the daytime transmitter power from 1,000 watts to 3,000 watts (non-directional antenna). All other technical parameters remain unchanged. The licensee stated that the proposed changes will result in better signal quality within its licensed area and more specifically, for its listeners located in Mississauga and Brampton who are currently experiencing poor reception of CHTO. The modification will increase the population within the 15mV/m contour from 468,000 to 672,000 people and within the 5mV/m contour from 850,000 to 1,442,000 people. 73, (via Deane McIntyre VE6BPO, June 10, DXLD) ** CANADA. WINDSOR RESIDENTS SEEK INJUNCTION AGAINST CBC A group of local residents has filed a legal injunction to try to stop the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) from discontinuing its French-language local radio news and programming in Windsor, Ontario. Listeners will still receive national broadcasts of Radio-Canada. But due to the public broadcaster’s shortfall in funding, it plans to stop locally produced French content for the 35,000 francophone residents in the area after this week. The group SOS-CBEF, referring to the call letters of the AM station [on 540 kHz], petitioned the CBC to wait until the commission of official languages, Graham Fraser, completes an investigation into the matter. The group has now taken legal action, asking the Ontario Superior Court of Justice to prevent the discontinuation of service, at least until Mr Fraser concludes his investigation. (Source: Globe and Mail) (June 19th, 2009 - 11:34 UTC by Andy Sennitt Media Network blog via WORLD OF RADIO 1466, DXLD) ** CANADA. The application by CBE-1550 Windsor ON to move to FM (97.5 MHz, 3.2 kW, 130.1 meters), with a relay transmitter in Leamington ON (91.9 MHz, 5.3 kW, 73.6 meters) has been approved by the CRTC. Excluding low power relay stations (LPRT's) , this was the last CBC English station on AM between Winnipeg and Newfoundland (I think - unsure of the status of CBI Sydney NS which ran into problems with its conversion and is still listed as operating on AM in the IC database) CBE Windsor – Conversion to FM band and new transmitter in Leamington The Commission approves the application by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation for a broadcasting licence to operate a new English- language FM radio programming undertaking in Windsor to replace its AM station CBE and to operate an FM transmitter in Leamington. Introduction 1. The Commission received an application by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) for a broadcasting licence to operate an English- language FM radio programming undertaking in Windsor to replace its existing AM station CBE Windsor. The new station would operate at 97.5 MHz (channel 248B) with an average effective radiated power (ERP) of 3,200 watts. The station would maintain the current format, which includes both programming received from the CBC’s national Radio One network and local programming. 2. The application by the CBC was originally announced in Broadcasting Notice of Public Hearing 2008-14. In its initial application as set out in that notice, the CBC also proposed to operate a new FM transmitter in Leamington at 91.5 MHz. At the request of the CBC, the application was withdrawn from the 26 January 2009 hearing in Orillia and rescheduled at the 30 March 2009 hearing in the National Capital Region. The CBC indicated that it had received notification by the Department of Industry (the Department) that it was not in a position to technically approve the use the frequency 91.5 MHz as the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) had received an application for that frequency prior to the CBC’s filing of its technical brief. In its amended application, the CBC proposed to operate the new FM transmitter in Leamington at 91.9 MHz (channel 220B1) with an average ERP of 5,300 watts. 6. As set out in the appendix to this decision, the licensee is authorized to simulcast the programming of the new FM station on CBE Windsor 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 and consistent with the licensee’s request, the Commission revokes the licence for CBE effective at the end of the simulcast period. 7. As agreed to by the CBC, the Commission expects that within 30 days of the implementation of the FM radio station in Windsor, the CBC will apply for the revocation of the authorization granted in Broadcasting Decision 2008-102 for a nested FM transmitter on the 102.3 MHz frequency in Windsor. Issuance of the broadcasting licence to operate an English-language FM radio programming undertaking in Windsor and an FM transmitter in Leamington, Ontario. The licence will expire 31 August 2015. The station will operate at 97.5 MHz (channel 248B) with an average effective radiated power (ERP) of 3,200 watts (maximum ERP of 19,000 watts with an effective height of antenna above average terrain of 130.1 metres). The transmitter will operate at 91.9 MHz (channel 220B1) with an average ERP of 5,300 watts (maximum ERP of 10,450 watts with an effective height of antenna above average terrain of 73.6 metres). 73, (via Deane McIntyre VE6BPO, June 16, DXLD) See also NEWFOUNDLAND You'd think the powerful station in London on 97.5 would be an issue? (Jim Renfrew, NY, NRC-AM via DXLD) Living in the Detroit area and logging over 160 station without the benefit of several element beam antenna, I would ordinarily say no, as Windsor and London are about 100 miles apart. BUT, This is the Great Lakes area, and we get tons of tropospheric ducting in the summer months. One night it was even strong enough that a station in Cleveland overpowered a Detroit station on the same frequency. Well, that's what I would have told the CRTC if they had asked me, anyway. 73 de (Joe, KJ8O, Miller, ibid.) Not sure if the statement [by Deane at the top] was meant to be inclusive or exclusive of Newfoundland, but just to be clear, all the Newfoundland CBC English stations are still on the air, including 540 CBT, 600 CBNA, 640 CBN, 750 CBGY, and 990 CBY, all received at one time or another in recent weeks. 1140 CBI is still on too, though future plans remain in place for an eventual move to FM per local newspaper reports. 1550 CBE has never packed much of a signal out here near Boston, so the loss won't be of much benefit DX-wise (Bruce Conti - Nashua NH, ibid.) See also NEWFOUNDLAND ** CANADA. Hi Glenn, Still getting up early and this is what I found for upcoming DXLD. So CVC does still use 6070! 6069.96, CFRX Toronto, 0155, June 17, English adverts dominated by co/channel CVC 6070.00 (yes, they are still there unfortunately, cf. DXLD 9-047 [and CHILE below]) but surfaced as soon as latter station had closed after full Sp frequency announcement 0159:27. Then wiped out 0200:09 when powerhouse DW Sines reappeared on 6075 after 5 minutes` silence to allow for beam change. Consistently off frequency as monitored here in past few days (Martien Groot, Schoorl, Netherlands, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CHAD. 6165, RNT, *0429-0445+, June 13, sign on with Balafon IS. National Anthem at 0430. Opening French ID announcements at 0431. Repetitive local tribal music at 0432 on continuous tape loop for some reason. Tape loop heard past 0445. Fair to good signal (Brian Alexander, PA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CHILE. Frequency change of Voz Cristã/La Voz via SGO=Santiago from June 3: Spanish to Northern South America 2300-0200 NF 11665 SGO 100 kW / non-dir, ex 17680 1200-2300 on 17680 SGO 100 kW / non-dir, ex 12-02 (DX Mix News, Bulgaria, 09 June via DXLD) As ya in DXLD. The second transmitter at 30 degrees apparently continues on 9635 at 12-23, 6070 at 23-02 vs CFRX. So 6070 still has QRM to CFRX, contrary to my earlier assumption. Sometimes this is filed under USA [non] where see more about Portuguese closing; originates in Miami (Glenn Hauser, WORLD OF RADIO 1464, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CHILE [and non]. When I heard that CVC had moved Spanish to 11665 at 2300-0200, I assumed that replaced 6070 putting CFRX in the clear. Axually, 11665 replaces the last three hours on their other transmitter, 17680. June 9 at 2317, 11665 was VG with music, and on 6070 I could tell there were still two carriers with a SAH between CFRX and CVC (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CHILE. CVC technical info: http://www.cvclavoz.cl/infotecnico.html (via Yimber Gaviría, Colombia, DXLD) ** CHINA. Shangdong Shidao Maritime Meteorological Station (6750 kHz USB at 0020, 0920) sent me a kind letter and PFC QSL in Chinese after 41 days for my reception report in Chinese enclosing 10 yuan note. There were no signatures, but official stamps of Shandong Meteorological Agency. Their address is: Shidao town, Rongcheng city, Shangdong 264309, China (Takahito Akabayashi, Japan, June 22, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CHINA. Recently I have been experiencing the usual poor summer DXing conditions, so today’s superb overall reception was a nice change. 6035, PBS Yunnan, 1246-1303, June 12. In Vietnamese; switching to Chinese at 1300. Clearly parallel to both spurs (6027 and 6043). In fact 6043 had better reception than the primary frequency (Ron Howard, Asilomar Beach, CA, Etón E1, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1466, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CHINA. 9505, Voice of Strait, 1501-1520, June 14 (Sun.). In English; assume “Focus on China” Sunday program; M & W presenters with usual signature musical bridges between items; promo for China; poor (Ron Howard, Asilomar Beach, CA, Etón E1, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CHINA. I just got an email from someone in Beijing telling me that FIREDRAKE has changed its music. I've not been able to confirm this. If someone picks this up please let me know. Just a few minutes ago I turned on my radio to frequencies normally jammed by the Chinese and did hear something different, but again I'm not 100% certain. What I picked up was traditional Chinese music, but with more bass and more high notes. Frequency: 13060 kHz I asked my source to make a recording as soon as they send it I'll post it. I'm very curious now. So if anyone hears anything different let me know. Jamming BTW will continue to peak until the end of the 60th Anniversary of the Founding Of The People's Republic Of China which falls on October 1st (Keith Perron, Taiwan, 0600 UT June 9, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 13060 --- that`s a new one on me. I don`t know about the music, but 13060 is likely a receiver-produced 2 x 455 IF image from 13970. Has anyone heard it on a receiver not subject to such images? Would it be too much to ask the ChiCom to quit making such crummy radios? (Glenn Hauser, ibid.) Glenn I think were asking to much. LOL. My friend sent me a copy of what he heard. It's the old Firedrake, but it seems that the pitch was off. Like I said before maybe we should start sending in reception reports (Keith Perron, Taiwan, ibid.) Firedrake scan from 7000 thru 19000, June 9. Only heard 9000 // 15150 from 1237 to 1258. Specifically nothing on 8400, 13060, 13970, 14420 nor 15600. 8400 heard at 1319 and // 9000, so assume started at 1305. 15150 not heard at 1319, so assume off at 1300. Keith Perron reported a possible change of some type to the FD music, but my tin ear was unable to note any difference. If a change, seemed to be a rather subtle one (Ron Howard, Asilomar Beach, CA, Etón E1, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Firedrakes heard on June 10. 8400 // 9000 // 13970 at 1255. Also at 1255, FD on 14420, not //. Was off-the-air by 1333. Specifically no FD on 13060, 15150 nor 15600 (CRI below). Different FD schedule than yesterday. 7130, CNR-1 echo jamming, 1358-1406, June 10. Strong signal; // 5030. Unable to hear Taiwan *1400. 7185, CNR-1 echo jamming, 1358-1406, June 10. Weak signal; mixing with assume Taiwan; // 5030. 15600, CRI, 1252-1327*, June 10. In scheduled Bahasa Malaysia; language lesson in Chinese; fair-poor (Ron Howard, Asilomar Beach, CA, Etón E1, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Firedrake log, June 10th. 1250 UT 13970, 14420, 18320 1340 UT 13970, 14420 Tentatively 1315 UT 17500, 17550 Echo jammer: 1300 UT 13830-strongest, 15265, 15285, 15375. 73 wb (Wolfgang Büschel, Germany, June 10, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) See also TIBET [and non] Firedrake check June 10: at 1345, barely audible on 9000 and just barely audible on 8400, and not on any of the usual higher frequencies (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Firedrake scan from 7100 thru 19000, from 1325 to 1345, June 11. Firedrake // on 9000 (SOH), 14420 (SOH), 15430 (RFA), 17550 (VOT) and 18320 (SOH). Also Firedrake with different // on 8400 (SOH), 13970 (SOH) and 15410 (VOT: their website indicates “around 15.410”, while Aoki lists 15415). 15410 FD mixing with and effectively blocking scheduled CVC in Portuguese (Ron Howard, Asilomar Beach, CA, Etón E1, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Firedrake check June 11 at 1356: poor on 14420 and 9000, not heard anywhere else, such as 13970 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) I've checked IBB Monitoring audio for possible VoTibet recordings. The EXACT frequencies available for listening are: 1330-1400 15412 1300-1330 15427 1330-1400 17550 1400-1430 17560 1200-1300 17562 Go to http://asia.ibbmonitor.com/rmsweb/ui/sound_query.php select Broadcasters: KRT Languages: - All - Locations: - All - Dates: - All - then click >>Submit<< and then choose Frequencies: - All - and click DOWNLOAD or LISTEN... I've checked sounds from past 3 days, there are many strong heterodynes on 15412, 15427 and 17562 kHz. Interesting is, the Firedrake music is there (the same old Firedrake), but on one sound there is completely different: http://asia.ibbmonitor.com/RMS_Data/Sounds/2009_06_09/VARI/KRT/CHEN/0906091311@CHEN15427KRTVARI.MP4 Aoki schedule extract: 15425 1300-1330 Chinese 100 131 Dushanbe-Yangiyul TJK 17560 1400-1430 Tibetan 250 45 Talata-Volondry MDG 17560 1330-1400 Tibetan 250 45 Talata-Volondry MDG 17560 1245-1315 Tibetan 100 131 Dushanbe-Yangiyul TJK 17560 1230-1245 Chinese 100 131 Dushanbe-Yangiyul TJK 17560 1130-1230 Tibetan 100 131 Dushanbe-Yangiyul TJK 15415 1315-1330 Chinese 100 131 Dushanbe-Yangiyul TJK 17550 1330-1400 Tibetan 250 70 Dhabbaya UAE 15425 1330-1400 Tibetan 100 131 Dushanbe-Yangiyul TJK 73 (Dragan Lekic, Serbia, June 11, dxldyg via DXLD) Re 15412 kHz, thanks Dragan, The Chinese SIGINT jammers didn't catch VoT Tibetan on June 4th to 9th, according rms mp4 files. - - - 15430 in Chinese, and 1000 Hz heterodyne of 15429 kHz, latter maybe Voice of Tibet in Tibetan?, at 1300-1330 / 1330-1400 UT? 15412 Voice of Tibet via Dushanbe-TJK in Tibetan, strong het by DWL Kigali 15410 at 1300-1330 UT. I GUESS on the CRI 963 MW site Hohot is a French ALLISS revolving antenna visible in the left southwestern corner, only on the image of March 8, 2004 ! 40 41 40.77 N 111 46 26.12 E (wb, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews June 10) 73 (Wolfgang Büschel, June 13, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Echo jammer Log June 14th, 0610-0645 UT 21550 21690 17510 17615 17780 17880 15130 15270 15615 15635 13760 (Wolfgang Büschel, Germany, June 14, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) [and non]. Firedrake check June 13: at 1320 better on 9000 than not // 8400. At 1337, good on 15610 rather than 15600, // 8400 but not // 9000. At the moment 15610 was all-drumming; still very good at 1409. At 1412 audible on 14420 with `ramshorn` segment, not // 15610. Nothing on the June 13 edition of Aoki to account for ChiCom jamming on either 15610 or 15600, so we assume it`s tracking another Sound of Hope sault. BTW, EiBi shows a Mandarin broadcast from Saudi Arabia at 0800-1000 on 15610, but it`s not in Aoki, WRTH 2009 or A-09; an unfulfilled plan, or canceled? No Mandarin (or `Chinese`) at all from BSKSA in WRTH 2008 either. If it did exist, would the ChiCom jam it too? (Glenn Hauser, OK, WORLD OF RADIO 1465, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Firedrake check June 14: around 1330 poor on 9400; at 1351, very poor but detectable on 14420, same at 1355 on 18320 (Glenn Hauser, OK, WORLD OF RADIO 1465, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Glenn, I could hear 14420, Firedrake very well here in Clewiston, Florida, but nothing heard on 9400 and 18320 during the 1300 hour (Chuck Bolland, FL, June 15, ptsw yg via DXLD) 7335, Firedrake, 1250-1300*, *1305-1308, June 15. Seems strange frequency for SOH to use, as the regularly scheduled CNR-2 (// 6065, 6155, etc.) was heard here, along with the strong FD. Seemed FD went off-the-air about 1350, leaving CNR-2 in the clear with their program “English Evening”. FD not here on June 16. FD, 1250-1300*, *1305-1308, June 15. All // on 8400, 9000, 14420 and 7335, June 15. During the gap hear weak station in Chinese on 8400 // 9000. Was certainly not CNR-1 nor CNR-2, so good chance was in fact SOH (Ron Howard, Asilomar Beach, CA, Etón E1, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1466, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Firedrake check June 20: detectable at 1328 only on 14420 very poor, 9000 poor, and at 1332 on 8400 very poor (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Firedrake check June 22: 1224 at `ramshorn` plus drumming segment, fair on 8400 // 9000. As bandscanned upward, did not come to another one until 1243 on 14420, very poor and nothing on 13970. Then another surprise at 1246: very poor on new 17470, // 9000. Nothing much on 16m, no Spain on 17595, Chile VP on 17680, only WYFR G on 17795. Why 17470? Presumably latest plop of Sound of Hope. June 21 edition of Aoki does not have it, but on 17500 24 hours, jammed. Nor does the June 23 show 17470, not having seen my log yet? Distorted YL Chinese talk at modulation spikes ranging roughly 12060- 12110 and peaking 12085, June 22 at 1238. Matches modulation on CNR1 jammer 12040. Not sure if these are spurs of that, or a malfunxioning transmitter intentionally on 12085 vicinity, but not accounted for in Aoki --- except R. Free Chosun in Korean via Uzbekistan is on 12085 at 1230-1300, so this ChiCom signal handily jams that, by chance? June 23, hi noise level from storms below 10 MHz, and from line above 10 MHz, not much of interest to log except Firedrake, and harmonix, bandscanned 8-19 MHz: At 1317, 14420 FD very good only here; // 9000 JBA, nothing on 8400. At 1321, 15150 FD different not // 14420, poor with CCI, SAH. Nothing on 15600 or 17470 as yesterday. At 1323, 18320 just barely audible, // 14420 `ramshorn` passage. At 1400, 14420 goes to open carrier, presumably only 5 minutes (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Firedrake scan, 7100 thru 19000, 1222-1243, June 23. Parallel: 8400, 9000, 14420, 15600 and 18320. Non-parallel: 15150 (Ron Howard, Asilomar Beach, CA, Etón E1, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Firedrake June 24: at 1152, poor on both 8400 and 9000; 1214 on new 13500 // 9000, nothing on 13970 which has not been heard last few days; at 1217 a trace of it on 14420 (Glenn Hauser, OK, WORLD OF RADIO 1466, WORLD OF RADIO 1466, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CHINA. Re: Increased jamming from China. My email to Keith Perron: I confess I am confused by the references to the increased jamming activities by the PRC. Seems I am missing something. All of their jamming is directed against specific targets (Sound of Hope, Voice of Tibet, Radio Free Asia, a multitude of other broadcasters with programming in various languages indigenous to China [VOA, BBC, etc.], et al.). Is this reported increased activity in jamming by the PRC just an increase in jamming against stations and frequencies that in the past were already being jammed and now they are adding another level of jamming to the existing jamming? Why would they do that? Or are some of the various targeted stations increasing their broadcasting times and/or frequencies, therefore more jamming is now being directed against these new changes? Or is it a combination of both? It almost seems to me that just one side of the story is being reported (the jamming), without clearly defining what is also happening with the targeted stations, if anything. Perhaps I have missed something in the various postings to dxldyg, which is entirely possible. Could you please clarify and help me out? Certainly appreciate your assistance. - - - Keith has kindly responded: Hi Ron, I'll try my best. LOL The jamming done by the PRC first was directed to stations like Radio Free Asia, Voice of America Chinese, BBC Chinese, Voice of Tibet, Sound of Hope, Radio Taiwan International and others. But in the last few years they have stepped up jamming of these stations on languages other than Chinese. Recently jamming has been heard even on English programs. Why would they do that? Simple. China is the largest maker of SW radios in the world. TECSUN alone last year made over 3 million units. To buy a SW radio in China is easy. Every shop has at least 3 or 4 models. Every radio made in China before 2000 had the SW bands, and many Chinese listen to SW broadcasts in areas not covered by AM or FM. In the last few years the PRC has been very busy upgrading transmitter sites and officially saying this is for broadcast purposes. But broadcasting what? Stations in the past which have not been jammed are now blocked such as the Chinese service of Radio France International. The jamming targets stations that are directing signals to China. So if, let's say, RFA or VOA add a new frequency, they start jamming that, and so on. The official figures of transmitter sites in China is nothing compared to the real amount of sites. Around China there are more than 20 sites used for a mix of real broadcasting and jamming. When members of the ITU (International Telecommunications Union) meet to coordinate frequencies (of which China is a member) the PRC knows right away what frequencies will be used by the VOA and others. So you can say it's like giving the Chinese authorities the keys to the safe. All the target stations can do is add more frequencies hoping that at least some can get through. Does this help? Keith Thank you Keith for explaining the situation to me. It does indeed help (Ron Howard, Asilomar Beach, CA, June 11, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CHINA [and non]. CHINA INTERNET SOFTWARE FOR BLOCKING WEBSITES In the last two days the Communist government in China announced that all computers sold in China must include new software to block access to websites. This software could in fact let the Public Security Bureau know who and what websites they are accessing. I should say this is not confirmed yet. But it is possible. This could mean that those who use proxy servers to access broadcasters and news orgs online that it sees as unfriendly, could target these users under the law which forbids Chinese citizens from accessing foreign content. With RFI's plans to cut Chinese on shortwave to China and only have the content for online, will this announcement raise questions? I've attached the story below from AFP (Keith Perron, Taiwan, June 9, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1465, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Viz.: CHINA INTERNET SOFTWARE RULE'S 'IMPACT UNCLEAR' By Dan Martin BEIJING (AFP) --- The impact of China's new requirement that PCs sold in the country must come with Internet filtering software remains unclear due to questions over how it will be carried out and enforced, analysts said Tuesday. Computer makers have been told by the government that all personal computers sold from July 1 must be shipped with anti-pornography software, a move that a US trade group called a bid by Beijing to further tighten Internet controls. But a government notice on the new rule remains contradictory, unclear, and contains no information on enforcement, said analyst Liu Ming of BDA China, a Beijing Internet consultancy. "My understanding is that this software may not be targeting politically sensitive websites, which the government has already had some tools in place to control," said Liu, who said he downloaded and examined the software. "It mainly targets harmful content that affects the youth." The government notice said "Green Dam Youth Escort" software must be "pre-installed" on new computers. However, it later said the software could be included merely on a separate disc as a non-mandatory install. Reports of the move sparked outrage in the United States. Ed Black, president of the US Computer and Communications Industry Association (CCIA), called the rule "an escalation of attempts to limit access and the freedom of the Internet." Software giant Microsoft, whose product runs on most of the world's computers, said the requirement raised issues of freedom of expression, privacy, and security which "need to be properly addressed." But Bryan Zhang, chief executive of Jinhui Computer System Engineering Co., which helped design the software, said it was his understanding it would not need to be pre-installed on the computer hard drive. Zhang said he did not understand why providing a copy of commercially available software that anyone can download free on the Internet had stirred up such controversy. "It is totally optional. If you don't want to use it you don't have to," said Zhang, speaking from his company's home city of Zhengzhou. China has the world's largest online population at nearly 300 million web users, and authorities have a history of blocking websites they deem politically unacceptable or offensive, a censorship system that has been dubbed the "Great firewall of China". If made mandatory, the software rule could significantly strengthen that ability. The Wall Street Journal, which first reported the new rule, quoted unnamed foreign industry officials who examined the software saying it could transmit personal information, crash computers or make them vulnerable to hacking. But Liu said his examination turned up no signs of privacy risks. Still, the news displeased Chinese web-users already frustrated by government Internet restrictions and worried about being watched online. An online poll Tuesday by Sina.com found that 81 percent of respondents felt the move threatened their privacy, while nearly 72 percent thought it would be ineffective in preventing youths accessing pornography. Charles Mok, chairman of the Hong Kong chapter of the Internet Society, a nonprofit organisation promoting the open development of the Internet, said the move could turn out to be a non-issue if the software comes on a separate disk. Even if pre-installed, it could simply be uninstalled by computer novices. "So it is not 100 percent fool-proof, but the idea is that as long as the majority of people are deterred from accessing certain sites, that's the objective," Mok said (via Keith Perron, ibid.) ** COLOMBIA [and non]. 6010, MEXICO, COLOMBIA, BRAZIL, 6/09/09 0655- 0732. Tuned in to hear a heck of a wreck at 0655 as Radio Mil in Mexico, La Voz de tu Conciencia in Colombia and Radio Inconfidência in Brazil collided. Radio Mil dominated the frequency until 0701 when it appeared its audio dropped off leaving just the carrier. This exposed La Voz de tu Conciencia as louder than the Brazilian, which was playing Portuguese ballads. Meanwhile, La Voz featured a man preaching in English with a YL translating to Spanish. This continued until 0712 when the roles were reversed. Apparently, spreading the word now requires two different people in two different languages. At 0730 the station ID'd in two languages: "Radio Conciencia" in Spanish followed by the English "This is the Voice of Your Conscience." by a YL. No BoH ID could be heard from the Brazilian (Bruce Barker, Broomall, PA. Equipment: NRD535D and an Alpha Delta Dx Sloper antenna, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 6010, 0412 23/05, Voz de tu Conociencia. Puerto Lleras. Superb signal in Spanish with religious programming. Radio Havana Cuba heard s/on at 0457 away in background but swamped by signals from Colombia. Full Spanish ID at 0517 giving callsign & frequency. Not heard at this level since 23/05 (Dene Lynneberg, Pukerua Bay, New Zealand, ICOM R- 75, 100 metre longwire, June NZ DX Times via DXLD) ** CONGO DR. Radio Kahuzi, Bukavu, 6210, 1837 UT. vernacular talks by male, noisy but fair! Perseus, Ant. super Kaz (Maurits van Driessche, Belgium, June 16, bdx mailing list via DXLD) ** CUBA. I'm assuming that's Cuba I'm seeing on 4 with a blue screen showing some sort of text message that starts with "Continuación..."; I can't read the rest of it and it seems to have turned into a kiddie show now. This is literally brand-new territory for me - between my old semi- locals on 2/3/4/5 and the omnipresent south Florida pests on the same channels, this is the first time I've ever gotten anything from south of Florida! s (Scott Fybush, Rochester NY, 1808 UT 22 June, WTFDA via DXLD) IF ch 4 is CMUR Havana, who and where is ch 6?? Some sort of educational program on ch 4 now, woman with charts against blue background --- Still getting a SS soap opera u/o Cuba ch 4 -- in snyc so not Venezuela (Jim Pizzi, NY? 1816 UT, ibid.) See also VENEZUELA ** CUBA. RHC was way off schedule UT Sunday June 14, with DXers Unlimited just ending at 0522 on 6140, which means it started around 0505 instead of 0535. Or a permanent change? Also heard Arnie giving a propagation forecast toward the end of the Spanish DX program En Contacto, June 15 at 1346 on 11760. He had been absent from that show for quite a while (Glenn Hauser, OK, WORLD OF RADIO 1465, DX LISTENING DIGEST) With Cuba this is not the first time it's happened. The one hour to Europe [2030] is on two 7-inch reels, the two hours to North America is on four 7" reels. I know RHC is still using tape. If anything, the tapes were put in the wrong boxes which has happened a few times (Keith Perron, Taiwan, ex-RHC, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CUBA [and non]. Another colossal tape mixup(?) at RHC: June 17 at 0533 tuning across 11760 I find RHC in Portuguese instead of English. Probably started at 0500. Portuguese was // 6010 and 6060, while correct English was on 6000 and 6140. Another colossal waste of precious energy by RHC, June 19 at 1225, just open carrier on 9600, and still several minutes later. All the other frequencies on 6, 11 and 13 MHz were funxioning normally in Spanish. By 1248 recheck, 9600 was back in business. Rather, 12000 was buried under VOR in Chinese // 7300 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CUBA [and non]. CHINESE MADE ANTENNA TO ARRIVE IN CUBA At a private meeting last week in Havana between representatives from Cuba’s Ministry Of Culture, Ministry Of Communications, and China’s Ministry Of Telecommunications. China agreed to send to Cuba an ALLISS rotatable antenna. The antenna is a Chinese copy of the one made by Thalès, a French company that sold a few of these to China in 2002 and early 2003. These are the same antennas that the PRC is mostly using for jamming. What the purpose of these antennas are for is a mystery. Will they be used for CRI broadcasts? RHC broadcasts? Or jamming. China will also be sending 2 x 250 kW transmitters once used by one of CRI’s relays. China will also send to Cuba a few hundred radios made by Tecsun. Tecsun, as you may know, makes radios for Etón to sell under the Grundig name. My other question is: What is Cuba doing in return? This is the 64,000$ question. China is using Cuba as a relay for SW broadcasts, but I don’t see Cuba using China’s relays to reach other areas. At the meeting there was also discussions for China to set up a monitoring station, I have no other details at the moment and it may just be in the negotiation phase (Keith Perron, Taiwan, June 24, WORLD OF RADIO 1466, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CUBA [non]. Hi Glenn, Did you happen to catch Radio República on 9545 tonight? Heard from 0246 to 0340, June 14, with no jamming (attached audio clip). With your extensive listening to this one, you probably have heard them in the clear before, but this is the first time for me (Ron Howard, Asilomar Beach, CA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Ron, tnx for the clip. RR vs jamming level does vary a lot. Useful info contained: they announce schedule as Mon-Sun (tho I am quite certain it is really Thu-Wed) 7 pm-midnight = 2300-0400 UT on 9545, and website http://www.radiorepublica.org Previously we knew only of the parent organizations`s http://www.directorio.org The RR site does have a program schedule for each day of the week in non-copyable format; also a blog (Glenn Hauser, WORLD OF RADIO 1465, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 9545, Radio República, 0246-0340, June 14. Totally free of jamming! In Spanish; segments of LA pop songs and blues music; sounded like a phone interview; mentioned “I love Miami”; fair to good (Ron Howard, Asilomar Beach, CA, Etón E1, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CUBA [non]. Congressional Hearing on Radio Martí --- For those interested, a House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Subcommittee will hold a hearing on Wednesday June 17th on TV Martí. Check the following links (it will be webcast live): http://foreignaffairs.house.gov/hearing_notice.asp?id=1085 http://international.edgeboss.net/real/international/oi05142009_1.smi Should be marked TV Martí sted Radio Martí, but certain to touch on both (Dan Robinson, VOA, June 15, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) GAO on TV Marti: http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d09758t.pdf Released 6/17/09: Testimony on TV broadcasting to Cuba, 11 pgs. (Benn Kobb, DC, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Not much new in it (gh, DXLD) Better e-mail for Radio Marti: mraydearenas @ ocb.ibb.gov Add this one to your list! (David Askine, June 14, NASWA yg via DXLD) For QSLs or what? (gh) ** CUBA [non]. Re the Myers' spy case, the Complaint and the lengthy affidavit in support of it makes for interesting reading. According to it, Kendall Myers received some of his orders from his handlers in Morse code over the supplied shortwave radio; he recently told the decoy FBI "handler" who set up the bust that he (Myers) was the only Cuban agent in the US who did (don't know how he knew that, though). Myers did his service in the Army Security Agency (i.e., the NSA) in the late 50s/early 60s, where I presume he picked up his Morse skills; it's like riding a bicycle. Nowhere does the Complaint/affidavit state that Myers or his wife transmitted any information by shortwave. They used dead drops, brush contacts, face-to-face visits with their handlers overseas---all the George Smiley stuff. The affidavit also relates the contents of some broken radio traffic from Cuban intelligence to the Myers' handlers in the US, which is something I haven't seen before. Usually, intelligence agencies don't like to reveal that they can read the other side's mail. The Complaint/affidavit in support and the indictment can be found through links in this story on the CBS News site: http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/06/06/world/main5067892.shtml?source=search_story (Chuck Albertson, Seattle, Wash., June 9, WORLD OF RADIO 1464, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ESPÍAS CASTRISTAS EN WÁSHINGTON CUBA-ESTADOS UNIDOS --- Dos septuagenarios norteamericanos podrían pasar el resto de su vida tras las rejas. La suya es una historia sorprendente de espionaje por afinidad ideológica con la revolución cubana. . . http://www.semana.com/noticias-mundo/castristas-washington/125067.aspx (via José Miguel Romero2, Spain, June 15, dxldyg via DXLD) COUPLE’S CAPITAL TIES SAID TO VEIL SPYING FOR CUBA By GINGER THOMPSON Published: June 18, 2009 WASHINGTON — She was twice divorced and fresh out of South Dakota when she fell for his worldly sophistication. He came from one of this city’s most privileged families, and admired her work helping ordinary people. Together, Gwendolyn and Kendall Myers set out to give the second half of their lives new meaning. At first, disillusioned with the pace of change in Washington, the great-grandson of Alexander Graham Bell, who at the time was a State Department contract employee, and the housewife turned political activist moved to South Dakota, where they embraced a counterculture lifestyle, even growing marijuana in the basement. They marched for legalized abortion, promoted solar energy, and repaired relations with six children from previous marriages. When the wide-open spaces of the West quickly grew too small, the couple returned to Washington a year later, renewing their ties to the establishment that they had rejected. But the government says the real reason for the Myerses’ 1980 return was to spy for Cuba. In a complaint that reads in parts like a novel, federal prosecutors allege that Mr. Myers, now 72, used his top-secret clearance as a State Department analyst to steal classified information from government files for nearly three decades, and that Ms. Myers, 71, who worked as a bank clerk, helped pass the information to Cuban handlers. They were arrested earlier this month and are being held without bail. . . http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/19/world/19spies.html (via Mike Cooper, DXLD) EXCLUSIVE: CUBAN SPIES' SHORTWAVE RADIOS GO UNDETECTED LOW-TECH TRANSMISSIONS NO BIG DEAL FOR U.S. INTELLIGENCE By Carmen Gentile THE WASHINGTON TIMES | Thursday, June 18, 2009 http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2009/jun/18/cuban-spies-shortwave-radios-defy-detection/ (Washington Times [Moony] via Benn Kobb, DXLD) Exclusive? We knew that SW radio (numbers stations) were involved as soon as this story broke weeks ago. But if the NSA & ilk really aren`t paying attention to our `low-tech` medium, their viewpoint is akin to those who thought box cutters were not terrorist weapons. Be sure to read the comments following this `horrid` article (gh, DXLD) This article confuses/confabulates shortwave listening and ham radio (Harry Helms, ibid.) ** CYPRUS. 17519 - 17545, like Ignition spark rattle signal of 20 kHz width noted at 0603-0615 UT Sun 14th. Screenshot image from Albert DL6SCN http://dc17.4shared.com/download/111717613/906e8281/090614_0705utc.jpg ``Das Sonagramm entspricht vom Signalaufbau und der Breite (20 kHz) genau dem Zypernradar. 73 de Wolf`` IARU Bandwatch OM Wolf DK2OM told me: signal image and bandwidth of 20 kHz looks like exact British Cyprus OHR radar. 73 (Wolfgang Büschel, Germany, June 14, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Operating close to MUF. Also on 18011 kHz. (wb, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews June 14) On 25630 kHz, 180 kHz wide variant (Albert Kosnopfel-D, June 14, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews June 20 via DXLD) ** CZECHIA [and non]. RADIO PRAGUE ENDING SACKVILLE RELAY Re: English Reception Report from California Dear Kevin, I am in charge of the frequency management and international co-ordination for Radio Prague and therefore I am very much interested in your report of good reception of the 9870 kHz frequency channel that is indeed employed on one shortwave transmitter located near the town of Litomysl in the Czech Republic. Western part of North America in particular is a difficult region for transmissions from Central Europe and Radio Prague is also renting a relay service from Sackville, Canada at 0330 UT on 6080 kHz. Unfortunately, this service is going to be terminated starting from July 1st on account of a budget cut associated with the current global economy downturn. Since you apparently addressed a paper copy of your report to Radio Prague directly, I hope that you will receive a QSL card in due course. If this has not happened, please, get in touch with me and I will remind the colleagues at Radio Prague also in regard to some small station souvenirs. Thanks again for getting in touch with me. This has been very much appreciated. Friendly greetings, (Oldrich Cip, R. Prague, June 16, to Kevin Molander, Martínez CA, via WORLD OF RADIO 1466, DXLD; also via Ron Howard, ibid.) What about their other transmissions via foreign operators? I understand that the WRMI relays will be kept, but what about German via Sines, Spanish via Sackville and Ascension as well as Russian via Tajikistan? (Kai Ludwig, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1466, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** DOMINICAN REPUBLIC. FM/TV DX: see PUERTO RICO [and non] ** EAST TURKISTAN. 17650 with W&M conversation in Chinese, June 19 at 1250, fair signal with fading. Not // CNR1 jammers on 11805, 11825, etc. What does PWBR `2009` say? CRI via Kashi in French! Definitely not French, but per Aoki it is Kashi, CRI in Chinese from 1200, 308 degrees toward Europe. Only Asian signal on band at this hour (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ECUADOR [and non]. VOZANDES MEDIA FLIES NEW FLAG http://www.mnnonline.org/article/12830 Ecuador (MNN) --- After 55 years, a German radio ministry is sailing under a new flag and a new name. Vozandes Media is the new name of the HCJB Global Voice German Language Service (GLS). It still broadcasts from Ecuador, but now it works under HCJB Global's World Office in Germany rather than under its Latin America region. In addition, Ecuador legally recognized Vozandes Media's status as a non-governmental organization at the beginning of June. The ministry is also enjoying new office space. "I believe that the GLS is one of the few departments which used the same office space for 43 years," said Horst Rosiak, who heads Vozandes Media. Due to the opening of an international airport near HCJB's antennas, German and Low-German shortwave broadcasts to the Americas are scheduled to end in 2010. Digital shortwave broadcasts reach Europe and the Americas. Vozandes Media also reaches Europe through satellite and through a service called Phonecaster. Europeans can dial a certain telephone number and choose from a variety of German-language programs. The most popular program is in Low German. Listeners may also download podcasts over the internet. HCJB Global receives responses to its German-language programs from 60 different countries. The programs began in 1953 when Mennonite Brethren Missions/Services established the German Service, constructing the department's offices at the station 13 years later in 1966. Today, it broadcasts 14 hours of programming to Europe, South America, and the South Pacific every week under the name Die Stimme der Anden (Voice of the Andes via Mission Network News via Alokesh Gupta, New Delhi, June 23, dxldyg via DXLD) ** ECUADOR. Saludos a todos, hoy 22 de junio 2009, una mañana lluviosa, desperte haciendo DX con mi ultraliviano, para sorpresa, me encontre con varias emisoras ecuatorianas en la onda media. 1350, Teleradio AM, Guayaquil, 1105- , uff! llegando con buena señal, y por la ausencia de la local "Armonía 1350". Programa noticioso llamado Teleradio Noticias. Por la calidad como llega, serán 10 kW? En el WRTH 2003 aparece con 3 kW. O será por la propagación!! (jajajajaja). Para sorpresa a las 1148 UT la noté con otra emisora mezclándose --- pero la pude identificar, se trata de la Voz de la Montaña, Medellin [COLOMBIA], pero dominando la ecuatoriana. (22 junio 09) 1360, Oyambaro AM, Tumbaco, 1115- , señal regular a buena, con programa naturista de la hermana Soraya; escuché una identificacion de la emisora como "Oyambaro AM....`` pero también mencionan digital, mención de Tumbaco. También 1152 UT dentro del programa noticioso con opiniones de los oyentes sobre cómo parar la violencia de la hinchada de fútbol y las barras. Lo más sorprendente fue que a las 1200 horas esperé que dieran el final del programa; no hubo nada de identificación, iniciando con locutora que dijo "El siguiente es un programa contratado" (llamado Un Nuevo Amanecer). O sea otro programa Naturista. (22 junio 09) 1420, Desconocida, ??, 1127- , señal pobre a regular, locutora en Quechua, pero con dos emisoras más encima. Una religiosa en español, otra en español por el acento, colombiana? Tres emisoras aquí! (22 junio 09) 1430, Futura 14-30, Quito, 1129- , buena señal, con agradable música ecuatoriana (Nice Ecuadorian folk music), identificada por locutora como "Futura 14-30", simplemente, seguido con más música (me hizo acordar del programa de HCJB - Música del Ecuador-). (22 junio 09) 1530, Radio Dorado, Pelileo, 1208- , con señal regular, identificándose como "Radio Dorado Deportes", encima de emisora religiosa desconocida. 73 de (Yimber Gaviría, http://yimber.blogspot.com Cali, Colombia, Receptor: Sony SRF-M37, Todas las horas en UTC, noticiasdx yg via DXLD) ** EGYPT. Ci vuole un tecnico per Radio Egitto --- Ciao a tutti, vi segnalo la programmazione di Radio Egitto ERTU sui 6290 khz, adesso (21:59 locali [1959 UT]) sta andando in onda praticamente la sola portante AM con a tratti degli spezzoni audio del programma: decine di secondi di silenzio intervallati da qualche secondo di programma in araba con musica.. direi che non hanno un centro di monitor dei loro programmi ad onde corte. 73 (Andrea Borgnino IW0HK - HB9EMK, June 13, bclnews.it yg via WORLD OF RADIO 1466, DXLD) UNID, 12580 hier mit o=2-3, mann/frau gespraech, klingt arabisch (Gerhard Baumgartner, June 16, A-DX via Wolfgang Büschel, dxldyg via DXLD) R Cairo Arabic barefoot S=8 signal, 2 x 6290 kHz, S=9+45 dB, 2132 UT June 16th. 73 wb (Wolfgang Büschel, WORLD OF RADIO 1466, ibid.) ** EGYPT. Colegas. Infelizmente nossos esforços de fazer com que o pessoal técnico da Rádio Cairo melhore a qualidade das suas transmissões não surtiram efeitos. O problema das distorções e baixa modulação também atingem outras transmissões, como agora em 15080 kHz às 1535 UT, forte portadora e som quase que totalmente distorcido. Como a programação da Rádio Cairo é de boa qualidade podemos ouvi-la via o site da emissora http://www.ertu.org/br/ e o link da programação diária em mp3 é http://www.ertu.org/br/brasileiro_pro.html Aos que desejarem enviar e-mail, brazilian_prog @ ertu.org em nome da Srª Amal. A frequência é de 9360 kHz das 2215 as 2330 UT. 73 (Jorge Freitas, Feira de Santana, Bahia - Brasil, dxclubepr yg via DXLD) ** EQUATORIAL GUINEA. 6250, Radio Nacional, Malabo, 0550-0620, June 12, Afro-pop music. Hi-life music. Spanish announcements. Possible news program at 0605. Radio Malabo ID. Good signal. Heard weak // 5005 - Bata (Brian Alexander, PA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** EQUATORIAL GUINEA. 15190, Radio Africa, 2251-2255*, June 13, tune- in to closing English ID announcements with contact information. Gave email address as radioafrica @ myway.com Good. Strong (Brian Alexander, PA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 15190, R. Africa, 1522-1537, June 14. Religious programs in English; Gospel Crusade Ministry, Erie, Penn.; into “Worldwide Bible Study”; fair (Ron Howard, Asilomar Beach, CA, Etón E1, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ERITREA [non]. PARIS-BASED ERITREAN STATION RADIO ERENA LAUNCHES | Text of report in English by Paris-based media freedom organization Reporters Sans Frontières (RSF, Reporters Without Borders) on 15 June Radio Erena ("Our Eritrea"), a Tigrinya-language station broadcasting by satellite to Eritrea, began operating today in Paris, five days ahead of World Refugee Day. The result of an initiative by Eritrean journalists based abroad and supported by Reporters Without Borders, the station is offering freely-reported, independent news and information to Eritreans in Eritrea. "The glaring absence of independent news media in Eritrea convinced us to support this historic project," Reporters Without Borders secretary-general Jean-François Julliard said. "Only a few countries such as Burma, Turkmenistan, North Korea and Eritrea are subject to so much repression that there are absolutely no independent media." Julliard added: "We are delighted that Radio Erena's launch will enable Eritrean journalists in exile to resume working and to broadcast news to their compatriots that is different from the news they get from the state media." The station's editor in chief, Biniam Simon, said: "I have dedicated my life to the news media and information technology because I love people to be in touch with each other. Now I am happy because Radio Erena is going to link Eritrea with the outside world." A former TV presenter, Simon fled Eritrea in early 2007 because he feared he would be arrested. Independent of any political organization or government, Radio Erena is offering news, cultural programmes, music and entertainment. A network of contributors based in the United States, Italy, Britain and the Netherlands is providing the Paris-based staff with Tigrinya- language programmes that are broadcast via Arabsat's Badr-6 satellite [at 26 degrees east]. Eritreans can tune into Radio Erena on the 11785 MHz frequency with vertical polarization (SR 27500, FEC 3/4). The station's programming will soon be broadcast on the internet as well, so that the Eritrean diaspora will also be able to listen to it. Eritrea has had no free press since September 2001, when the few Asmara-based independent newspapers were closed down and their publishers and editors were arrested as part of a wave of round-ups ordered by President Isayas Afewerki. Since then, the only news available to Eritreans in their national language has been provided by the state media - Eri-TV, Radio Dimtsi Hafash and the government daily Hadas Eritrea - which are all closely supervised by the information ministry. Africa's biggest prison for journalists, Eritrea has for the past two years been ranked last in the Reporters Without Borders index that measures the degree of respect for press freedom in a total of 173 countries. According to a Reporters Without Borders tally, there were at least 17 journalists imprisoned in Eritrea at the start of 2009. More than 20 other journalists have joined the list since a wave of arrests in February in Radio Bana and several other news media. In most cases, it is not known where they are being held. Source: Reporters Sans Frontières press release, Paris, in English 15 Jun 09 (via BBCM via DXLD) Altho this station is explicitly on satellite, later internet, and not SW, keep it in mind in case another Eritean cland does appear on SW. Are there more satellite receivers in Eritrea than SW?? Oops, never got around to mentioning the TIME it is on 11785 MHz; who cares? (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ERITREA [non]. 13820, V. of Dem. Eritrea via Germany May 28 *1700- 1710, 25322, Tigrigna, 1700 sign on with opening music, ID, Opening announce, Talk. 13820, V. of Dem. Eritrea via Germany, Jun 04 *1700-1712, 25432, Tigrigna, 1700 sign on with opening music, ID, Opening announce, Talk. 15350, V. of Asena, Jun 03 *1732-1745, 35433-35333, Tigrigna, Talk, Eritrean music at 1744. 15350, V. of Asena, Jun 17 *1730-1747, 25322, Tigrigna, 1730 sign on with opening music, Opening announce, Talk and Eritrea pops (Kouji Hashimoto, Japan, Japan Premium Jan 19 via DXLD) ** ETHIOPIA. 6030, R. Oromiya (presumed), Geja Dera, 1645-1812 (they were off at 1900), 13 Jun, Oromo (listed), folk songs, news (presumed), 1800-1806; 25332 but improving up to 1800 when there was QRM de CRI in English at 1800. 73, (Carlos Gonçalves, Portugal, June 14, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Doesn`t this blow away Radio ICDI even inside its own CAR target area? (gh, DXLD) ** ETHIOPIA. Monday, June 8, at about 1800 UT, R. Ethiopia 9704 kHz, in Amharic. Very weak but readable, splashes from adjacent frequencies. I used a narrower CW filter (LSB-side) in order to hear some audio. - - - 73 de (Matti Ponkamo, Naantali, Finland (KP10AK18), IC-718, dipole, Cumbredx mailing list via DXLD) Hi Glenn, Radio Ethiopia External Service has been received here in England in English between 1600 and 1700 and in French between 1700 and 1800 hours, with a fair signal. I Heard Radio Ethiopia on 7165. Reception was difficult though. The postal and e mail addresses were announced for Radio Ethiopia. Previous, jamming noise had been heard around 7165 kHz, making reception difficult. Best Wishes (Chris Lewis, England, June 10, DX LISTENING DIGEST) See also NIGER [non] 7110, Radio Ethiopia, 0300-0340, June 13, chimes-gongs at 0300 & Amharic talk. Horn of Africa music. Fair to good. Weak on // 9704.19. Very weak on // 5990.19. 7110, Radio Ethiopia, 2045-2101*, June 13, tribal chants. Horn of Africa music. Amharic talk. Sign off with National Anthem at 2059. Weak but readable. Very weak on // 9704.19 (Brian Alexander, PA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ETHIOPIA [and non]. 9561.4, R. Ethiopia, Geja Jawe, relaying ["CLANDESTINE"?] V. Of Democratic Alliance (presumed), 1454-1510, 14 Jun, Arabic to Eritrea, music, talks, announcements; 44443. Parallel to 7165. And re // 7165, what I am listening now is some Horn of Africa (ERI?) station with ETH audible underneath; 33342. So, two ETH signals on 7165 or just one (//9561.4) possibly used as jammer? Other audible BCs on 7100-7200 right now, 1535 UT, are ETH 7110 and SUDAN 7200. 73, (Carlos Gonçalves, Portugal, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Hi Carlos, Interesting observations regarding Ethiopia, which is one country I have had little experience hearing. Guess I will have to call my log UNID for June 13, at 1413, on 7165 (heard in what sounded like Arabic) and again on June 14, from 1420 to 1449, playing indigenous music and chanting/singing, with the signal gradually improving. Will give a listen to 9561.4, to try for the parallel. Heard a very similar reception pattern on 7110 during same time period, with pop music and call-in program, so assumed that was in fact ETH. Thanks for your comments! (Ron Howard, Asilomar Beach, CA, USA, ibid.) 7165, R. Ethiopia, 1420-1435, June 15. Thanks to tip from Carlos Gonçalves, heard // 9559.90v (significant drifting); heard in Arabic and indigenous music/chanting/singing; signal gradually improving. Unable to hear any other station under them on 7165 (Ron Howard, Asilomar Beach, CA, Etón E1, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 9704.2, R. Ethiopia, Geja Dera, 1511-1603, 21 Jun, vernacular, announcements, local songs, talks, news (presumed) at 1600; 35433. 73, (Carlos Gonçalves, Portugal, June 24, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ETHIOPIA. LOCAL RADIO IN ETHIOPIA ORDERED TO DROP VOA PROGRAMMING http://www.ethiopianreview.com/content/10061 June 13th, 2009 --- ADDIS ABABA, ETHIOPIA - The tribal junta regime in Ethiopia has ordered the Addis Ababa-based Sheger FM (102.1) private radio to stop all its re-broadcasts of Voice of America (VOA) programming effective immediately. Sheger FM had been carrying some of the VOA Amharic programs, mostly music and entertainment, through a contractual arrangement. The order followed the release of VOA Correspondent in Addis Ababa, Meleskachew Amaha, from jail after detaining him for being in possession of radio equipments. A kangaroo court judge set Ato Meleskachew free yesterday after ordering him to post a 15,000-birr bail. He was detained for two weeks. American Ambassador Donald Yamamoto had visited Meleskachew in prison and might have did some arm-twisting at the highest level to get him released. The equipments in question were imported by ABC Broadcasting with a grant from the Government of Norway a few years ago, hoping that it will secure the license to operate a radio station. Last month, the Woyanne regime shut down the company and accused Ato Meleskachew Amaha, Ato Abebe Workie and others of illegally owning broadcasting equipments. Both were shareholders in the company. ABC Broadcasting's principal shareholder was Dr Berhanu Nega, chairman of Ginbot 7 Movement (via Alokesh Gupta, New Delhi, India, June 13, dxldyg via DXLD) ** ETHIOPIA [and non]. V of Oromiya Liberation Front clandestine broadcast to Ethiopia heard with good signal, although suffering from noise jamming (fading in and out) after about a minute on-air, on Sunday 14 June at 1600-1629 on 11760 via Wertachtal (Alan Roe, Teddington, UK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ETHIOPIA [non]. 13820, Ethiopia Adera Dimtse R. via Germany Jun 06 *1700-1715 35433 Amharic, 1700 sign on with opening music, ID, Opening announce, Talk. 13820, V. of Dem. Path of Ethiopian Unity via Germany, Jun 07 *1700- 1710, 35333-33333 Amharic, 1700 sign on with IS, ID, Opening announce, Talk. 13820, Ethiopia Adera Dimtse R. via Germany, Jun 13 *1659-1710, 35433, Amharic, 1659 sign on with opening music, ID, Opening announce, Talk. 13820, V. of Dem. Path of Ethiopian Unity via Germany Jun 17 *1700- 1705 25332-21331 Amharic, 1700 sign on with IS, Opening announce, Talk 13830, R. Oromiyaa Liberation via Germany May 29 *1730-1740 34333 Oromo, 1730 sign on with opening music, ID, Opening announce, Talk. 13830, V. of Oromo Liberation via Germany May 31 *1700-1710, 35433- 33433, Oromo, 1700 sign on with opening music, ID, Opening announce, Talk. 13830, V. of Oromo Liberation via Germany, Jun 03 *1700-1710, 35433 Oromo, 1700 sign on with opening music, ID, Opening announce, Talk. 13830, R. Oromiyaa Liberation via Germany, Jun 05 *1730-1750, 35333, Oromo, 1730 sign on with opening music, ID, Opening announce, Talk. 13830, V. of Oromo Liberation via Germany, Jun 07 *1700-1710, 45433- 44433, Oromo, 1700 sign on with opening music, ID, Opening announce, Talk. 13830, R. Oromiyaa Liberation via Germany, Jun 12 *1730-1750, 35433, Oromo, 1730 sign on with opening music, ID, Opening announce, Talk. 13830, V. of Oromo Liberation via Germany, Jun 14, *1700-1710, 35433 Oromo, 1700 sign on with opening music, ID, Opening announce, Talk. 15340, EOTC Holy Synod R., Jun 01 *1600-1608, 35333-33333, Amharic, 1600 sign on with koran, ID, Opening announce, Talk. 15340, EOTC Holy Synod R., Jun 08 *1601-1610, 35333 Amharic, 1601 sign on with opening announce, Koran, Opening music, Talk. 15350, R. Bilal, May 31 *1700-1702, 25322, Amharic, 1700 sign on with ID repetition. 15350, Ginbot 7, Jun 04 *1700-1708, 25422, Amharic, 1700 sign on with IS, Opening announce, Opening announce, Talk. 15350, R. Bilal, Jun 07 *1700-1706, 35333, Amharic, 1700 sign on with ID repetition, Koran, Opening announce, Talk. 15350, Ginbot 7, Jun 13 *1700-1710, 25432, Amharic, 1700 sign on with opening music, ID, Opening announce, Talk. 15350, R. Bilal, Jun 14 *1700-1710, 25332, Amharic, 1700 sign on with ID, Koran, Opening announce, Talk (Kouji Hashimoto, Japan, Japan Premium Jan 19 via DXLD) ** EUROPE. Radio Amica --- Ciao, vi segnalo che Radio Amica effettuera' delle prove tecniche sulla frequenza 12540 kHz da venerdì ore 20 a lunedì ore 06; ecco la notizia presa dal loro blog: Questa settimana (20-21) eseguiremo dei test sulla frequenza 12540 khz. Le trasmissioni saranno invariate. I test saranno eseguiti a potenza ridotta per un guasto al modulatore, che speriamo di riparare prima possibile. Sono solo dei test quindi a meno di riscontri eclatanti dalle settimane seguenti si tornerà alla solita banda dei 48 metri, ma vi terremo naturalmente informati quì sul blog. Sono naturalmente molto gradite le conferme d'ascolto e in questa fase direi indispensabili, percui vi chiediamo ovviamente la collaborazione di tutti. http://www.radioamica.splinder.com/ (via Andrea Borgnino IW0HK - HB9EMK, June 18, bclnews.it yg via WORLD OF RADIO 1466, DXLD) ** FIJI. RNZI AIRS NEW RADIO HERITAGE DOCUMENTARY 55 Years of Radio Fiji July 1 1954-2009 Join us from June 15 2009 when the Radio Heritage Foundation airs a new radio heritage documentary on the Radio New Zealand International [RNZI] Mailbox program. You can listen via shortwave or audio on demand [for the following month] with full details of frequencies and times and audio download at http://www.rnzi.com The program celebrates 55 years since the original Fiji Broadcasting Commission signed on the air for the first time on July 1 1954. From VPD on shortwave and ZJV on mediumwave since 1936, Fiji has enjoyed one of the most sophisticated radio broadcasting markets in the Pacific. In World War II an American Armed Forces Radio station [WVUT] also broadcast from Nadi, home of the main airport in the islands. The [then] New Zealand Broadcasting Service was heavily involved with the establishment of the Fiji Broadcasting Commission. It supplied almost the entire expatriate staff on secondment from New Zealand commercial and non-commercial stations, carried out the technical work across the islands, built the broadcasting house, and provided good guidance for the new independent public broadcaster. In fact, on the opening night on July 1 1954, the new FBC chairman spoke what have turned out to be highly prophetic words: "This broadcasting service will certainly provide entertainment, but it will not be the government's idea of what should divert us. It will offer programs of information and enlightenment, but these programs will not be the government's conception of what we should hear." In the light of recent events in Fiji where the media no longer enjoys such freedoms, it's interesting to note that such a warning was being sounded those 55 years ago. At the time, Fiji was a British Crown Colony, and this was a new experiment for the colonial authorities. The rest of the opening celebrations for the FBC included Fijian choirs, Indian music clubs, the Fiji Infantry Regiment Band, pianists, violinists and even the Suva Group Theater. For a timely look back at the birth of free public broadcasting in Fiji those 55 years ago, as well as some fabulous Fijian music, visit http://www.rnzi.com today and download the audio from the June 15 edition of Mailbox. Join David Ricquish of the Radio Heritage Foundation on this journey back to Suva on the night of July 1 1954, and also hear more excerpts from the opening speeches, and the song that ended that very first FBC broadcast. This new radio heritage documentary on RNZI complements existing stories about early radio ZJV in Fiji online today at http://www.radioheritage.net A new article on 55 Years of the Fiji Broadcasting Commission will be online shortly (David Ricquish, RHF, June 18, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** FINLAND. 5980, Scandinavian Weekend R, Virrat, 1340-1345, Sa Jun 06, Finnish talk, 25222 // 11720. (Petersen) 6170, Scandinavian Weekend R, Virrat, 1415-1420, Sa Jun 06, Finnish talk, 15111 // 11690. (Petersen) 11690, Scandinavian Weekend R, Virrat, 1415-1420, Sa Jun 06, Finnish talk, 15111 // 6170. (Petersen) 11720, Scandinavian Weekend R, Virrat, 1340-1345, Sa Jun 06, Finnish talk, 25333 // 5980 (Anker Petersen, Skovlunde/ Vejers, Denmark, DSWCI DX Window June 10 via DXLD) Monthly broadcast from 100 (?) watt transmitters; for reference during the midnight sun special starting June 19 (gh) ** FRANCE. The strike at RFI continues, with more than 200 employees voting again today to extend the strike for another 24 hours. The strike, now in its fifth week, is the longest in the history of RFI. A workers' representative says there has been no response to their request for a mediator and there has been "an absence of dialogue, such has never been seen in a public broadcaster," union official Catherine Rolland told Agence France Presse (Mike Cooper, France, June 9, WORLD OF RADIO 1464, DX LISTENING DIGEST) RFI workers voted unanimously today to continue their strike through Monday. I do notice that a few more shows are making it to air on RFI's French service. And I heard an English broadcast this morning at 1200 UT for the first time in weeks. There was no English at 1400 (Mike Cooper, GA, Jun 19, DX LISTENING DIGEST) See also CHINA, RFI webcasts to be blocked ** FRANCE [non]. RFI, 13640 via Guiana French, once again running past scheduled 1230*, June 19 at 1244 with music, break for ID. The strike must still be ongoing (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) see also GUIANA FRENCH 13640, RFI via GUIANA FRENCH, June 20 at 1207 with jazz singer in English, break for ID interjexion, and I think I heard them mention Kabul and some four-score+ FM frequency. Website confirms they are on 89.5 there. So the strike drags on, with RFI Musique fill instead of Spanish during this semihour. RFI monitor Mike Cooper reports that the workers voted June 19 to continue the strike at least until June 22, but on that day he did hear the 1200 English broadcast for the first time in weeks; on satellite? (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Workers at RFI voted unanimously today to continue their strike. I did hear RFI broadcast in English (with David Page) at 1200 and 1400 today (Mike Cooper, GA, June 22, WORLD OF RADIO 1466, DXLD) Presumably via satellite, Mike`s preferred medium (gh, ibid.) Or simply via webcast. Perhaps it's different for English, but the German service broadcasts are available on-demand as automated recordings. If RFI Musique has been put on air as substitute, the recorded webcast will contain this, too. Some observations from FM 106.0 in Berlin on Saturday: After 1300 reports in French were on with rather poor audio quality, reminiscent to the defunct BBC-RFI in Saxonia which was a 64 kbps feed. Around 2000 African music was on air (forgot to check if there were news at the hour), in stereo but still not perfect quality, whatever RFI program feed this may have been. Some new material at http://rfiriposte.wordpress.com looks interesting, but right now I have no time to check it out in detail (Kai Ludwig, Germany, June 23, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1466, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** FRANCE. 15605, Radio France International at 1600, June 21/09 music program and French IDs. I did hear regular programming last Sunday (June 14) but back to strike action I guess this week. VG (Mickey Delmage, Sherwood Park, Alberta, Icom R71a; KLM 7-30 MHz Log Periodic, NASWA Flashsheet via DXLD) Para quem aprecia música em OC, como eu, a R França Int. em 13685 kHz às 1600 UT tem um programa de música pop muito bom; o que esses programas têm de bom são novos ritmos, certo que, pelo menos no meu caso, não entendemos as letras, mas melódicamente são muito bonitas e espero que as letras das músicas estrangeiras (pelo menos a maioria) não estejam passando pela mesma decadência moral das daqui do Brasil. Essa transmissão da R França é dirigida ao norte da África, segundo a EIBI, e o seu programa musical também inclui musica pop Africana: 13685, 1620 21/06, R France Int, FF, programa de pop música francesa e africana, (recomendada aos aficionados por música em OC, como eu); entre as músicas OM com a ID, tx listada na lista EIBI que não relaciona potencia e nem a cidade da transmissão. O prgrama musical se estendeu até as 1700 UT quando a tx encerrou e iniciou em alemão (tx em alemão não relacionada nem pela EIBI e nem pela Aoki, seria a Radio Vlaanderen Info em holandês (????)) 45444 (Jorge Freitas, Feira de Santana Bahia - Brasil, June 21, Cumbre DX via DXLD) Good, but don`t count on hearing this once the strike is over; fill music of the type they play all the time now. RFI 13685 at 16-17 is Issoudun; 13685 after 1700 is RVI via ``Moscow``, and surely in Dutch/Flemish, not German (gh, DXLD) 11610, RFI musique at 0609 June 24, fair, weaker than Bulgaria in French on 11600. 11610 is supposed to be English 0600-0630 via Issoudun, 500 kW, 170 degrees, but with strike fill music (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GABON. 9580, Afrique #1, 6/09/09 0725-0758. Afro pops were playing as I tuned in but the music was cut abruptly at 0730 when an OM began reading News in French. Back to music at 0747 with Afrique #1 IDs sprinkled throughout until 0758 when Radio Australia's 'Waltzing Matilda' wiped the station away (Bruce Barker, Broomall, PA. Equipment: NRD535D and an Alpha Delta Dx Sloper antenna, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GERMANY [and non]. Re 9-047: ``Yet, Germany does not want to send soldiers to Afghanistan! (gh, DXLD)`` German soldiers are in Afghanistan, and they die there. It was Washington's illegal action in Iraq that Germany didn't want to join. Maybe you meant to say "more soldiers", but the above statement is misleading and gives a wrong impression to those who don't know better. http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,,4215873,00.html http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,,4236236,00.html Peace, (Eike Bierwirth, CO, June 9, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GERMANY. [continued from USA: VOA mono not stereo] For comparison: The old Deutsche Welle building at Cologne had basically only one stereo-capable studio, besides some special production facilities, and this was the studio for their German program. This studio had already been dismantled while the building was still operational (DW shifted gradually from Cologne to Bonn) and the German service had to move to another studio for the last weeks, with the result that it was only mono for this period. No full six years have passed since this happened, but already it seems to be a memory from a distant past. At this time they still had live current affairs magazines, and even somebody with no affiliation for shortwave at all was fascinated about hearing the famous interval signal out of the control room loudspeakers. Now DW German sounds as if somebody has plugged his iPod, loaded with DW podcasts, into the transmitter (Kai Ludwig, Germany, June 17, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GERMANY [non]. Re: More and more frequencies of RFE/RL Radio Farda in Farsi and VOA in Farsi But apparently no increase of Persian broadcasts at Deutsche Welle, neither in regard to the airtime (today 2 x 30 minutes a day, compared to 2 x 50 minutes in the mid-nineties) nor in regard to the used transmitters/frequencies. Last Thursday DW's press department featured the Persian service, basically offering their head as expert on Iran matters and providing external links to two interviews: http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,,4401200,00.html (Kai Ludwig, Germany, June 23, dxldyg via DX LSITENING DIGEST) ** GERMANY. ALEMANIA, 6140, European Music Radio, *0900-0930*, 21-06, inglés, identificación: "This is EMR, European Music Radio, broadcasting on 6140 kHz. Short Wave", "Mike Taylor, Mailbox program". Música pop, comentarios, anuncios, "Postal address: **EMR, 32 Shearing Drive, Carshalton, Surrey, SM5 1BL, United Kingdom. e-Mail: studio @ emr.org.uk ". 45444 (Manuel Méndez, Lugo, España, Escucha realizada en casco urbano de Lugo, Grundig Satellit 500 y Sony ICF SW7600G, Antena de cable, 8 metros, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GREECE. Glenn: When I checked at 0000 UT Monday, all 3 frequencies of the Voice of Greece (7475 SINPO 45344, 9420 SINPO 44444, and 15650 SINPO 25332 were being heard in this area with two women having a discussion in English. At 0006, "Edo Athena E Phoni Tis Elladas," followed without announcements by a full hour with recordings of George Dalaras, the internationally famous Greek singer (born Sept 29, 1949). The program started disk-jockey style with "Natane To '21" my favorite one based on the War that won Greece Independence from Turkey, 1821-1829. "Greek Flavors" (Mirodeis Ellinikes) followed, with a Greek cooking show after "Edo Athena, E Phoni Tis Ellados. Click the below to enjoy George Dalaras' 45 rpm record. GEORGE DALARAS SINGS "NATANE TO '21" (OPEN HYPERLINK AND CLICK ON RECORD UNTIL IT STARTS) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=owu9d5gjoNQ English translation: "What Is Your Mother Saying About Me?" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OucGKowvFZs&NR=1 (John Babbis, Silver Spring, MD, June 15, DX LISTENING DIGEST) BARBA YANNIS: CLICK AND OPEN HYPERLINK TO HEAR. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VhFlpZ9jQJ0&NR=1 (John Babbis, June 18, ibid.) Glenn: At UT 0000 Monday, June 22, I monitored the Voice of Greece on 7475, 9420, and 15650 with the News in Greek until 0005 UT. Following was the program "Greek in Style" supposedly in English, but there were just a few announcements in Greek about the singers who followed. Every 20 minutes "dikto Elliniki Radiophonia." The music that was presented must have been in the neo ultra-modern category with the beating of drums and bass violas [?] attempting to fracture my ear- drums. I heard about 40 minutes worth and then hit the on/off switch until I turned my short-wave receiver back on and monitored the News in Greek at 0100 UT. Regards, (John Babbis, WORLD OF RADIO 1466, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GREENLAND. Re 3815-USB, KNR, Tasiilaq, 2055-2110* (Petersen) I told you in Vejers that we listened to KNR Greenland in Fjerritslev. I sent a letter to KNR, P. O. Box 1007, 3900 Nuuk, Greenland, with 1 IRC as return postage. After only 6 days I got a friendly e-Mail from KNR. Unfortunately there were no listening details mentioned. But it is better than nothing (Eckhard Roescher, Dessau, Germany, DSWCI DX Window June 10 via DXLD) ** GRENADA. *** PAN-AMERICAN DX *** 540 | GBN Klassic AM, St. George's, JUN 5 0059 - soft-voiced British-accented male announcer said "Now it's time for Klassic radio in our broadcast to listen to the news from the BBC."; poor, but briefly through usual CBGA-1 and CBT. [Connelly*R-MA] (Report from Mark Connelly, WA1ION - Times / dates = UTC / 2009 e-mail = "MarkWA1ION@aol.com" [Connelly*R-MA] = Rockport, MA, USA (GC= 42.667 N / 70.621 W) (= 42? 40' N / 70? 37' W) (Granite Pier) site-related info: Receivers: Microtelecom Perseus, Drake R8A Antenna: cardioid-pattern Micro-SuperLoop on car roof, square, 2 m per side, with 9:1 transformer on east bottom corner to speaker wire to 2:1 transformer to W7IUV transfer amp, and 9:1 transformer on west corner to speaker wire to 500 ohm null-adjust potentiometer. See for a similar antenna, NRC-AM via DXLD) ** GUAM. USA(non). Frequency change of AWR KSDA Agat in Chin/Karen: 1400-1500 NF 11965 SDA 100 kW / 285 deg to SEAs, ex 9560 (DX Mix News, Bulgaria, 09 June via DXLD) ** GUAM. USA(non). Frequency changes of KTWR Agaña: 1230-1300 NF 9605 100 kW / 285 deg to SEAs, ex 9635 11-1130 Viet 1230-1300 NF 9910 100 kW / 293 deg to SoAs, x 11870 Kokboborok M-F 1330-1400 NF 9340 100 kW / 285 deg to SoAs, x 12075 Assamese Mon-Fri (DX Mix News, Bulgaria, 09 June via DXLD) ** GUAM [and non]. 5446.5, AFRTS, Saddlebunch Key, Florida // Guam 1015 -1020 on 9 June. 5765, AFRTS, Barrigada, Guam, 1015-1020, financial news and ID for National Public Radio, 9 June, same time 10 June. Good signal. Pompano Beach, Cedar Key, Palm Beach, Clewiston, Coral Springs and Embu SP Brasil. [Florida/Brasil DX] 73s (Bob Wilkner, Pompano Beach, Southeast Florida, 10 June, NRD 535D ~ Drake R8, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GUATEMALA. NOTICIA URGENTE: Ya salió otra vez nuestro Sitio Web de Radio Verdad, pero lo estamos reestructurando, porque, se había perdido todo su contenido, por motivo de algunos víruses INTRUSOS que lo destruyeron. Ya funcionan los links para sintonizar Radio Verdad en sus dos canales, aunque estén pendientes los iconos y fotografìas. Así es que, esperamos que visite nuestro Sitio Web en la siguiente dirección. http://www.radioverdad.org También esté pendiente, porque, Dios mediante, luego saldremos por onda corta también. A Dios las gracias. Le agradeceremos divulgar estas noticias. Su servidor y amigo, ÉDGAR AMÍLCAR MADRID, Director y Gerente. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Please, visit our Web Site. We are restructuring it now, and you can tune Radio Truth's signal on it again. (June 9 via Henrik Klemetz, Sweden, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GUIANA FRENCH. 13640 with strong open carrier, some fading, June 11 at 1355-1357*. Strongly suspect Montsinéry, which uses this frequency supposedly only until 1230. 57 minutes past the hour is a favorite cutoff time from numerous automated sites, and I suspect some misprogramming here, possibly connected with the RFI strike. This frequency has been heard before on the air at times well beyond its schedule (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** HONDURAS. 3250, Radio Luz y Vida, San Luis 1110 om and yl in English Spanish translation of the Gospel. 15 June (Bob Wilkner, Pompano Beach, Florida US, NRD 535D ~ Drake R8, June 22, DX LISTENING DIGEST) A Rádio Luz y Vida, é uma emissora religiosa, de orientação evangélica protestante, localizada na pequena cidade de San Luiz, no Departamento de Santa Bárbara, em Honduras. Esta emissora, que emite e, 3250 kHz, esteve fora do ar por um longo tempo, retornou em 1994, quando passou a utilizar um transmissor que originalmente fora da WBBZ, emissora de Ponca City, Oklahoma, E.U.A. [! 1230 kHz, a semi-local of mine in the daytime --- gh, Enid] A programação é quase que exclusivamente feita, em espanhol mas costuma, eventualmente, levar ao ar, programas religiosos, em inglês, previamente gravados e produzidos nos Estados Unidos (From a much longer article about the station, reception in Brasil, and Hondruas in general, @tividade DX June 21 via DXLD) ** INDIA. Hello Friends, I am just back from providing Cyclone Aila Emergency Ham communication by National Institute of Amateur Radio (NIAR) in West Bengal. I was stationed at Kalitala on an island in India-Bangladesh border. http://www.thehindu.com/2009/06/08/stories/2009060860150500.htm While there, I monitored the broadcast bands as usual. Cyclone Aila also silenced AIR Kolkata for some days. By the way the officially unlisted low powered AIR Kolkata B transmission was noted only in the city limits on 97 MHz parallel to 1008 kHz. Alok Das Gupta informs that it’s a studio to transmitter link. Yours sincerely, (Jose Jacob, National Institute of Amateur Radio, Hyderabad, India, June 14, DX LISTENING DIGEST) AMATEUR RADIO IN CYCLONE "AILA" RESPONSE - By Ms. Yamini, VU2YAM On the 25th of May 2009, a deep depression coiled over Bay of Bengal became Cyclonic formation "Aila" struck the coastal districts of West Bengal with wind speeds over 90 KMPH causing immense devastation in the region. The river banks breached at several locations as incessant rains caused river waters raise to unprecedented levels inundating farm lands, submerged houses in hundreds of villages resulting in hundreds of casualties and rendering millions of people homeless. The road connection to several remote areas was cut off by "Aila" virtually creating Islands with no food, water, shelter and electricity for millions of people. The communication system to these remote villages was possible only when the cell phone towers were brought back into operation. The Government of West Bengal sought assistance from Ham volunteers in the region to bridge the communication gap and for backup communications at remote locations. Mr. Ambarish Nag Biswas, VU3JFA and other Local Hams responded immediately by sending their members to North 24 Parganas District and South 24 Parganas District. The information on severity and scale of disaster started to trickle in as the local administration sent these teams on boats to remote areas to access the situation. The devastation unleashed by "Aila" cyclone deprived millions of people of their homes, leaving them a narrow stretch of land on high grounds or an elevated concrete road to survive. The trail of destruction is visible over vast area as sea of water as far as a human eye can see. The flood waters did not recede even two weeks after the onset of Aila. The situation demanded more Ham operators for efficient management of relief. The district administration requested further support of Ham volunteers with necessary equipment to assist their relief operations. National Institute of Amateur Radio (NIAR), well known for its preparedness and committed team of volunteers immediately rushed its members to Kolkata, Capital city of West Bengal by train and flight to further reach Barasat, Headquarters of North 24 Parganas District on 1st June 2009. The District Administration dispatched the Ham teams to serve at administrative headquarters and other remote locations of Hingalgunj Block in North 24 Parganas district. The team upon arrival met Mr. Srikumar Mukherjee, Hon’ble Minister for Civil Defense, Govt. of West Bengal which was coordinated by Mr. Arya Ghosh VU2GKB and Mr. Joy Chakravarthi VU3JCH. As per the advice of the government, an amateur radio station was established at the office of Controller of Civil Defense in Kolkata. Later the station was shifted to District HQ at Barasat as normal telecommunication links between the District and State HQ were found adequate. The Amateur Radio station at Barasat remained as control station for all the other stations operating in this district which was tirelessly managed by the most experienced operator Ms. M.Bhanumathy, VU2BL. The stations checked on hourly basis to remain in regular contact for transfer of messages. Each Ham volunteer carried a suitcase containing HF Transceiver, VHF transceiver, 2 Hand-helds, Inverted ‘V’ antenna for 20/40M, VHF whip antenna, 100 meters of coax cables, tools and other essential accessories all weighing over 30 kgs. The District Administration provided fully charged heavy duty 12V Batteries which was judiciously used to run the transceivers up to 5 days for uninterrupted communication at two remote locations. The Hams teams operated mostly on HF 40M - 7045 & 7070 kHz & on 20M - 14160 kHz and VHF 145.500 MHz. The messages mostly were on requirement of relief material, administrative reports on disbursement of relief, reports on public health as well as situation reports of medical camps and movement of officials. Even as the mobile communications from private cell phone operators was partially restored, Amateur Radio communication was asked to remain as backup communication as information received by administration included new weather warnings and raise in river water currents on account of High Tides. The remote locations in India are known to lack basic amenities and sanitation. Survival of millions of people in these areas is on bare minimum requirement of food, water and shelter. The homes of the people living in these parts of rural India are made of mud walls with roof made of hay stacks. The villages in remote areas had no electricity but used solar power and generators. Reaching the locations of operation at Block HQ was the first task, not familiar with the region or local language, part of the journey was on road, later men and material were shifted to small raft to cross a river and then one hour ride on a motorized tri-cycle. It took nearly 8 hours to travel 75 kms distance and reaching final destinations was just another challenge for the team. Ms. S. Yamini VU2YAM, well known ham (recently her name included in Limca Book of Records 2009) was operating the amateur radio station at Block Headquarters office at Hingalgunj. Electricity was partially restored when we arrived at this location and a backup generator was in place as this was administrative control for the division. HF and VHF station were installed for round-the-clock operation. This location just the right place assigned for an individual female team member to work round the clock operation. The first signs of severe devastation were visible. Hingalgunj Block was among the most devastated areas in North 24 Parganas District with over 28,000 families and 126,000 people affected by Aila, over 57 kms of river embankments breached causing maximum damage. The District Administration and over 300 volunteers from various agencies worked in managing relief effort at this block including NIAR, ICDS, Departments of Health, Land & Agriculture, NDRF, Army medical teams, UNICEF and other NGOs. The material supplied include Rice, Dal, Chira, Drinking water, mosquito nets, medicines, bleaching powder, firewood and medical supplies etc., The National Disaster Response Force, an efficient professional team with manpower and resources specially designated for Disaster Preparedness and Response in the country brought us to the shores of Jogeshgunj and Kalitala which were nearly 30 Kms from Block HQ on separate rafts, a journey that took nearly 2 hours on a curvy river overflowing with flood waters. The cruise goes along the river which is only 100 meters wide at most places that separate India and Bangladesh. A local guide is assigned to each raft to identify the villages in Indian Territory and also to avoid unwarranted landing on the shores of neighboring country. Jogeshganj Panchayat with four villages viz, Jogeshganj, Patghara, Madhavkati, Hemnagar which virtually became an island, with over 90% of 5282 families severely affected as their homes were completely washed away. The livelihoods of many people depend on agriculture and fishing, many families have left this area or shifted to safer locations or moved to other places in the state to live with friends and families elsewhere. A HF/VHF station was set up at this location operated by Mohan, VU2MYH. Kalitala Panchayat consists of 3 Villages, viz. Kalitala, Shamson Nagar and Pargonti, located on an island on the South Eastern tip of North 24 Parganas District adjacent to Sundarban Tiger Reserve Forest has population of nearly 21,000. People stayed in temporary shelters on elevated road. Relief material is brought through river from Hingalganj Block Office and other places and distributed by Panchayath and other NGOs on a daily basis. A Community kitchen is operating near Panchayath office. The medical camp reported many cases of diarrhea. Kalitala was among the farthest village from the Block HQ. Jose Jacob, VU2JOS, handled Ham Radio messages on HF / VHF from there requesting drinking water, food, shelter, medicines etc. On 7th June 09, there was an alert for severe high tide in the area. Fortunately, the high tide did not rise to any danger level. The Station worked on 12V battery as this village has no electricity. Several Ham volunteers from Kolkata and other places were also involved in the Aila relief communications some of them to positions in other affected locations Viz. Mr.Subhadeep Chatterjee VU2CSB, Mr. Satyarup Mandal VU3SCM, Mr. Swapan Dhara VU3SJR in Sandeshkali, Mr. Parag Ranjan VU3RUO in Dhulduli, and Mr. Anupam Biswas VU3BIS in Dhamakali of North 24 Paraganas District. Mr. Tanmay Chakraborthy VU3SQY, Mr. Tapas Chakraborthy VU2TKC, Mr. Anand Bose VU2AMB and other members of Indian Wave of Amateur Radio operated the HF 20M MFJ QRP donated by QRP-ARCI from Goshaba in South 24 Paraganas District. Mr. Sunil VU2SYD, Mr. Subhash Chandra VU3SUY and Hams from other states and regions like VU2NRO / VU3LMS & VU2JMA from NIAR HQ in Hyderabad and Mr.Sangeet VU2CEO were on standby for relay of messages. Agencies conducting Aila relief activities including Govt. of West Bengal appreciated the dedicated service of amateur radio and Ham volunteers as our teams returned to their bases on 11th June. On behalf of National Institute of Amateur Radio, I wish to thank District Administration and Government of West Bengal and particularly Hams from West Bengal for their tremendous support the activity (via Jose Jacob, NIAR, DXLD) The original doc was replete with illos totalling some 25 MB. Here`s an online version, no photos (gh) Read the full story here : http://www.radioandmusic.com/content/editorial/special-reports/ham-radio-helps-combat-cyclone-aila (via Alokesh Gupta, dx_india via DXLD) Amateur Radio in Cyclone Aila : Report with photos in http://www.niar.org/Aila%20Report.pdf 73 (Jose Jacob, VU2JOS, WORLD OF RADIO 1466, ibid.) ** INDIA. AIR DRM 6100 noted with Urdu service --- 13th June (Sat) - All India Radio DRM on 6100 kHz at 0900 UT onwards was carrying Urdu Service instead of VBS. At 1140 UT audio went off, called up transmitter at 1146, response was "we will look into it". VBS programming was back at 1148 UT, went off air at scheduled 1200. Few days back, cross talk was noted with both Urdu & VBS services on same channel 6100 (Alokesh Gupta, New Delhi, India, June 15, dx_india yg via DXLD) ** INDIA. All India Radio Shillong has launched a brand new website. Here's the link : http://www.airshillong.org Direct links : All India Radio, Shillong http://www.airshillong.org/air/ All India Radio - North Eastern service, Shillong http://www.airshillong.org/ner/ (Alokesh Gupta, New Delhi, India, June 17, dx_india yg via DXLD) ** INDIA. Running commentary of T20 cricket match on AIR --- 19th April 2009, 1700 UT - All India Radio extended broadcasts noted with running commentary of T20 cricket match semi-final between West Indies & Sri lanka in Hindi & English on following frequencies : 4810 - Bhopal 4880 - Lucknow 4910 - Jaipur 5010 - Thiruvanathapuram 5015 - Delhi (Kingsway) 5040 - Jeypore Running commentary expected till 1940 UT (Alokesh Gupta, New Delhi, India, 1832 UT June 19, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Very perishable item, but could and probably will happen again (gh) ** INDIA. AIR Delhi still on 7150 --- About 3 months have passed since AIR stations shifted from 7100-7200 kHz area. However AIR Delhi (Kingsway) is still noted daily on 7150 at 0030-0040 with news in Hindi and English. Their new frequency 7370 is occupied by FEBA to India at that time. 73 (Jose Jacob, VU2JOS, National Institute of Amateur Radio, Raj Bhavan Road, Hyderabad 500082, India, June 23, dx_india yg via WORLD OF RADIO 1466, DXLD) ** INDIA. 9425, AIR Bengaluru - National Channel, 1435-1500, June 15. In English with program "Vividha"(sp?) (observed on Mon., Wed. and Fri.); fashion reporter talking about the fashion and textile business in India; lists benefits of exercising; good reception (Ron Howard, Asilomar Beach, CA, Etón E1, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INDIA. What is the name of the choral-like musical selection AIR plays at sign-on, right after the "Song of India" interval signal? Thanks in advance, (Scott Barbour, NH, NASWA yg via DXLD) Hi Scott, Believe you are referring to Vande Mataram, the National Song of India. Can be heard at: http://www.theholidayspot.com/indian_independence_day/national_song.htm (Ron Howard, Asilomar Beach, CA, ibid.) ** INDONESIA. 3325, RRI Palangkaraya, 1244-1320, June 13. In Bahasa Indonesia; lively YL DJ playing pop songs; QRM from assume Bougainville (Ron Howard, Asilomar Beach, CA, Etón E1, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INDONESIA. 4749.95, RRI-Makassar, 1337-1356*, June 14. In Bahasa Indonesia; DJ playing dedications; almost fair; after sign-off noted very weak CNR-1 on 4750.0 (// 5030) (Ron Howard, Asilomar Beach, CA, Etón E1, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1466, DX LISTENING DIGEST) With Australia in on 120m, PNG on 90m, then checked 60m for anything extracontinental, June 20 at 1139: 4750 with Indonesian talk and music before fadeout, no match for CODAR. At least RRI Makassar is still on the air. BTW, all across 4 MHz in addition to line and storm noise levels I have to cope with modulation splash matching local KCRC-1390, perhaps external mixing re-radiation. 4750, RRI Makassar, presumed, June 24 at 1147 YL in Indonesian(?) talk, about to fade out more than a semihour after local sunrise, CODAR, summer noise (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INDONESIA. VOI, 9525, June 9 at 1302, W&M conversing about Banjarmasin, as for yet another Tuesday, the VOI English show linx up with RRI Banjarmasin. This has been going on every Tuesday since first noticed in April. He said it was also on FM 95.2 there. 1306 into news from Anita in the Jakarta studio. At 1333 ending Focus, and into more from and about Banjarmasin, Kalimantan; 1338 produced piece with YL. Unfortunately, tho there is still no QRM, the accents, hum, and somewhat undermodulation make it difficult to read (Glenn Hauser, OK, WORLD OF RADIO 1465, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 9524.96, Voice of Indonesia, 1302-1336, June 9 (Tue.). Ditto Glenn’s reception today. In English; news; “Today in History”; “News and Events”; IDs. Usual Tue. segments from Banjarmasin, as first noted by Glenn. Gave their local FM frequency and phone number for listeners to contact them and request songs. Still with transmitter hum (Ron Howard, Asilomar Beach, CA, Etón E1, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1465, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Surprised to hear an open carrier on 9525, June 11 at 1330, no hum. Listening closer, I can barely detect a YL speaking, sounds like the usual VOI hostess in English, but now barely modulated. Getting rid of the hum is fine, but not the rest of the modulation. I make almost daily chex of VOI`s English hour at 1300 on 9525, lest they jump again to 11785 without notice. June 12 at 1342 all I could get was a weak carrier on the inside antenna during T-storm, but at 1402, CRI Russian did have a SAH, so believe VOI was still there. Back on external antenna next day, June 13 at 1313, usual YL announcer was ending news with headlines. Somewhat undermodulated but otherwise clear; by 1345 had faded to very poor level (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Jakarta op 9524.098 khz, 1853 UT. Wel met een pak ruis onduidelijke audio en splatter (Maurits Van Driessche, Belgium, June 22, bdx mailing list via DXLD) Altho I haven`t reported them lately, still hearing VOI before and after 1300 just about every morning, but sinking into summer noise level. Assumed really near 9525.0 at that hour, but have not confirmed that, and no 1 kHz het noted here. Two different transmitters? (Glenn Hauser, OK, June 24, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INTERNATIONAL. Scan of Amateur Radio 40m band, 7100 thru 7200, at 1413, June 13. 7105 - PBS Nei Menggu (good). 7115 - PBS Nei Menggu (presumed) (weak). 7130 – CNR-1 echo jamming (good); // 5030; jamming Taiwan. 7165 - Radio Ethiopia (presumed) in Arabic. First time I have heard this one. 7185 - CNR-1 echo jamming (good); // 5030; jamming Taiwan. 7200 – R. Rossii via Yakutsk (good). (Ron Howard, Asilomar Beach, CA, Etón E1, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INTERNATIONAL INTERNET. Hi Glen[n], I am listening to [WORLD OF RADIO] 1464. Before I forget, due to format change, your broadcast will be aired run-of-station on weekends only. It does not make sense to pay royalties of over $100.00 per month and only playing music on Sundays (Pastor Darryl Breffe -- Founder/C.E.O. http://www.cjoyinternetradio.com We play programs produced by blind persons. twitter.com/cjoyinternet June 13, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INTERNATIONAL VACUUM. LA LUNA REBOTARÁ MENSAJES TERRESTRES Los continentes se mandarán recados por radiotelescopios. Las ondas de radio son capaces de viajar eternamente por el espacio, pero si chocan con la Luna, no. Si se apunta al satélite con una gran antena de radio y se transmite una señal, ésta viajará a la Luna y retornará a la Tierra en 2,5 segundos. Eso es la transmisión Tierra-Luna-Tierra. Como parte de las celebraciones de los 40 años de la llegada del hombre a la Luna, los radioaficionados se comunicarán entre EE.UU., Europa y Australia "rebotando" sus conversaciones en el satélite entre el 26 y el 27 de junio. Ecos del Apolo es la organización detrás de la idea. Dedicada a traspasar a las nuevas generaciones el recuerdo del alunizaje del Apolo 11 en nuestro satélite (el 20 de julio de 1969), transmitirá en directo en http://www.echoesofapollo.com el desarrollo de lo que ellos llaman la mayor fiesta espacial. Serán 13 antenas de distintos centros de astronomía las que dejarán de auscultar el cielo para escucharse entre ellas. Se unirán los platos de la U. Estatal Morehead en Kentucky (EE.UU.), el radiotelescopio de Dwingeloo en Holanda y el de la U. Tasmania, en Hobart Australia, entre otros. No serán los primeros. Antes de que los satélites comunicaran al planeta, varios países experimentaron con la transmisión tierra-luna- tierra. El mismo Presidente Eisenhower en 1959 felicitó por este medio a Canadá por la inauguración del Laboratorio de Radio Príncipe Alberto (Fuente: El Mercurio, CHL 20/6/09) via Gabriel Ivan Barrera, Argentina via Yimber Gaviría, Colombia, DXLD) Big moonbounce event planned for June 27, see http://echoesofapollo.com/moon-bounce/ anticipating fortieth anniversary of first Lunar landing. Just part of World`s Biggest Space Party; see website in English above (gh, WORLD OF RADIO 1466, DXLD) ** INTERNATIONAL VACUUM [non]. UpSnap (has WRN) is free again, advertisement supported --- UpSnap's service, which allows you to listen to on demand and live radio stations via a phone, is now free again (even via phone number), but advertisement supported. This page has the listing of WRN broadcasters available: http://www.upsnap.com/audio.jsp?genre=International&category_id=1025 Dial: (704) 631-4060 Press 1, 9 and then the 4 digit code you obtained from the link above. Alternatively, you can go to the following via your phone's web browser - and it'll dial the phone number for you: wap.upsnap.com 2679 WORLD OF RADIO 1019 Israel Radio morning 1032 Israel Radio evening Interestingly, I don't see the NA WRN feed anymore. I'll email them. Note from the FAQ, "Our system will time you out after 20 minutes as a safety precaution for you." Oddly, at the moment, on UpSnap, the WRN on demand broadcasts are having issues, seemingly with rebuffering. WRN's website is fine, other broadcasters are fine on UpSnap. I'm emailing UpSnap's support (Doni Rosenzweig, June 19, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1466, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INTERNATIONAL VACUUM. HEAVY IRANIAN SATELLITE JAMMING IN PROGRESS Hello, perhaps you have not seen it reported elsewhere: It appears that quite massive jamming attacks against Hotbird satellite signals with Persian programming are going on at present. Seen so far here: http://forum.mysnip.de/read.php?8773,703105 Summary, disregarding incompetent postings, [plus my comments], see original for links to a Polish forum where the matter is being discussed as well: Already for some time problems with 12.303 GHz v have been reported and suspected to be the result of jamming. This mux includes the Persian New Channel TV. As of last night also 11.117 GHz v is affected, a mux carrying BBC Persian TV [plus on the radio side BBC WS in Persian and Payam-e- Doost]. The spectrum of this signal shows a strong empty carrier exactly in the centre. This carrier disappeared at 0055 UT sharp and the signal quality improved dramatically. Looks very much like jamming. The same on 12.303 GHz v [which also carries RNW feeds, thus even their shortwave transmissions could be affected]. Today: Now 11.727 GHz v gets targeted, a mux with Pars TV. The Astra relay of TVE is disrupted as well, apparently this Hotbird signal is the signal [sic] source of it. [Numerous BBC World Service feeds use this mux as well, so it is well possible that a number of BBC WS relays got disrupted likewise.] 1150 UT: The empty carrier in the 11.117 GHz signal has returned, even a bit stronger than last night. With a 60 cm dish the signal can not be demodulated at present. Same again on 11.727 GHz v, here the carrier is about 15 dB stronger than the actual modulation when viewed with 300 kHz bandwith. It's a very clean and stable carrier. The Dutch BVN TV Europe has appeared on 12.207 GHz h, apparently due to 12.303 GHz v being jammed. Postings after 1300 UT: BBC Persian had temporarily been removed from 11.117 GHz v [who got this idea, the BBC and/or Globecast?], the jamming disappeared and promptly returned when BBC Persian had been put back on. And just posted a first, so far unofficial reaction from the BBC: http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/theeditors/2009/06/stop_the_blocking_now.html It will be really interesting to see how Eutelsat will deal with the situation, since unavoidably it affects also other, completely unrelated customers. And at the same time IRIB is an Eutelsat customer as well. This just in a hurry to tip off. Other satellites than the Hotbird fleet at 13 degrees East may well be affected as well (Kai Ludwig, Germany, 1439 UT June 14, WORLD OF RADIO 1465, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Tonight the jamming against the Hotbird multiplex with BBC Persian has further worsened. It now consists of two carriers, about 10 kHz apart from each other. Spectrograms, taken with cheap consumer gear, thus a bit unclean and with the frequency scale slightly off, have been posted here: http://forum.mysnip.de/read.php?8773,703105,703851#msg-703851 The jamming is so intense that it on Friday even affected a feed via Eutelsat W2A on the neighbouring 10 deg. East position, run on 11.144 GHz. This feed suffered disruptions (live on air), and a carrier from someone else had clearly been identified as cause. Further feeds had afterwards been transferred to another satellite (Astra 3) to avoid the problem. Concerning reports about VOA Persian TV being jammed as well: I suspect this concerns 11.566 GHz, a multiplex that contains two other Persian TV stations as well. Or do they really dare to jam the IBB mux on 12.226 GHz? There are also reports about intensified jamming on shortwave, consisting of open carriers, so probably done with the regular broadcasting transmitters, as opposed to their well-known wobblers. But may others forward these reports and discussions (Kai Ludwig, 2241 UT June 15, ibid.) BBC enlisting new satellites to broadcast in Iran http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5iNjRcVeBG7x0QZ8p-AQIVSBuFKQwD98TSB5G0 (Alokesh Gupta, New Delhi, India, June 19, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) also barely mentions SW BBC ADDS MORE SATELLITES FOR ITS PERSIAN TV SERVICE The BBC has increased the number of satellites that carry its BBC Persian television service for Farsi-speakers in Iran, Afghanistan and Tajikistan. This follows persistent interference to signals from the Hotbird 6 satellite which carries the BBC’s international television and radio services in various languages as well as services from other broadcasters. From now on, BBC Persian television will be additionally available on the Eutelsat W2M satellite and continues uninterrupted on the Telstar 12 satellite. BBC Persian is also expected to be available on Nilesat soon. They will serve Farsi-speaking audiences across the Middle East, Europe and Asia. Since Friday 12 June the BBC Persian service, other BBC services, and the services of other broadcasters on Hotbird 6 have been subject to deliberate interference. BBC Arabic television and various language services have also been experiencing transmission problems including being off the air at various points. The satellite operator has traced the interference and has confirmed it is coming from within Iran. BBC Persian television has extended its broadcast hours. There are an extra five hours of programming at Iranian breakfast and lunchtime, in addition to its usual evening broadcasts. Radio broadcasts have also been extended. BBC World Service Director Peter Horrocks said: “This is an important time for Iran and many Iranians are turning to the BBC for impartial and independent news and information during this crisis. We hope that by adding more ways to access BBC Persian television, Farsi-speaking audiences can get the high-quality news, analysis and debate they clearly desire. We also hope this will lessen the impact on other broadcasters who have been affected by the interference.” BBC Persian will be available on: Eutelsat W2M at 3.1 East (11. 473 GHz – vertical polarised). This is only 10º west of Hotbird 6 and can be found by making a small adjustment to the position of the satellite receiver dish. Nilesat at 7 West, 10.757 GHz (vertically polarised) Telstar T12, 15 West , 12.608 GHz (horizontally polarised) (Source: BBC World Service Press Office) (June 19th, 2009 - 16:28 UTC by Andy Sennitt, Media Network blog via DXLD) 4 comments so far 1 Patrick June 19th, 2009 - 16:43 UTC VOA Persian is also on same transponder on W2M. 2 SRG June 19th, 2009 - 17:10 UTC Who is paying for those satellite feeds? BP? 3 John June 19th, 2009 - 21:49 UTC British Tax payer. 4 Kai Ludwig June 22nd, 2009 - 14:20 UTC The story behind this story: This W2M satellite, launched in last December, was actually meant for the 16 East position. But during the transfer into the geostationary orbit some problems with the power supply system occured, thus Eutelsat did not accept the satellite for regular use at this point. Now W2M has been put on 3.1 deg East and first activated at or around June 10 with promo videos, followed by BBC Persian and VOA Persian TV on June 19, marking the begin of program services via this satellite. So far I have not seen announcements from Eutelsat about their future plans with W2M. Some observers already associated the “Atlantic Bird” brand to it, so probably it will join this line-up of other satellites on 5, 7, 8 and 12.5 deg. West (comments, ibid.) ** IRAN [and non]. IRANIAN BUBBLE JAMMING AGAINST IBB RADIO FARDA IN PERSIAN. It seems that Farda is jammed since yesterday, at least on part of SW (MW 1575 is always jammed). Have you noticed it? Iranian jamming against R Farda. It seems that this concerns ONLY Farda, VOA Farsi and BBC Farsi are NOT jammed at all (Mauno Ritola- FIN, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews June 15/16) Re: Farda jamming ? Mauno aus Finnland meldet heute Abend auch diskretes Traegersetzen der Iraner sowie Bubble Jamming auf Kurzwelle gegen die Fardasendungen in Persisch, dem US Propagandasender von der RL/RFE/RFA Verfaecherungsfamilie. Der Iran stoert nur die FARDA Mittelwelle 1575 aus den UAE, und die beiden Kanaele von KOL Israel in Persisch mit dem guten alten Bubble Jamming Signal. Das iranische Jamming gegen FARDA ist nicht sehr effektiv. Soeben 0950 UT hier in D. 21715 17845 und 15690 vollkommen frei. Fruehmorgens nur 5860 kHz mit einem bemerkbaren Bubbler in Yerevan sowie ein Pfeifton \\ 5885 in Baghdad belegt. Use "VLC Video Lan Media Player" to listen MP4 files. (wb, June 15-17, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews June 20 via DXLD) ** IRAN. Is anybody else able to connect to the IRIB web-site http://www.irib.ir/ ? I haven't, but then, my ISP has some problems with its DNS servers for certain top-level domains (Ted Schuerzinger, fedya at hughes dot net, Now blogging at http://justacineast.blogspot.com 0128 UT June 16, swprograms via DXLD) Same problem here. Even on "good days" (however you define that term! ), the site can be problematical. It has very dense graphics. I would guess with all the effort being put in to jam use of certain internet resources combined with increased outside interest in the web site, access problems would be inevitable (John Figliozzi, Halfmoon, NY, June 16, ibid.) Slow loading but finally connected here around 1730 UT June 21; all in Persian but linx to other languages; including English which would not display (gh, WORLD OF RADIO 1466, DXLD) HACKERS ATTACK ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF IRAN BROADCASTING WEBSITE Wikinews reported on Friday that it had learned that the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) website http://www.irib.ir/ had been hacked and was suffering from an alleged denial-of-service attack (DDoS). Wikinews says it discovered that an individual or group has claimed responsibility for attacking the website on an Iranian Internet forum. As part of the attack, at least one section of the IRIB website, an apparent user space, was replaced with what appears to be videos and images of protests within Iran. The page also contained the statement “hacked by the Iranian people.” Wikinews says it has also discovered that citizens have set up Internet channels on IRC in an attempt to create proxy servers and addresses to bypass the the blocking of the Internet by the Iranian government. Proxy servers can also be used to attack websites. (Source: Wikinews) Andy Sennitt comments: I managed to get the site to load yesterday, but it was very slow. This morning the site would not load at all, so it appears that the situation is ongoing. Observations welcome. The English website of Press TV is operating normally http://www.presstv.ir/ (June 22nd, 2009 - 9:30 UTC by Andy Sennitt, Media Network blog via DXLD) Update 1315 UT: The IRIB English page is available. http://www.irib.ir/English/ (ibid.) ** IRAN. 7235 kHz, Voice of Justice, tuned in at 0131 UT (0130 s/on) in English, with religious meditation, then into news. SINPO 33232, about 60% readable with close attention. Mention of "Death to America, Down with Israel." Turkmenistan congratulates Ahmadineabad [sic] on winning the election. Much on the health care debate in the US. Overall poor, not as good as two days ago. This day, the newscasters were alternately male (not well heard) and female (better understood) instead of one female as two days ago. Above heard on Grundig YB 400PE with long wire (Roger Chambers, NY, UT June 21, ODXA yg via WORLD OF RADIO 1466, DXLD) 9495, 0130-0150 17.06, Voice of Justice, Teheran. English ID, Muslim prayer, English comments about the presidential election, explaining that the minority has to accept the majority of votes. Congratulations to the re-elected President from a Mr. Abdullah in Palestine 55444. Best 73, (Anker Petersen, loggings done at my AOR AR7030PLUS with 28 metres of longwire in Skovlunde, Denmark, via Dario Monferini, playdx yg via WORLD OF RADIO 1466, DXLD) See also INTERNATIONAL VACUUM VOIRI (Voice of Justice), 9495 kHz at 0130 S/on with short IS and frequency schedule. Qur'an. 0137 with the program lineup. News began at 0138 UT, of course all about the fair elections held in Iran. Someone decided to "jam" or is it DRM??? at 0155. 7235 kHz is not very good here while 9495 was quite well heard until the "DRM jammer" came on. Better at 0203 when jammer calmed down somewhat. Back in the clear at 0208 so I doubt the "jammer" was a DRM transmission? (Mick Delmage, AB, UT June 23/09, WORLD OF RADIO 1466, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Bulgarian DRM at 02-03 daily is now scheduled on 9395-9400-9405. DRM DX site shows nothing now on 9500, tho Bulgaria originally was going to use that at 23-24 (gh, DXLD) ** IRAN [non]. Frequency changes of VOIROI/IRIB [via LITHUANIA]: 1430-1528 NF 5940 SIT 100 kW / 079 deg to RUSS, ex 6145 in Russian 1730-1828 NF 5940 SIT 100 kW / 259 deg to WeEu, ex 6180 in German 1830-1928 NF 5940 SIT 100 kW / 259 deg to WeEu, ex 5945 in French 1930-2028 NF 5940 SIT 100 kW / 259 deg to WeEu, ex 5945 in English (DX Mix News, Bulgaria, June 17 via WORLD OF RADIO 1466, DXLD) Hi Glenn, Just wondering what happened to a couple of transmissions. First, Voice of the Islamic Republic of Iran Via Lithuania. 1930-2030 UT on the new 5940, as stated on the IRIB web pages. Transmission has not been heard for the best part of a week (Chris Lewis, England, June 18, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Does anyone hear the Sitkunai-Lithuania relays of IRIB currently? The Bulgarians recently listed the following changes [as above], but 5940 is not audible here, and nor are the previously used frequencies. (Noel R. Green (NW England), June 19, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Hi dear Noel, the 079 degrees Russian outlet is NOT very strong here in Western Europe; the curtain protection against west is very efficient. But noted 5940 1730-2028, and 6055 2030-2128 Spanish, this week. Maybe left the air yesterday due of satellite feed missing trouble with the Iran elections hype ?? (Wolfgang Büschel, Germany, June 19, DX LISTENING DIGEST) The change to 5940 has indeed been made, but the Sitkunai relays are off since Tuesday, according to Paul Gager who apparently monitors the German broadcast every day. Automated recordings of the German programmes from satellite are just fine (taken aside the nasty ground loop that plagues the live announcer mic), so getting a feed can hardly be the problem (Kai Ludwig, June 19, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 5910, 20/6 1930, V.O.I.R.I. - Tehran, IT NX, nessun cenno alle manifestazioni di Tehran; buono (Roberto Pavanello, Vercelli / Italia, bclnews.it yg via DXLD) VOIROI/IRIB relays via Sitkunai Lithuania missed on June 16 to 22, but appeared again in Russian today at 1430 UT, \\ 9580 and 9900 kHz, but nothing traced here in Stuttgart on 3rd channel 7360 kHz from Kamalabad. 2030-2127 UT Spanish 6055, and tomorrow morning sce in Italian 9770 kHz at 0630-0727 UT. 73 (Wolfgang Büschel, June 23, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1466, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Re: 2030-2127 UT Spanish 6055 --- Indeed on air as well, // 7300 and 9800 from Kamalabad and Sirjan, respectively. Until 2049 they broadcast some phoned-in stuff, wrapping up with a closer I would guess meant "for IRIB, Radio Nacional de Venezuela". It also included a mention of "Alo Presidente". (Kai Ludwig, Germany, ibid.) Also back on 5940 in German at 1730 (JM Aubier, France, June 23, ibid.) ** IRAN [non]. Add Tehran to mispronounced Iraq-Iran discussion --- I caught several radio networks including the BBC pronouncing the capital of Iran as "TEY-ran" as opposed to the correct teH-ran. So, not only do we have to tolerate EYE-raq and EYE-ran, we now have TEY-ran (Andy O`Brien, NY, June 18, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** IRAN. 1071, IRIB-R. Ma'aref, Qom, 2201-2224, 22 Jun, Farsi, talks; mixed with ARS, but almost drowned; 24432. (check SAUDI ARABIA). 73, (Carlos Gonçalves, Portugal, June 24, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Now that Spain, q.v. is off 1071 ** IRAN [and non]. Intermittent bubble jamming of Radio Farda has been heard the last few days, particularly affecting 15690 around 0630 and 7580 around 1800. And a so far unidentified/unrecognised English speaking (mechanical sounding) number station appeared on 15690 using SSB-USB on the 19th at around 0645 (Noel R. Green (NW England), June 19, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Surprisingly RMS files from Baghdad and Kuwait show no any trace of jamming on 1575 tonight. On earlier occasions it was audible even here in Germany. OK, reception inside Teheran could be another story. And some correspondents in Teheran have no good feeling for today (Kai Ludwig, June 19, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) The jamming on 1575 kHz usually stops around 1830 for the night, but for example yesterday it continued until 1930. 73, (Mauno Ritola, Finland, ibid.) Expanded BBCWS, R. Farda and VOA in Farsi: see also UK, USA ** IRAN [non]. BBC PERSIAN AND VOA'S PERSIAN NEWS NETWORK DENY TEHRAN'S ACCUSATIONS OF BIAS AND MEDDLING. June 19, 2009 The Iranian government has accused the U.S. and Britain of interfering in its election. Both countries have government-funded broadcasters that offer Persian-language reports. British Broadcasting Corp. BBC Persian launched television programming in January to supplement its longtime radio and Internet services. The TV service quickly developed a following in Iran. Tehran has accused the BBC of contributing to unrest in the country. Behrouz Afagh, head of the BBC World Service's Asia-Pacific division, said BBC Persian's transmissions have been jammed on and off for two to three days. Afagh said Thursday that the service had found a new satellite that would not be vulnerable to jamming from within Iran. He rejected accusations of meddling or bias. . . Voice of America VOA's Persian News Network offers eight hours of Persian programming daily. Like BBC Persian, it has been inundated with images and messages from Iranian civilians. Last week, it received 2,000 e-mails during a single hourlong talk show, VOA spokeswoman Joan Mower said. From June 10 to 15, its Internet news pages saw traffic increase more than 200%. . . http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-iran-broadcast-box19-2009jun19,0,3346998.story (via Bob Wilkner, DXLD) ** IRAN [non]. SPECIAL VOA NEWSCASTS KEEP IRANIANS INFORMED Currently broadcasting 9 hours of live TV daily Washington, D.C., June 22, 2009 – As videos, pictures, e-mails and calls from Iran poured into the Voice of America (VOA), the U.S. international broadcaster introduced a two-hour Special Report to keep its millions of viewers informed. "With the Iranian government crackdown on media operating inside the country, the Persian News Network (PNN) has become a lifeline to our audience, allowing them to know the latest events unfolding there," said Alex Belida, acting director of PNN, which reaches nearly 30 percent of Iranian adults every week by satellite television. Special Report is preempting regularly scheduled programs, from 6:00- 8:00 p.m. Tehran time, at least for this week. PNN also recently introduced a daily breakfast show, The Morning Show, from 7:00-8:00 a.m. Tehran time. The programs examine events in Iran in the aftermath of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's declared victory, the ensuing protests and the global reaction to developments in Iran. VOA's coverage is drawing an overwhelming reaction from inside Iran. Direct visits to PNN's Internet site http://www.voapnn.com from inside the country increased over 800 percent since early June. Citizens of Iran have sent thousands of videos and pictures - over 300 videos in one 24-hour period - depicting events inside the country. Videos are shown on PNN after careful review. You can see the latest videos from inside Iran by going to: http://www.VOANews.com/persian/_-electionprotests.cfm or by going directly to PNN's YouTube site: http://www.youtube.com/user/PNNVideo PNN's viewers have also sent thousands of e-mails, and posted comments on PNN blogs, Facebook, a dedicated YouTube channel, Twitter and other social media sites. Callers have phoned in to various PNN shows. VOA's PNN has the largest combined radio and television audience of all international broadcasters in Iran, with nearly one in three adults in Iran watching or listening to PNN broadcasts at least weekly. Research indicates 96 percent of Iranians daily watch TV, which is the preferred medium for getting news and information (VOA press release June 22 via DXLD) And the BBG`s version: BROADCASTING BOARD OF GOVERNORS BATTLES SIGNAL INTERFERENCE BY MULTIPLYING BROADCASTS OF PERSIAN PROGRAMS TO IRAN http://www.bbg.gov/pressroom/pressreleases-article.cfm?articleID=421&mode=general (via Yimber Gaviría, Colombia, and gh, DXLD) At least before the election, VOA Persian television was more popular than VOA Persian radio or Radio Farda. But now, with satellite television and the internet blocked, note that she is not complaining about interference to VOA radio. This might have to do with shortwave's resistance to interdiction, as explained in this previous post. And, so, has VOA been publicizing its shortwave frequencies as well as its proxy sites? Schedule and transmission information tends to be difficult to find on VOA websites. Can VOA add shortwave frequencies for Iran, or have too many shortwave transmitting sites been closed? (Kim Andrew Elliott, June 23, http://www.kimandrewelliott.com via DXLD) Kim`s site has been giving heavy coverage to the Iranian situation vis-à-vis media, q.v. (gh, DXLD) ** IRAN [non]. UPDATED RADIO FARDA SCHEDULE PERSIAN (FARDA) 0000 2400 1575 DHB 000 0030 0200 5860 IRA 315 0030 0130 7245 LAM 092 0030 0230 7295 BIB 105 0030 0230 7375 BIB 088 0030 0400 7280 WER 105 0100 0130 7490 IRA 299 0130 0200 5885 LAM 108 0130 0230 6045 LAM 092 0130 0830 15475 PHT 283 0200 0230 5885 IRA 315 0200 0530 5860 KWT 046 0200 0230 7470 IRA 299 0230 0300 5885 IRA 332 0230 0330 7370 BIB 088 0230 0430 15690 IRA 315 0300 0400 9480 BIB 088 0300 0400 9805 LAM 075 0300 0400 11700 IRA 316 0300 0400 13810 IRA 315 0300 1000 5885 KWT 046 0400 0500 9635 WER 105 0400 0500 11705 IRA 316 0400 0500 13810 IRA 310 0430 1400 15690 IRA 315 0500 0600 13810 IRA 299 0500 0600 15255 IRA 316 0530 0600 21715 UDO 296 0530 0930 7220 KWT 046 0600 0630 13810 IRA 310 0600 0800 21715 UDO 296 0600 0830 17545 UDO 300 0600 1000 17845 IRA 316 0600 1230 17630 PHT 315 0800 1000 17880 IRA 322 0830 0930 13825 IRA 332 0830 1030 17545 UDO 304 0830 1000 17590 IRA 299 0830 1130 15610 LAM 104 1000 1100 5885 KWT 046 1000 1030 17590 IRA 310 1000 1030 17880 IRA 316 1030 1200 17695 IRA 332 1030 1200 17880 IRA 322 1000 1400 7435 KWT 046 1100 1200 5885 KWT 046 1200 1600 17755 BIB 085 1330 1400 15330 IRA 316 1400 1500 11520 BIB 088 1400 1500 15330 BIB 085 1400 1500 17670 WER 105 1400 1500 5870 KWT 046 1500 1600 11520 BIB 105 1500 1600 15410 LAM 108 1530 1630 11560 KWT 046 1600 1700 7340 WER 105 1600 1700 7580 IRA 322 1600 1730 11520 BIB 105 1630 1730 15475 LAM 092 1700 1800 9760 WER 105 1700 2130 7580 IRA 322 1730 1800 9855 UDO 300 1800 1900 5830 KWT 046 1800 1900 9855 WER 105 1900 2130 5830 KWT 046 1900 2130 9505 LAM 104 (via Dragan Lekic, Serbia, June 22, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) More and more freqs of RFE/RL Radio Farda in Farsi and VOA in Farsi: Additional frequencies of RFE/RL Radio Farda in Farsi: 0130-0200 on 5885 LAM 100 kW / 104 deg 0130-0830 on 15475 PHT 250 kW / 283 deg 0200-0230 on 5885 IRA 250 kW / 315 deg 0230-0300 on 5885 IRA 250 kW / 332 deg 0300-0400 on 9480 BIB 100 kW / 088 deg, ex 0230-0400 0300-0400 on 9805 LAM 100 kW / 105 deg, ex 0300-0500 0300-0400 on 11700 IRA 250 kW / 316 deg, additional from June 23 0300-1200 on 5885 KWT 250 kW / 046 deg 0300-0400 on 13810 IRA 250 kW / 315 deg, additional from June 23 0400-0500 on 11705 IRA 250 kW / 316 deg, additional from June 23 0400-0500 on 13810 IRA 250 kW / 310 deg, additional from June 23 0500-0600 on 13810 IRA 250 kW / 299 deg, additional from June 23 0530-0930 on 7220 KWT 250 kW / 046 deg, ex 0500-0930 0600-0630 on 13810 IRA 250 kW / 310 deg, additional from June 23 0600-0830 on 17545 UDO 250 kW / 300 deg, additional from June 23 0600-1230 on 17630 PHT 250 kW / 315 deg, additional from June 23 0630-1000 on 17590 IRA 250 kW / 299 deg, additional from June 23 0800-1200 on 17880 IRA 250 kW / 322 deg 0830-0930 on 13820 IRA 250 kW / 332 deg 0830-1030 on 17545 UDO 250 kW / 304 deg, additional from June 23 0830-1130 on 15610 LAM 100 kW / 108 deg 1000-1030 on 17590 IRA 250 kW / 310 deg, additional from June 23 1030-1200 on 17695 IRA 250 kW / 332 deg, additional from June 23 1330-1400 on 15330 IRA 250 kW / 315 deg 1400-1500 on 5870 KWT 250 kW / 046 deg 1400-1500 on 15330 BIB 100 kW / 085 deg, ex 1400-1800 1530-1630 on 11560 KWT 250 kW / 046 deg, ex 1500-1630 1600-1700 on 7580 IRA 250 kW / 332 deg 1630-1730 on 15475 LAM 100 kW / 104 deg Additional transmissions and frequencies for VOA in Farsi: 0030-0130 on 7245 LAM 100 kW / 092 deg, additional from June 23 0030-0230 on 7375 BIB 100 kW / 088 deg, additional from June 23 0100-0130 on 7490 IRA 250 kW / 299 deg, additional from June 23 0130-0230 on 6045 LAM 100 kW / 092 deg, additional from June 23 0200-0230 on 7490 IRA 250 kW / 299 deg, additional from June 23 0230-0330 on 7370 BIB 100 kW / 088 deg, additional from June 23 Regards (Ivo Ivanov, Bulgaria, June 23, DX LISTENING DIGEST) BUT::: ** IRAN [non]. Additional frequencies of RFE/RL Radio Farda in Farsi: 0030-0130 on 7245 LAM 100 kW / 092 deg, addl from June 23, not VOA 0030-0230 on 7375 BIB 100 kW / 088 deg, addl from June 23, not VOA 0130-0200 on 5885 LAM 100 kW / 104 deg 0100-0130 on 7490 IRA 250 kW / 299 deg, addl from June 23, not VOA 0130-0230 on 6045 LAM 100 kW / 092 deg, addl from June 23, not VOA 0130-0830 on 15475 PHT 250 kW / 283 deg 0200-0230 on 5885 IRA 250 kW / 315 deg 0200-0230 on 7490 IRA 250 kW / 299 deg, addl from June 23, not VOA 0230-0330 on 7370 BIB 100 kW / 088 deg, addl from June 23, not VOA 0230-0300 on 5885 IRA 250 kW / 332 deg 0300-0400 on 9480 BIB 100 kW / 088 deg, ex 0230-0400 0300-0400 on 9805 LAM 100 kW / 105 deg, ex 0300-0500 0300-0400 on 11700 IRA 250 kW / 316 deg, additional from June 23 0300-1200 on 5885 KWT 250 kW / 046 deg 0300-0400 on 13810 IRA 250 kW / 315 deg, additional from June 23 0400-0500 on 11705 IRA 250 kW / 316 deg, additional from June 23 0400-0500 on 13810 IRA 250 kW / 310 deg, additional from June 23 0500-0600 on 13810 IRA 250 kW / 299 deg, additional from June 23 0530-0930 on 7220 KWT 250 kW / 046 deg, ex 0500-0930 0600-0630 on 13810 IRA 250 kW / 310 deg, additional from June 23 0600-0830 on 17545 UDO 250 kW / 300 deg, additional from June 23 0600-1230 on 17630 PHT 250 kW / 315 deg, additional from June 23 0630-1000 on 17590 IRA 250 kW / 299 deg, additional from June 23 0800-1200 on 17880 IRA 250 kW / 322 deg 0830-0930 on 13825 IRA 250 kW / 332 deg, additional from June 23 0830-1030 on 17545 UDO 250 kW / 304 deg, additional from June 23 0830-1130 on 15610 LAM 100 kW / 108 deg 1000-1030 on 17590 IRA 250 kW / 310 deg, additional from June 23 1030-1200 on 17695 IRA 250 kW / 332 deg, additional from June 23 1330-1400 on 15330 IRA 250 kW / 315 deg 1400-1500 on 5870 KWT 250 kW / 046 deg 1400-1500 on 15330 BIB 100 kW / 085 deg, ex 1400-1800 1530-1630 on 11560 KWT 250 kW / 046 deg, ex 1500-1630 1600-1700 on 7580 IRA 250 kW / 332 deg 1630-1730 on 15475 LAM 100 kW / 104 deg Radio Farda in Persian - full sked: 0030-0100 on 1575 5860 7280 7245 7295 7375 0100-0130 on 1575 5860 7280 7245 7295 7375 7490 0130-0230 on 1575 5860 5885 6045 7280 7295 7375 15475 0200-0230 on 1575 5860 5885 6045 7280 7295 7375 7490 15475 0230-0300 on 1575 5860 5885 7280 7370 11700 13810 15475 0300-0330 on 1575 5860 5885 7280 7370 9480 9805 11700 13810 15475 0330-0400 on 1575 5860 5885 7280 9480 9805 11700 13810 15690 15475 0400-0500 on 1575 5860 5885 9635 11705 13810 15690 15475 0500-0530 on 1575 5860 5885 13810 15255 15690 15475 0530-0600 on 1575 5885 7220 13810 15255 15690 15475 21715 0600-0630 on 1575 5885 7220 13810 15690 15475 17545 17630 17845 21715 0630-0800 on 1575 5885 7220 15690 15475 17545 17590 17630 17845 21715 0800-0830 on 1575 5885 7220 15690 15475 17545 17590 17630 17845 17880 21715 0830-0930 on 1575 5885 7220 13825 15610 17545 17590 15690 17630 17845 17880 21715 [also correcting 13825 not 13820] 0930-1000 on 1575 5885 15610 15690 17545 17590 17630 17845 17880 21715 1000-1030 on 1575 5885 7435 15610 15690 17545 17590 17630 17880 21715 1030-1130 on 1575 5885 7435 15610 15690 17630 17695 17880 21715 1130-1200 on 1575 5885 7435 15690 17630 17695 17880 21715 1200-1330 on 1575 7435 15690 177551330-1400 on 1575 7435 15330 15690 17755 1400-1500 on 1575 5870 11520 15330 17670 17755 1500-1530 on 1575 11520 15410 17755 1530-1600 on 1575 11520 11560 15410 17755 1600-1630 on 1575 7340 7580 11520 11560 1630-1700 on 1575 7340 7580 11520 15475 1700-1730 on 1575 7580 9760 11520 15475 1730-1800 on 1575 7580 9760 9855 1800-1900 on 1575 5830 7580 9855 1900-2130 on 1575 5830 7580 9505 2130-0030 on 1575 73 (Ivo Ivanov, Bulgaria, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** IRAN [non]. IRAN'S POLITICAL CRISIS FUELS EXPATRIATES' FEARS, HOPES By JOEL MILLMAN, TAMARA AUDI and PETER SANDERS At KIRN-AM [670], the Farsi-language radio station that serves the large community of Iranian expatriates in Los Ángeles, general manager John Paley said the phones "never stopped ringing" as callers flooded the lines to talk about the situation in Tehran. . . http://www.emailthis.clickability.com/et/emailThis?clickMap=viewThis&etMailToID=602828752 (via Dale Park, June 22, DXLD) non-subscriber link valid up to 7 days ** IRAN. HI-TECH HELPS IRANIAN MONITORING By Rory Cellan-Jones, Technology correspondent, BBC News As protests continue in Iran, details are emerging of the technology used to monitor its citizens. Iran is well known for filtering the net, but the government has moved to do the same for mobile phones. Nokia Siemens Network has confirmed it supplied Iran with the technology needed to monitor, control, and read communications. It told the BBC that it sold a product called the Monitoring Centre to Iran Telecom in the second half of 2008. . . Story from BBC NEWS: http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/technology/8112550.stm (via Terry Krueger, FL, DXLD) Further to that earlier post about Nokia-Siemens and the monitoring of Iranian protesters, I’ve just been reminded of something I had known, but had forgotten, namely that Siemens is the firm which runs the BBC’s own IT systems. You think I jest? Well, see the picture above. And here’s the BBC press statement announcing the deal (in October 2004): ``BBC appoints Siemens Business Services to provide Technology Framework Contract for next decade The BBC has announced today that it has completed the procurement for a 10-year Technology Framework Contract (TFC) with Siemens Business Services worth almost £2bn. As part of the landmark deal, Siemens Business Services has acquired BBC Technology Ltd, a commercial subsidiary of the BBC. Led by Tom White, Managing Director, Siemens Business Services, BBC Technology will be renamed Siemens Business Services Media Holdings Ltd. The BBC has received approval for the sale from the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport and approval from the BBC Governors for both the procurement and the sale.`` Now let’s ponder the implications of this for a moment. We seem to have a situation where the Beeb is asking Iranians to risk imprisonment - and possibly worse - by uploading photos and videos to its websites. And yet the company that runs the BBC’s own IT services is a partner in the joint venture that supplied the monitoring system the Iranian regime is using to detect those who are doing this perilous uploading. Stand by for corporate reassurances of a (ahem) “Chinese Wall” between the Beeb’s journalism and its IT department. (John Naughton`s online diary, http://memex.naughtons.org/archives/2009/06/22/8121 via Dan Say, BC, DXLD) ** IRAN [and non]. WEB PRIES LID OF IRANIAN CENSORSHIP By BRIAN STELTER and BRAD STONE Published: June 22, 2009 Shortly after Neda Agha-Soltan bled her life out on the Tehran pavement, the man whose 40-second video of her death has ricocheted around the world made a somber calculation in what has become the cat- and-mouse game of evading Iran’s censors. He knew that the government had been blocking Web sites like YouTube and Facebook. Trying to send the video there could have exposed him and his family. Instead, he e-mailed the two-megabyte video to a nearby friend, who quickly forwarded it to the Voice of America, the newspaper The Guardian in London and five online friends in Europe, with a message that read, “Please let the world know.” It was one of those friends, an Iranian expatriate in the Netherlands, who posted it on Facebook, weeping as he did so, he recalled. Copies of the video, as well as a shorter one shot by another witness, spread almost instantly to YouTube and were televised within hours by CNN. Despite a prolonged effort by Iran’s government to keep a media lid on the violent events unfolding on the streets, Ms. Agha-Soltan was transformed on the Web from a nameless victim into an icon of the Iranian protest movement. . . http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/23/world/middleeast/23censor.html?hp (via Rich Cuff, swprograms via DXLD) What is interesting in this analysis is that the Internet facilitates the word *getting out*, but doesn't facilitate the word *getting in* (Richard Cuff / Allentown, PA USA, ibid.) see also ISRAEL ** IRAN [and non]. RADIO ZAMANEH REPORTS DIFFICULTIES GETTING INFORMATION FROM IRAN Independent Amsterdam-based Farsi station Radio Zamaneh reports that its sources in Iran are finding it increasingly difficult to feed the station’s newsdesk with new information. “They’re afraid and dare not mention their name. So they prefer a pseudonym when they’re reporting what’s going on in Iran, or they remain anonymous,” a Zamaneh staff member told NOS TV. The station can be heard in Iran via satellite, on Hotbird 13 degrees east, 12476 MHz, Polarization horizontal, S/R 27500, or via the Internet. (Source: RNW News) June 16th, 2009 - 13:33 UTC by Andy Sennitt 5 comments so far 1 SRG June 16th, 2009 - 16:08 UTC It’s important to note that this “independent” station is funded by the Dutch Government through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. 2 ruud June 16th, 2009 - 18:33 UTC Being funded by the Dutch government gives so much more guarantees on un-biased information then any Iranian Ayatolla funded newsmedium. Dear SRG, you seem to be a supporter of the totalarian Iranian anti freedom president? Anyhow, other local Dutch newsmedia such as BNR Newsradio report that they cannot contact their correspondent in Iran, they feel that phone calls from Holland are being monitored. Could there be be a relation with R. Zamaneh, or are reporters from other countries also being monitored. Are there more independent stations for Iran active? 3 SRG June 16th, 2009 - 20:30 UTC Ruud, I believe the issue of funding is important and should be disclosed in such news stories. My broader point is that the West has to accept the democratic choice of Iranians. Many W. European governments weren’t happy with Pres. Bush staying for the second term in the office but they didn’t try to stoke unrest there. There are quite a few anti-Iranian stations. Some of them have a very murky funding that might point to the US/UK special services. Traditionally, EU hasn’t been a strong player in Iranian game. 4 ruud June 18th, 2009 - 13:57 UTC -Then democratic choice of the Iranians.- In a country where is no such thing as free press, to start with. 5 SRG June 18th, 2009 - 16:53 UTC Ruud, do a bit of online digging. You’ll discover that Iranian press scene is quite diverse and lively - at least, by the Middle East standards. But the traditional electronic media such as TV and radio are more controlled. Iran is an unusual place. Very much worth visiting when the passions settle down (Media Network blog via DXLD) ** IRELAND. EUROPirates: 3910, Reflections Europe, IRL, 2217- 14 Jun, English, canned religious propaganda; 45333; parallel to 6295, 12255. 12255, ditto, 2215-, 14 Jun, same content as via \\ 3910; 34443, adjacent utility QRM. 73, (Carlos Gonçalves, Portugal, June 24, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ISRAEL. ISRAELI RADIO SHOW CAPTIVATES IRANIANS By YAROSLAV TROFIMOV JERUSALEM — In his Friday sermon, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei reserved special wrath for "Zionist radio" that he said tried to drive a wedge between the Iranian people and the Islamic Republic. Such attention from Iran's supreme leader was music to the ears of Menashe Amir, a bespectacled Iranian-born Israeli who has been broadcasting in Persian from Jerusalem for the past five decades. "We're listened to in Iran and considered very credible and effective," Mr. Amir says with pride. "We're close to the Iranian people, we know what they want, and we have our sources that give us detailed news about everything that's going on in Iran." The spread of the Internet and satellite television in Iran over the past decade seemed to eclipse the prominence of Mr. Amir's old- fashioned shortwave broadcasts on Kol Israel, Israel's public radio. But now, as the Web in Iran is either blocked or dramatically slowed and satellite-TV channels are jammed by the government amid spreading unrest, Mr. Amir has suddenly become relevant again. . . http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124571901245939581.html (via Mike Cooper, WORLD OF RADIO 1466, DXLD) ** ISRAEL. Galei Zahal, 15785 & // 6973 both in at 0145z June 14. 6973 was stronger but 15785 not too bad. Aoki lists this as 5 kW ND (Jerry Lenamon, Waco Texas, Drake R8B, top fed multiwire sloper, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Just where are there Israeli Defence Forces beyond the several hundred km skip zone of 15785? If it were direxional to a certain secret base, the azimuth would not be published (gh, DXLD) ** ISRAEL. IBA HEAD GAVISH QUITS, THROWING REFORM INTO DOUBT http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1244371055317&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull "...Israel Broadcasting Authority Chairman Moshe Gavish announced his resignation on Tuesday, a week after Information and Diaspora Minister Yuli Edelstein, who is responsible for the implementation of the Broadcasting Authority Law, expressed the opinion that Gavish, a dollar-a-year man, would remain at his post. Gavish, who commissioned a survey that led to recommendations for reform which were largely accepted by the previous government, the institutions of the IBA and its employees' various unions, resigned because there has been so much foot-dragging with regard to moving the reforms from declarations on paper to action..." (via Doni Rosenzweig, June 10, WORLD OF RADIO 1466, DXLD) TWO SENIOR IBA OFFICIALS RESIGN ALONGSIDE ITS CHAIRMAN Israel Broadcasting Authority executives yesterday mutinied against planned reforms at the governmental agency, with two senior officials announcing they would follow the lead of outgoing chairman Moshe Gavish and tender their resignations. IBA Deputy Chairman Dorit Inbar, who had been slated to take over from Gavish, announced she would instead be stepping down because of her doubts over how reforms are being carried out. For years, the IBA has been accused of chronic spending, inefficiency and patronage. It has run up huge debts, and repeated attempts at reform have failed. The IBA currently has 1,800 employees, of whom 850 are expected to laid off as part of the reform program. About 600 of those, aged 55 to 62, will be offered early retirement. The remaining 250 will be fired. Read the full story on Haaretz.com http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1093229.html (June 18, 2009 12:04 UT by Andy Sennitt, Media Network blog via WORLD OF RADIO 1466, DXLD) ** ISRAEL. IBA TO PAY MUSIC ROYALTIES IN REAL TIME http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1243872318657&pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull "...With the help of advanced technology, the IBA will now be able to monitor what was played when and what is owing to whom in a much faster and more efficient manner, and will therefore be able to send reports to ACUM with far less delay than in the past. The new monitoring system will facilitate the payment of royalties in real time, namely in 30 to 60 days..." (via Doni Rosenzweig, June 10, DXLD) Er, uh, ``real time``??? They don`t know what that means. O yeah, it`s the Israeli bureaucracy! (gh, DXLD) ** ITALY. Radio Maria on 26 MHz is just about audible in Hull at 1716 UT. First time I've heard it this year. A few Italian amateur stations are also audible in the 28.5 MHz range (Russ Cummings, UK, June 20, AOR 7030+, 60ft. long wire, BDXC-UK yg via DXLD) Presumably means analog on 26000 kHz (gh, DXLD) ** ITALY. Radio Broadcast Italia is testing from Rome on 1485 kHz; they own a 1 kW transmitter but when I heard them a few days ago their power was 500 W into a 21 meters vertical antenna; they are working on a 35 meters lattice antenna. Their site is http://www.broadcastitalia.it/ mainly dedicated to historic recordings of early Italian free FM radios; there is a link to streaming audio, if you want to check whether you're listening to the station. E-mail is radio@broadcastitalia.it I received a quick reply from Stefano Ricciardetto, who attached a PDF QSL and promised a "real" card via snail-mail. Challenger Radio is testing on 1566 kHz from Villa Estense, in the Padova (Padua in English) province (north-eastern Italy). They are transmitting with 500 W power into a makeshift wire antenna. Modulation was rather low, but now it's better. Phone number is +39- 0429-660118. E-mail: challenger @ challenger.it At present they are relaying a religious program. Their site is http://www.challenger.it/realvideo/eng_live_uronair.html It seems they are selling satellite time (and thus, possibly, radio airtime) to aspiring broadcasters. They are announcing DRM tests too, and by phone I was told that DRM is coming in the near future. (Roberto Scaglione www.bclnews.it via Fabrizio Magrone, mwc 6 June via IRCA DX Monitor June 20 via WORLD OF RADIO 1466, DXLD) Challenger Radio 1566 kHz informations 23 June 2009 Hi! Informations about the brand new private "pirate" Challenger Radio 1566 kHz. Station operating from Villa Estense in Padova (Veneto) area managed by Challenger the Factory connected to SANTEC Italy based in Villa Estense, Geogr. Coord. : 45 10' 00" North, 11 40' 00" East. http://www.radio-santec.com so they relay the SKY TV programs in Italian & German produced by SANTEC. Power is 800 watts testing, may be soon in DRM mode AM. It is 24 hours service, so another channel AM gone, almost in north Italy. 1566, 20/6 2310, NUOVA PIRATA ITALIANA, R. Challenger - Villa Estense (PADOVA) challenger @ challenger.it IT predica buono, reported by Roberto Pavanello. Postal address: VIA LEGNARO 6, IT-35040 VILLA ESTENSE (PD) SKY SAT channel 922 SANTEC relay 24 hours. Report requested only to email : challenger @ challenger.it WEB : http://www.challenger.it (Dario Monferini, playdx (info also from Roberto Scaglione bclnews), June 23, WORLD OF RADIO 1466, DX LISTENING DIGEST) I heard a new Italian station on 1566 kHz on June 22, 2009 at 1628 UT. ID: "Challenger Radio" including Morse message: "CHRISTUS". Religious programming in Italian. Weak-to-Fair signal was later covered by a Greek pirate station. I was observing another very weak signal in the background with a speech sounding like German (too poor to be sure). Because of identical fade-ins and fade-outs it seemed to be in connection with the signal of Challenger Radio (Karel Honzik, MWDX yg via WORLD OF RADIO 1466, DXLD) Just received this from Patrick Robic, Austria: Challenger Radio is transmitting most of the time Italian programmes from "Onda Cosmica". These are Italian language programmes from Radio Santec in Wuerzburg, Germany. Most of the time they announce a contact address in Milano, but I also heard the announce of the Wuerzburg- address. I´m quite sure that the German in the background, which I also heard on 1566 kHz, originates from an originally German programme with Italian voice over (Ydun Ritz, Denmark, ibid.) Yes, it's a live translation (Roberto Scaglione, ibid.) Thus QRMing itself. They don`t know that when you do a voice over, you may include a few sex of the original to establish it, then fade out the original completely (gh, DXLD) ** ITALY. THE OTHER `AXIS SALLY` A radio-related story of 64 years ago --- by Stefano Valianti, published in 'Southern European Report' in British DX Club's 'Communication', June 2009, http://www.bdxc.org.uk The following article was published in the Mediterranean edition of The Stars and Stripes, the American Forces daily, on Tuesday, June 5, 1945, 40 days after the end of the war in Italy. According to Wikipedia, Axis Sally "was a female radio personality during World War II, best known for her propaganda broadcasts for Nazi Germany”. She was born Mildred Elizabeth Sisk in Portland, Maine, and took the name Mildred Gillars. The same source states that “it is important to note, however, that Gillars was not the only Axis radio announcer known as "Sally". Rita Zucca, an announcer on the "Jerry's Front" program broadcast from Italy, called herself "Sally". Zucca's broadcasts are sometimes inaccurately attributed to Gillars”. THE TRAIL OF ‘AXIS SALLY’ GROWS HOT IN NORTH ITALY By June Frank Milan, 4 June – Somewhere in northern Italy, possibly in Milan, perhaps next door at this moment, hides America’s most notorious radio traitor. She is comparatively unknown in the U.S., but every GI knows her and is vitally interested in her capture. She is “Axis Sally”. Her real name is Rita Zucca, daughter of Broadway’s famous restaurateur. I have hunted “Axis Sally” day and night for ten days from Switzerland though all of northern Italy. I’ve found her friends and her relatives, but I haven’t found Sally yet. With her six-month-old illegitimate baby, she is being protected by clever Nazi spies who are hiding somewhere near here. She has covered her tracks thoroughly, even returning to her former home to recover a dentist’s bill which might have betrayed her. She used to sign off her programs (ever since the North African invasion) with “Goodnight boys, and a sweet kiss from Sally.” The GIs spent hours discussing what she looked like. Now they can now. She’s cross-eyed, bowlegged, sallow- skinned and ugly. Sally, 33, came to Italy when she was 16 to study opera in Florence. She visited her parents in 1939. That was the last time they saw or knew of her, except for one letter two years ago. Failing as a singer, she got a job with Mussolini’s Radio Rome shortwave system, broadcasting to the U.S. When American troops entered North Africa she began propaganda broadcasts, playing modern records interjected with short, pungent news intelligence. One of the things I’m most interested in finding out when I see her is how her intelligence worked – because it was superb. When troops were fighting the sanguinary battle of the Anzio beachhead, she addressed units by names and numbers, welcoming them back after leave, telling them when they were going to the front lines. At one time her broadcasts so disturbed morale that Generals Dwight D. Eisenhower and Mark W. Clark were seriously concerned. When the Germans retreated in Italy, Sally moved back. She was originally in Rome, where she had a sweetheart named Siro. She named her illegitimate son Siro, although it wasn’t Siro’s son, but the son of a tall, dark, handsome German sergeant, Helmar Vowerd, who has vanished and is probably a prisoner. From Rome she went to Florence. By then the Germans had taken over Italian broadcasting. Her new boss was the clever, vicious Charles Godel, chief of Nazi anti-American propaganda, who is still at large and perhaps hiding Sally. When Florence was taken, Sally fled to Milan. Broadcasting facilities were set up in tiny, picturesque Finomornasco* She lived there for eight months during which period she bore her illegitimate son. (to be concluded next time) Note by Stefano Valienti: * actually spelt Fino Mornasco, in the Como province, this is not distant from Busto Arsizio where the Italian shortwave transmitters were finally placed, some time between late 1943 and early 1944. In 1946 and 1947 issues of Radiocorriere, we find Busto Arsizio I on 9630 kHz and Busto Arsizio II on 11810 kHz mentioned as relaying the Northern Network of newly born RAI radio home service. However, this is first time I’ve heard of Fino Mornasco as a shortwave transmitting site. Photos: Axis Sally, from: http://www.axissally.net and the Hollywood version - Alexandra Maria Lara stars as Axis Sally in Buena Vista Pictures' “Miracle at St. Anna” (2008) http://www.aceshowbiz.com (June BDXC-UK Communication via DXLD) ** JAMAICA. 50 YEARS OF JAMAICAN BROADCASTING COMPANY Not shortwave, but surely mediumwave DX'ers and Caribbean travelers have heard JBC. Interesting piece about the first Jamaican voices heard on the air in Jamaica: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/columns/html/20090620T210000-0500_153823_OBS_A_FI_WE__ANO_FI_DEM__.asp (David Goren, June 21, Swprograms mailing list via DXLD) ** JAPAN. 6055, R Nikkei, China, 1241, May 28, frequently plays synthesized classical music shortly before sign-off, Isao Tomita? At 1244 cut it off for Japanese ann and/or commercials, poor signal as too much summer daylight on path now, // 9595 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DSWCI DX Window June 10 via DXLD) I did not report R. Nikkei as being in China! The editor must have inserted this typo for Chiba (gh, DXLD) R. Nikkei, JOZ, 3925, SSB ham QRM, with piano music // 6055, June 24 at 1148. At this late hour could not hear any other broadcasters on 120, 105, 90 or 75 m (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** KOREA NORTH [and non]. Re previous unID: 11710, NORTH KOREA / TAIWAN. Voice of Korea / Radio Taiwan International, 1218–1231, 6/17/09 in Korean / Mandarin. Two men, one talking very quickly and the other quite a bit more slowly, into typical DPRK operatic music. Under that a woman speaking in Mandarin. The more dominant station was // 11735 V. of Korea. I’ve been hearing this clash for some weeks and this is the first time conditions were good enough to hear the separate languages (Mark Taylor, Madison, WI, R-75, Winradio g313e, Eton E1, Satellit 800, Kaito 1103; 2 Flextennas, EWE, attic mounted Flextenna, NASWA Flashsheet via DXLD) VOK frequently has transmitter problems on 11735, such as June 11 at 1350 when the Chinese service frequency was warbling with rumble and whine, QRMing itself; and with BFO seemed centered closer to 11734.6. 11710 in English by comparison was fine; and VOK`s technical prowess suffered by comparison to adjacent VOA in Korean, quite clear on 11740 (Glenn Hauser, OK, WORLD OF RADIO 1465, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Voice of Korea fair to good at 2100 on 15245 kHz, also on 13760, albeit with co channel interference. Best Regards (Chris Lewis, England, June 13, DX LISTENING DIGEST) North Korea heard well at 2105 UT again on 6/17 on 15245 in English (Chris Lewis, England, June 18, DX LISTENING DIGEST) see also TIPS FOR RATIONAL LIVING abottom ** KOREA NORTH [and non]. 3912, Korea South, Voice of the People (presumed), Kyonggi-do. Korean 0942-1008 June 10, male talks mentioning “Pyongyang”, slow instrumental music as a bridge to some eloquent female talks. From 0955 strange noise sounding like a strong wind turning to a near annoyed listening, until QRM 34333. 3912, Korea South, Voice of the People, Kyonggi-do Korean. June 15, Korean, 0930-1001 male and female talks mentioned “Pyongyang”, sometimes eloquent, at 0932, 0936 and 0949 instrumental music. Strange noise sounding like “strong wind” continues like listening in June 10, 22422. 3985, Korea South, Echo of Hope (tentative), Hwaseong. June 15 1002- 1013 male and female talks. Degrading, SSB QRM, same kind of noise heard on 3912, 22422 (Lúcio Otávio Bobrowiec, Embu SP Brasil - Sony ICF SW40 - dipole 18m, 32m, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** KOREA NORTH [and non]. 6120, Shiokaze/Sea Breeze, ex: 5910, *1400- 1430*, June 9. In Korean reading long list of names with piano background music (very monotonous); frequent IDs. This occasional switching back and forth between 5910 and 6120 seems to work well for them and keeps ahead of the N. Korean jamming. Fortunately N. Korea is not as sophisticated a jammer as the PRC (Ron Howard, Asilomar Beach, CA, Etón E1, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1464, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 6120, Shiokaze/Sea Breeze via Yamata, 1410-1430*, June 10 (Wed.). In English with specific data on abductees. Pulsating noise/jamming. Checked Echo of Hope (VOH) on 6003 and found them completely free of jamming at 1423. After Shiokaze went off-the-air at 1430 the jamming stopped and started up on 6003. This would tend to confirm my recent speculation that N. Korea is short of jammers for the 49m band. Update – June 11 at 1416 both Shiokaze (in Japanese) and Echo of Hope (in Korean) were both jammed with the pulsating noise at the same time. 6120, Shiokaze/Sea Breeze via Yamata, 1403, June 12. For a long time now they have stayed with English on Friday. Heard with “Today’s News Flash”; items about N. Korea; fair with no jamming. What is happening with their jamming? 1402 on June 13 heard strong jamming (pulsating noise) on 5910, which is the former frequency for Shiokaze (*1400-1430*), but Shiokaze recently moved to 6120 and today heard them with fair to good reception in Korean, completely free of any jamming. This is strange, as I believe there recently was jamming on 6120. 6003, Echo of Hope, at 1403, June 13. N. Korea used a different type of jamming (strong non-stop blanket of noise, non-pulsating) against EOH. With the former jamming by pulsating noise I could make out most of the EOH programming and could tell they were in Korean. Today the blanket of noise was so effective I could not tell anything about the language used. 5910, Shiokaze/Sea Breeze, ex: 6120, *1400-1405, June 23. In Japanese; “JSR Shiokaze” ID. fair-good with no jamming. Yet another switch in frequency to outpace the N. Korean jamming. Was only on 6120 for about 2 weeks (Ron Howard, Asilomar Beach, CA, Etón E1, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1466, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** KOREA NORTH [and non]. 7460 with big blob of noise, not the Cuban kind, atop barely discernible talk, June 15 at 1108; listened harder around 1130 and sounded like Korean underneath. Then looked up in Aoki, the answer: Juche jamming against R. Free North Korea, 11-12, 100 kW, 60 degrees via Tashkent, UZBEKISTAN (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** KOREA SOUTH. 6215, spy station? 1505-1513*, June 10; woman reading series of numbers in Korean; weak. Per Sei-ichi Hasegawa this is a “random number station of S. Korea” (Ron Howard, Asilomar Beach, CA, Etón E1, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** KURDISTAN [non non?]. 3930, 0152 06/06, R. Voice of Kurdistan, em Kurdistan, música árabe, OM Talk, às 0158 UT forte QRM não identificado, 0200 um cântico do [sic] Alcorão, após OM curta fala e o que parece ser um hino, sinal melhora, mas a QRM é forte, 22332 (Jorge Freitas, SWL1023B, Feira de Santana Bahia - Brasil, Degen 1103, Antena Dipolo de 16 metros e balum 4:1 em toroide Direção Leste/Oeste, HCDX via DXLD) ** KURDISTAN [non]. 11530 with unholy mix of Kurdish(?) talk and Christian music, both weak, June 15 at 0439. It`s the collision of Denge Mezopotamya via Ukraine, and WYFR in Portuguese, both of which start 11530 at 0400 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Also gets nasty parasitic spur from WEWN 11520 on 11530 (gh) ** KUWAIT. U S A (non) Summer A-09 for IBB via KWT 250 kW: 1800-2130 on 5830 / 046 deg FAR Farsi 0200-0530 on 5860 / 058 deg FAR Farsi 1400-1500 on 5870 / 046 deg FAR Farsi, new additional freq. 0300-1200 on 5885 / 046 deg FAR Farsi, new additional freq. 0500-0930 on 7220 / 046 deg FAR Farsi, new additional freq. 0100-0200 on 7430 / 094 deg VOA English 1000-1400 on 7435 / 046 deg FAR Farsi 0000-0100 on 7460 / 086 deg AAP Urdu 2200-2300 on 7460 / 058 deg VOA English 2300-2400 on 7500 / 070 deg RFA Tibetan 0030-0100 on 7555 / 070 deg ASH Pashto 1600-1700 on 7555 / 054 deg RFE Uzbek 1830-2030 on 7555 / 070 deg ASH Pashto/Dari 2030-0030 on 7555 / 070 deg VOA English 1200-1230 on 9310 / 070 deg DEE Pashto 1700-1800 on 9310 / 078 deg DEE Pashto 1430-1830 on 9335 / 070 deg ASH Pashto/Dari/Pashto/Dari 0100-0300 on 9365 / 070 deg RFA Tibetan 0300-0400 on 9555 / 046 deg RFE Turkmen 0000-0100 on 11535 / 078 deg DEE Pashto 1230-1330 on 11550 / 070 deg AFG Pashto 1330-1430 on 11550 / 070 deg AFG Dari 1500-1600 on 11550 / 070 deg RFA Tibetan 1500-1630 on 11560 / 046 deg FAR Farsi, new additional freq. 1630-1830 on 11565 / 070 deg ASH Pashto/Dari 1630-1830 on 11580 / 070 deg ASH Pashto/Dari 1200-1400 on 11590 / 070 deg RFA Tibetan 1400-1500 on 11975 / 078 deg RFA Tibetan 0000-0230 on 12015 / 078 deg DEE Pashto 0230-0330 on 12140 / 070 deg AFG Pashto 1130-1430 on 15090 / 070 deg AFG Dari/Pashto/Dari 1430-1630 on 15090 / 070 deg ASH Pashto/Dari 0330-0530 on 15680 / 070 deg AFG Dari/Pashto 0730-0930 on 15680 / 070 deg AFG Dari/Pashto 0230-0430 on 15690 / 070 deg AFG Pashto/Dari 0430-0830 on 17670 / 070 deg AFG Pashto/Dari/Pashto/Dari 1000-1200 on 17750 / 078 deg RFA Tibetan 0600-0700 on 17780 / 070 deg RFA Tibetan 1000-1100 on 21530 / 070 deg RFA Tibetan AAP=Aap Ki Dunyaa AFG=Radio Free Afghanistan ASH=Radio Ashna DEE=Deewa Radio RFA=Radio Free Asia RFE=Radio Liberty FAR=Radio Farda VOA=Voice of America (DX Mix News, Bulgaria, 22 June via DXLD) ** LAOS. 4412.59v, Lao National Radio via Sam Neua (Houa Phan Province, in Northeast Laos), 1211-1233*, June 13. Clearly // 6130; seemed to be news in Laotian; brief sign-off announcement and choral National Anthem (Pheng Xat Lao); 6130 slightly better reception and continued on after 1233 with S.E. Asian music. Noted 1234* on June 12 (Ron Howard, Asilomar Beach, CA, Etón E1, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** LITHUANIA. Radio Free Asia via Sitkunai QSL --- RADIO FREE ASIA via SITKUNAI, 9490. Full-data, except transmitter site which only has the “Other” box checked, Dutar Uyghur stringed instrument card in 4 days for an e-mail to AJ Janitschek at QSL @ rfa.org (Wendel Craighead, Prairie Village, Kansas, USA, June 12, Cumbredx mailing list via DXLD) See also IRAN [non] ** LUXEMBOURG. http://forum.mysnip.de/read.php?8773,451822,page=50 Postings from 11. Juni 2009 12:09 onwards: Junglinster on 6095 now does not start before 1400 (if "16:00" refers to CET). It is understood that during daytime DRM on 1440 is now run at 30 kW only as a cost saving measure. 5990 has been switched off because soon no tubes will be available for the old transmitters anymore. In general the shortwave transmitters as well as 1440 can be expected to stay on air as long as the missionaries pay for airtime (CRI must be added here I think). If they go away and no new customers can be found it will be the end. And RTL has withdrawn from the DRM consortium. (Disclaimer: I'm just quoting, so don't blame me if anything of this is not correct.) (Kai Ludwig, Germany, June 14, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MADAGASCAR. 6134.91, RTVM (presumed), 1406-1427, June 12. Thanks to a tip from Dan Sheedy (So. Calif.), I heard them in French; sounded like the news followed by Hi-Li music; started out fair but faded down to very poor. Was unable to heard the parallel 7105 that Dan has been hearing. For me PBS Nei Menggu on 7105 is just too strong to catch anything under them. Dan noted a sign-off at 1446 on June 7 (Ron Howard, Asilomar Beach, CA, Etón E1, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MALAYSIA. 5964.92, Klasik Nasional, 1106-1125 Jun 8. News in progress with YL; 1110 Klasik Nasional jingle, followed by some sort of Koran program consisting of Koran verses alternating with flute music and commentaries by man and woman announcers; tuned out at 1125. Fair at best (John Wilkins, Wheat Ridge, Colorado. Drake R-8, 100-foot RW, Cumbredx mailing list via DXLD) 5964.90v, Klasik Nasional FM via RTM, 1353-1359, June 13. In vernacular; YL DJ with pop songs (Tom Jones song, etc.); fair; covered by strong CRI sign-on. 5964.90v, “Radio Malaysia Klasik Nasional” via RTM, 1313-1346, June 15. Noted a series of their new IDs: “Radio Malaysia Klasik Nasional”. Formerly was just “Klasik Nasional”. Their singing jingle is still the usual “Klasik Nasional”, but maybe that will also eventually be updated. In vernacular; DJ with pop songs; fair. Dan Sheedy (So. Calif.) first heard these new IDs on June 11 and 12, being used on just "Radio Malaysia-Traxx FM” (7295) and “Radio Malaysia-Wai FM” (7270) and he noted they were not yet used on Asyik FM nor Klasik Nasional, so seems they are implementing the new IDs in stages. Certainly worth more monitoring (Ron Howard, Asilomar Beach, CA, Etón E1, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MALAYSIA. 6049.60v, R. Suara Islam, 1402-1415, June 16. In vernacular; reciting from the Qur’an; looking for possible new ID, but just the usual: “Radio Suara Islam FM” and “Radio Suara Islam, Kuala Lumpur”; they had transmitter problems today, as pre-1400 (Asyik FM time slot) had open carrier with no audio, while the Suara Islam audio was not up to their usual good standards (Ron Howard, Asilomar Beach, CA, Etón E1, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MALAYSIA. 11884.67v, Voice of Malaysia (Suara Malaysia) via RTM (presumed), 1221-1229*, June 9. In Chinese; pop music; strong signal, but very distorted audio. 11884.70v, Voice of Malaysia (Suara Malaysia) via RTM, 1221-1232*, June 14. In Chinese; // 15295 (1230*); both good signals and both terrible audios; 1229 English ID (“This is the Voice of Malaysia”). After VOM audio ended at BoH on 11884.70, heard another audio feed from RTM with no distortion; unable to ID it; suddenly off at 1232. 11884.68v, 1230-1237*, June 19. Heard another RTM oddity! The distorted audio of Voice of Malaysia (Suara Malaysia), in Chinese, ended at 1230. After that clearly heard the non-distorted audio feeds of both Asyik FM (// 6049.60v) and R. Malaysia Klasik Nasional (// 5964.90v). Both equal strength. To date I have not heard a new ID for Asyik FM (Ron Howard, Asilomar Beach, CA, Etón E1, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MAURITANIA. While neither 7245 nor 4845 are audible (in fact they're both silent for a number of days), MW operation carries on: 783, R. Mauritanie, Nouakchott, observed 2153-2212, 19 Jun, Arabic, chanting, some announcements at 2200 followed by the same menu afterwards; 33441, QRM de Spain. 73, (Carlos Gonçalves, Portugal, June 24, DX LISTENING DIGEST) They are finally on, at least on 60 m, and probably even on Tues. evening, but I admit I didn't check that yesterday: 4845, R. Mauritanie, Nouakchott, 1837- 24 Jun, Vernacular, talks; 44333, CODAR QRM. Now, whether they were active on 7245 today, I simply don't know; it is typical of them to be active on just one HF outlet whenever something is wrong, and when they do, then it's 4845 that is audible, not 7245. It is, nevertheless, presumed that Nouakchott uses the very same transmitter for both frequencies (Carlos Gonçalves, Portugal, WORLD OF RADIO 1466, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MEXICO. XERTA, 4800, June 24 at 1146 with music, YL ID ``desde México . . . Radio Transcontinental``; CODAR and summer noise overtaking (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MEXICO. 6104.704, XEQM, Mérida at 0211-0350 UT 7 June. Thanks Gerry Bishop, Niceville, FL for the tip. Presume the one with soccer, a few commercial breaks, including one for a fast food restaurant in Spanglish (which was also heard by Gerry Bishop, while we were corresponding online). Very good signal (using LSB to escape the 6105 kHz mess). Checked the next morning at 1310 UT, and I can confirm that XEQM was not active at this time. Also confirmed not heard by my DXer and Gulla-speaking friend Luscious Jackson in Frogmore, SC on the mobile (Terry L Krueger-FL-USA, DXplorer June 7 via BC-DX June 13 via WORLD OF RADIO 1466, DXLD) ? 6104.43, Mérida, XEQM, 1058 transmitter on, drift to .65 then .52 music and YL; 1110 transmitter off. 1120 sudden on with YL OM music, strong signal 9 June. Thanks John Herkimer. Being received well all over Florida. Pompano Beach, Cedar Key, Palm Beach, Clewiston, Coral Springs and Embu SP Brasil. 6104.74, Mérida, XEQM, 1110: later 1350 received well with Mexican female vocal 10, 11 June [Wilkner + Cedar Key] Pompano Beach, Cedar Key, Clewiston, and Embu SP Brasil. [Florida/Brasil DX] 73s (Bob Wilkner, Pompano Beach, Florida US, June 11, NRD 535D ~ Drake R8, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 6104.66, XEQM/Radio Candela, 0757-0820+ June 18. Noted a very good signal here with plenty of ID's as "Candela". At 0758 promos and canned ads until the hour. On the hour, seems a couple of minutes of live comments, possibly news. Then typical Mexicana type music with canned ID during and between tunes. Could not catch entire ID phrase but "Candela" was very clear by a female. Signal was good (Chuck Bolland, Clewiston Florida, Watkins Johnson HF1000, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 6104.85, presumed XEQM-Candela FM Mérida, 0236-0303, June 20, Spanish. M announcer w/ talk between pop mx & ballads; ad/promo strings; tentative ID ancment at 0300 tho too much slop from listed Bulgaria s/on on 6100 & listed RFE-RL s/on on 6105; weak-poor (Scott R. Barbour Jr. Intervale, N.H. USA, NRD-545, RX-350D, MLB1, 200' Beverages, 60m dipole, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 6104.77, Mérida, XEQM 0930 to 1340 strong signal with good R8 synchro locks. 18, 20, 21 June. Tnx John Herkimer [Wilkner et. al.] (Bob Wilkner, Pompano Beach, Florida US, NRD 535D ~ Drake R8, June 22, DX LISTENING DIGEST) XEQM, Mérida, presumed, on 6105 with het as befits a station always reported 100-300 Hz on the lo side, but I did not try to measure it, June 24 at 0618, upbeat music with live DJ, sometimes talking over, timechex. Did not get ID other than slogan ``la más grande``. Some fading, and mostly music until 0635. The het probably came from BBC Ascension in French, 27 degrees at 0600-0630 only (Glenn Hauser, OK, WORLD OF RADIO 1466, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MEXICO. TRABAJADORES DE RADIO EDUCACIÓN DENUNCIAN VIOLACIONES A LA PROGRAMACIÓN Lunes, 22 de Junio de 2009 10:11 Por: Agencia Púlsar Los comunicadores de la Radio Educación de México denunciaron que la emisora se convirtió en una repetidora temporal del Instituto Mexicano de la Radio (IMER) y que por lo tanto se está vulnerando la programación. Sindicalistas de la radio aseguraron que los directivos adoptaron medidas que transgreden la carta programática del medio. Radio Educación es un órgano desconcentrado del Ministerio de Educación Pública y es coordinado por el Consejo Nacional para la Cultura y las Artes. Su trabajo consiste en fomentar y difundir las expresiones educativas, culturales y artísticas de México. Los denunciantes afirmaron que Radio Educación se convirtió en una repetidora de las producciones radiofónicas del IMER durante el período más álgido de la epidemia del virus AH1N1. Los comunicadores afirmaron que la directora de la emisora, Virginia Bello Méndez, expresó que la decisión se tomó porque "no había confianza" en los trabajadores. Además, los trabajadores de la radio manifestaron su desacuerdo con la decisión asumida por Bello Méndez durante la transmisión del programa "Defensor del radioescucha". Allí señalaron que la funcionaria no está vinculada con los medios de comunicación. La clasificadora musical de la emisora, Lourdes Garzón, afirmó que alguien que no conoce la radio no tiene modo de conducir una "institución cultural" tan importante como Radio Educación. Por su parte, la locutora María Eugenia Pulido expresó que la emisora perdió los espacios de cobertura de la cultura en México. Fuente: Laneta http://www.laneta.apc.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=410:trabajadores-de-radio-educacion-denuncian-violaciones-a-la-programacion&catid=64:noticias (via Yimber Gaviría, Colombia, June 22, DXLD) Whew, the manager turned over to IMER the programming of R. Educación, which altho also government-sponsored, is supposed to be independent of IMER; due to the flu scare, saying she did not have confidence in her own staff, leading to their lack of confidence in her. Haven`t paid much attention to 6185 lately, but when clear late at night seems to be the usual eclectic music mix (Glenn Hauser, OK, June 22, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MEXICO. Very strong signals from about 1800 to 2000 CT [2300-0100 UT]. Not so strong in early afternoon. June 9: XHTAU-2 Tampico (supered two-line text ID 1209 [sic; CDT??]) XHFM-2 Veracruz (tele ver on blue square upper right) XHLGT-2 Leon GTO (cdc) XEWO-2 Guadalajara (TVT) XHG-4 Guadalajara (GDL) XEDK-5 Guadalajara (Galavisión relayer with promos for sister station TVT) XHURT-5 Cerro Burro MICH (supered three-line text upper right) XEFB-2 Monterrey (Teleactiva) XHI-2 or XHQ-2 (Grupo Pacífico logo upper right) XHWX-4 Monterrey (local ads) XHHSS-4 Hermosillo SON (local ads) XHCGA-6 Aguascalientes (distinctive green/yellow/red blocks logo upper left and on promo) NEW XHLGG-6 León GTO (Multimedios; There is another channel 6 Multimedios station in Tampico, but DX at this time was from western Mexico.) NEW (Danny Oglethorpe, Shreveport, LA, WTFDA via DXLD) This is just a sample; he has posted many other such logs, and keeps up with logo changes, ID hints on his website (Glenn Hauser, DXLD) Thanks to Danny Oglethorpe I now have a new Mexican State! I had a station yesterday with a TVT logo in the upper right and Danny confirms from the photo that it's them. TVT stands for Televisión Tapatía. My statistics are a few years behind in being updated (sorry Fred!) but this is Mexican state #16. I'd guess double-hop at 1555 mi (Jeff Kadet, Macomb, IL http://www.oldtvguides.com/DXPhotos/ WTFDA via DXLD) There was channel 4 in and out for a couple of hours today. XHHSS-4 Hermosillo, running their usual Azteca-13 programming, was mixed with the unID at times and put up a text ID at 1124 CT. This could be Jeff Kadet's unID from Sunday. Although the logo is not quite the same as the one on XELN-4 Torreón COAH's website, I think it is XELN. The four is identical, but the red on the right side of the four goes all the way to the bottom and across the bottom. The blue on the left matches. Something is written in the red bar across the bottom. The temp was under that and the time was correct and listed under the temp. June 10 Central Time [US stations mixed in deleted here --- gh] XEWO-2 (TVT) XHG-4 (GDL) XHCGA-6 Aguascalientes (logo) XEFB-2 Monterrey (Teleactiva) XHGV-4 Las Lajas (rtv) XEPM-2 Cd Juárez (tucanal) XHHSS-4 Hermosillo SON (supered text ID upper right 1124) XHCSO-6 Cd Obregón SON (Azteca Trece with supered text ID 1135) unID-4 with logo upper left XHDI-5 Durango (supered text ID upper left 1217, 1247, 1317) XHI-2 or XHQ-2 Grupo Pacífico logo upper right (Danny Oglethorpe, Shreveport, LA, June 10, WTFDA via DXLD) ** MEXICO. UNID SS channel 2: At 12:35 CDT [1735 UT] on channel 2 a strong signal from "tu canal" with the following in the upper right hand corner: 35 (temp) tu canal (tu in red) 11:35 (must be Mountain Time or Central Standard) (Dave Pomeroy, Topeka, Kansas, June 22, WTFDA via DXLD) Dave, "Tu Canal" is XEPM Juárez. Weather in nearby El Paso shows 95F, which is equivalent to 35C, so that checks out as well. Not sure about the time (Bryce Foster - KG6VSW, Whittier, CA, ibid.) ** MEXICO. Now that KFOR OKC is gone from channel 4, and other lowband TV nearby too, except for nightlighting KOCO-5, most TV on channels 2- 4 and 6 is DX! And lots of sporadic E lately. The antenna aimed toward OKC favors Mexico, and we hope, further away. June 22 at 1644 UT on channel 2, saw numbers 8311 8038 and Basim. Not positive of the numbers, which Googled leads to a UK phone, and Basim could be an Arabic musical artist meaning Smiling. Lots of QRM in Spanish. Also pileup on channel 3. At 1700 on channel 4, with 5 bug in upper right, Top Cat cartoon in color, dubbed in Spanish. Top Cat is the one who wears a hat, ears sticking thru it. Per TV Guide online listings, which apparently in Mexico cover cable only, so the DF channel numbers don`t correspond to air channels --- but they don`t either elsewhere in the country, this matches XHGC-5 net programming, Don Gato y su Pandilla, M-F(?) 1500- 1700 UT, so running a bit late. 1708, still XHGC-5 net on channel 4. Could be XHCOV Coatzacoalcos, Veracruz, but there are a bunch of other full-power possibilities around the country. 1709 on 4, Canal de las Estrellas promo, then Looney Tune, Kit for Kat, featuring Sylvester and Elmer Fudd, dubbed. This matches XHGC-5 net programming for noon local, Bugs Bunny y Sus Amigos. Canal de las Estrellas refers to net-2, so probably cross-promotion on another Televisa network, but could have been a crossfade to an axual XEW-2 relay. At 1707 MUF up to channel 6, mostly not hitting color burst or audio, variety show in Spanish, think I heard Veracruz mentioned. Bug in upper right looked like VE, which I would like to have thought led to Venezuela instead! Not sure of the V as the lines sometimes looked more vertical, HE? When reception was best I could tell there was a word underneath the logo, call letters or location? But too tiny to outmake. At 1708 this was faded out from the picture, and the whole signal shortly thereafter. WPBT-2 Miami was also in on this opening; see USA. June 23 morning: more Es, besides WWRB 18770 harmonic on SW, it was over to TV from 1402 UT: CCI in Spanish on 2, Looney Tunes in Spanish on 4; 1404 channel 4 transferred to something else briefly, a live YL in a garden, Spanish talking about exercise, naming animals, apparently for kids; 1407 fade back to the cartoons from net-5. At 1422 on 4 with cartoons, large clear ID in upper right, white over black background for XHMEN-TV, i.e. Mérida, Yucatán, XHGC-5 network. Top Cat also seen on channel 3 at 1552, 1638 and 1700. Unlike channel 4, there is only one full-power XHGC-5 relay on channel 3, XHBQ in Zacatecas, per http://www.w9wi.com/channels/3.html If you do see cartoons in the daytime, even if analog still existed, chances are it`s not USA, where commercial OTA stations now run talkshows or soaps, leaving animation to cable. Those lucky Mexikids with rabbit ears --- two hours a day of Top Cat! I hope he justly represents North American Values. At 1724 a cooking show appeared briefly on channel 4. Per TV Guide listings that would be the XEIPN-11 non-commercial network, so where is it relayed on 4? Per W9WI list, change URL above to 4, there is only one, 5.780 being the rather low kW power: San Luis Potosí XHSLP-TV 5.780, +H 22-9-10.00N 100-58-37.00W Once-TV The opening was still going past 1800 UT, but most of the time it`s just a jumble of many stations at once on channels 2, 3 and 4, one of them occasionally surfacing to dominate briefly. Some might find this frustrating, but it demonstrates the dynamism of the analog medium combined with sporadic E, unlike digital. Sometimes there was lite CCI on KOCO-5, and occasional signs of something on 6. The higher channels are likely to be more focused on one station at once, if the MUF coöperate. The opening probably extends into the FM band, but I`m too busy to go after that too (Glenn Hauser, Enid OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MONACO [non]. FRANCE. 1467, TWR ANNOUNCES ANTENNA UPGRADE. This antenna upgrade at Roumoules completed April 9, 2009 according to this news item on TWR website: Trans World Radio (TWR) is pleased to announce the successful completion of a major antenna upgrade to North Africa as of April 9, 2009. The upgrade greatly improves both coverage and signal strength, increasing the number of potential listeners in the region to 40 million people. Prior to the antenna modification, TWR's signal to many North African people groups, particularly those in the Northern Atlas mountains, was nearly indistinguishable above the interference caused by electromagnetic radiation from growing cities. Today, the reception is loud and clear. The transmission is now beamed towards the Atlas Mountains in a concentrated beam, as opposed to the earlier, wider- angle signal toward an area with not much interest in reception. The transmitter power for 1467 kHz remains at 100,000 watts (via RNW MN, June 9) Re: Comment on Trans World Radio plans directional antenna on 1467 kHz, ?? 100 or 1000 Kilowatt ?? However, I presume power stated below should be 1,000 kW (not 100 kW)? (ibid.) 1000 kW of course, I guess too, - to reach the Algerian and Moroccan valleys. New 2 mast directional antenna will be erected soon? 170-200 degrees directional antenna is needed. See enclosed image of Roumoules site. Present directional pattern of 241 degrees 5 mast antenna is not sufficient for whole north Africa Sahel/Sahara zone. See the former TWR schedules... of 25, 85, 150, 241, and 325 degrees main lobe at Roumoules site (wb, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews June 9) An TWR - EUROPE Vienna Office Frequency Coordination Sehr geehrte Damen und Herren bei TWR Europe, Wissen Sie mehr ? Die TWR Webseite ist aus den USA ? Wurde dort 100 und 1000 kW verwechselt ? (wb, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews June 9) Dear Mr. Bueschel, There is a typo in the TWR press release. The power should be listed as 1000 kW. Kind regards, Bernhard Schraut, TWR - EUROPE Vienna Office Frequency Coordination (June 10) (all via BC-DX June 13 via DXLD) So what will be the beam centre of the new one? (gh) ** MOROCCO. MW 711: see WESTERN SAHARA. See also ARGENTINA ** MYANMAR. Hello Friends, I am just back from providing Cyclone Aila Emergency Ham communication by National Institute of Amateur Radio (NIAR) in West Bengal. I was stationed at Kalitala on an island in India-Bangladesh border. While there, I monitored the broadcast bands as usual. Of interest was Myanmar on unlisted MW 729 kHz noted sign on at 2300 UT parallel to 594. The other MW frequency 576 was also heard then. This new 729 kHz was heard in the evenings also (parallel to 5985 at 1330). Yours sincerely, (Jose Jacob, National Institute of Amateur Radio, Hyderabad, India, June 14, WORLD OF RADIO 1466, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** NEPAL. Hello Friends, I am just back from providing Cyclone Aila Emergency Ham communication by National Institute of Amateur Radio (NIAR) in West Bengal. I was stationed at Kalitala on an island in India-Bangladesh border. While there, I monitored the broadcast bands as usual. Some weak audio was at last heard of Nepal on 5005 kHz. Yours sincerely, (Jose Jacob, National Institute of Amateur Radio, Hyderabad, India, June 14, WORLD OF RADIO 1466, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Trip to Radio Nepal http://sangamkoblog.blogspot.com/2009/06/trip-to-radio-nepal.html (Alokesh Gupta, New Delhi, dxldyg via DXLD) By Nepali students, no illustrations ** NETHERLANDS [non]. Happy Station's Tribute to DXERS will be rebroadcast Thursday June 11th at 0100 and 1500 UT on 9955 kHz. Since there was lots of material that didn't make it into this show I plan to do a second one at a later date with a special look at inside the Voice Of Korea with an interview with a Cuban friend who worked in the Spanish Department for 3 years. She worked at VOK from 1998 to 2001 as an editor. I didn't meet her in Cuba, but in China. In 2001 she went to work for the Spanish Department of CRI. She returned to Cuba in 2004 and I sent her an email weeks back to see if she would be willing to talk about her time at VOK. We did the interview May 29th. Since the interview is 46mins I will edit it down for a future HS that will also include the pieces not used (Keith Perron, Taiwan, June 9, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Happy Station for DXERS now uploaded! http://www.radio4all.net:8080/files/kperron@gmail.com/3101-1-happy_station_dx_special_june_4,_2009_1500utc.mp3 (Keith Perron, June 11, ibid.) During the special Happy Station Tribute To DXers I was joined by Ian McFarland and Colin Newell. For the show I only aired 10 minutes because of time. Someone sent me an email Sunday to upload the full 30 min unedited interview. So here it is. http://www.radio4all.net:8080/files/kperron@gmail.com/3101-1-interview_ian:colin_copy_for_irr.mp3 (Keith Perron, Taiwan, June 15, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) HAPPY STATION BLOG, AND NEW TEAM MEMBER Hi Everyone, I wanted to announce two things to all of you. First: I would like all of you to welcome to the Happy Station team Johan Bakker. Johan is from Rotterdam and is learning Chinese at Taiwan's National University and has been in Taiwan since 2007. He will be in charge of building a data base for the show as well as designing a website and responding to listeners letters, sending out QSLs and transmitting the shows to WRMI, Radio Sonora, and World FM. He speaks four languages including Dutch of course. And yes, I will be seeing all mail. Welcome Johan to the world`s largest radio family. Second: I have now created a Happy Station blog at http://happystationshow.blogspot.com/ 73, (Keith Perron, June 21, ibid.) ** NETHERLANDS. ALFONSO MONTEALEGRE VAI DEIXAR A RÁDIO NETHERLANDS O dexista Hugo López, através da Condig List, ouviu no programa “Amigos de la Onda Corta”, da Rádio Netherlands [sic --- that show is on REE Spain --- gh], a informação que, a partir de 1 de setembro próximo, devido sua aposentadoria, o Alfonso Montealegre não mais fará parte da Rádio Netherlands. O Alfonso Montealegre, junto com o Jaime Báguera, são os produtores do famoso programa dexista “Rádio Enlace”, uma referência dexista; e os radio escutas brasileiros os conhecem bem, pois estiveram nos visitando em março de 2005, e foram recepcionados pelos DX Clube do Brasil, através dos dexistas Sérgio Dória Partamian, Pedro de Castro e Renato Uliana, que os acompanharam no programa Encontro DX. Maiores detalhes desta visita podem ser verificado na cobertura completa da visita, feita pelo Renato Uliana, e postada no site Amantes do Rádio”, no endereço eletrônico http://www.amantesdoradio.com.br/nederland.htm A figura de Alfonso Montealegre, fará muita falta ao mundo dexista, que perde muito com esta saída, tal como perderá também o serviço espanhol da Rádio Netherlands (@tividade DX June 21 via DXLD) ** NETHERLANDS. GREENE’S INSITE IS BACK FOR A NEW SEASON! My old friend and erstwhile colleague Rob Greene is in the Netherlands for the summer and autumn, and has already got his teeth into Gordon Brown and Benjamin Netanyahu. For those of you who fondly remember Rob’s weekly commentaries on RNW, Rob’s personal blog, Greene’s Insite, http://insite2out.wordpress.com/ continues in the same tradition. But please remember - Rob is now retired and anything he writes is no longer under the editorial control of RNW, so if you want to agree or disagree please do so in his blog and not to RNW. The blog is permanently linked on the right hand side of this blog under ‘Useful Links’. (June 19th, 2009 - 15:21 UTC by Andy Sennitt, Media Network blog via DXLD) ** NETHERLANDS [non]. Re: Glenn Hauser logs June 9-10 2009 ``You never know whether WRMI will be on the air or not during the afternoon: June 9 at 2231 check of 9955, it was not, when Radio Netherlands could have, despite its best efforts to the contrary, again been broadcasting in English to America thanks to WRN and this optional relay. I wonder if RN has nixed it? (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)`` Glenn, On what grounds would we have 'nixed it'? And how on earth would we have achieved that, even if we wanted to? Your theories about RNW are becoming more and more bizarre, but highly entertaining :-) (Andy Sennitt/RNW (puzzled), dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Andy, Bizarre? 1) RNW does not want any SW listeners in English in North (or South) America; otherwise it would not have canceled its own broadcasts. This relay is obviously contrary to station policy. 1a) RNW has, or at least you have, resisted any suggestion that RNW should resume even one hour of English on SW to NAm, even tho it has done so with Spanish to SAm. We don`t need to go into all that again. 2) How on Earth? By asking Jeff White not to broadcast the RNW WRN hour on 9955, even if he is otherwise prepared to do so. Not to give you any ideas. 3) Just checked at 2130 Friday and 9955 is still off the air anyway, probably still after 2200. 73, (Glenn to Andy, via DXLD) One would think that RNW could do at least one hour a day to NA in English. Or, dismissing that, how about one to two hours during the weekend? (Steve Lare, Holland, MI, USA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) For a change: A closer look at the current RNW schedule http://www.rnw.nl/english/article/rnw-frequency-schedule-summer-2009 was quite a surprise to me. Dutch to North America has been cut back to three transmissions of just 27 minutes each, and altogether RNW carries own programming via Bonaire for a mere ten frequency hours a day now. Would they have now, in early summer 2009, still decided to do major investments into this transmission facility? I have my doubts (Kai Ludwig, Germany, June 14, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) So RNW still has 3 transmissions in Dutch for North America, and none in English. And just how many Dutch speakers are there in North America? And especially when compared to English speakers, the amount would no doubt be way under 1%. I'd even dare say that 99.9% of the Dutch expatriates in North America speak fairly fluent English. This just goes to show that RNW does not care in the least about their listeners. Or in my case, a former listener. I really used to enjoy RNW's programs. I remember listening to them when I was a kid in 1968 on my first SW radio, a Zenith Transoceanic. But since they seem to have no use for North American listeners (or perhaps I should say anyone in the Western Hemisphere that speaks English), I no longer have any use for their programs. This is the same reason that I no longer listen to BBCWS programs, which have become very very difficult to hear in here in the eastern U.S. I will continue to listen to stations that broadcast to North America in English, but I really could care less about what happens to RNW or BBCWS. If they go off of SW permanently, then they have no one to blame but themselves (Alex Vranes, WV, ibid.) What you are really saying is that you will only listen to these stations you claim to "really enjoy" on your own terms. Because the programs and--yes--the broadcasts you want are still available to North American listeners--only via another mode of radio that is more cost-effective for the stations involved and which provides greater flexibility and convenience (overall) to the listener. That mode would be internet radio, available in wired (ethernet) and wireless (wifi and cellular) forms, through a computer, iPod/MP3 player, mobile phones and wifi/internet radio sets. Time and the world move on. Those that refuse to follow suit lose out. Holding your breath and stamping your feet is not a productive response -- for you or the stations. Sorry, but it is what it is. P.S.: Like you, I still use and enjoy shortwave. But it's no longer the only--or even the best--game in town (John Figliozzi, NY, ibid.) Down here in Sydney Australia I enjoy access to BBCWS and RNW 24 hours a day, both stations in hi-fi digital. A few years ago I would never have dreamed of having this ease of access. No fading or QRM and quality programing - who could wish for more! BBC World Service via: Foxtel Pay TV (Radio Channel) 24x7 Palapa C2 Satellite 24x7 Telstar 18 Satellite 24x7 ABC News Radio (Medium Radio) Lots of hours per week iPhone 24x7 where ever I am (on a bus, train & in the car) Reciva Internet Radio 24x7 Laptop via WiFi & 3G 24x7 RNW via: Optus D2 Satellite 24x7 ABC News Radio (Medium Radio) Lots of hours per week iPhone 24x7 where ever I am (on a bus, train & in the car) Reciva Internet Radio 24x7 Laptop via WiFi & 3G 24x7 Cheers, (Mark Fahey, NSW, ibid.) I for my part wanted to point out another aspect: Has Bonaire really still so much live in it as we heard when RNW cancelled English to North America? Since then Dutch has been cut by half and own RNW transmissions to Africa cancelled altogether at this site. I would not be surprised if they will at a not too distant point in future sell the whole thing to VTC. And another point from earlier discussions: Listeners reactions for RNW English from North America have dropped to less than a tenth of the amount in previous times. And its relays via the 28.2 deg. East satellite platform, the standard for DTH reception in the UK and Ireland, have been cancelled for lack of listeners. So it is apparently not just a matter of shortwave but rather of collapsing audiences in North America and Europe in general (Kai Ludwig, Germany, June 17, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Public broadcasters, including RNW, also have to adapt to survive. This is what we are doing, with new forms of content creation and programme delivery. Unfortunately, budget constraints mean that we also have to discontinue services that have served us well over the years but have passed their “sell by” date. That includes shortwave broadcasts to some regions. There are some shortwave listeners who refuse point blank to listen to international broadcasts on anything other than shortwave, and who get angry and sometimes quite aggressive when services are eliminated. What they don’t seem to understand is that, as Mr Astley says, audiences are fragmenting, and that if we continued to broadcast at the same level on shortwave, we would be unable to afford to develop new services. Ultimately, RNW would become an irrelevant dinosaur and the Dutch government would, quite rightly, refuse further funding. We make no apology for not choosing that option (Andy Sennitt, June 18, Media Network blog via DXLD) ** NETHERLANDS ANTILLES. RNW has scheduled a 3-day DRM test from Bonaire, for August 20-22, on 9705-9710-9715 at 1700-2100 in Spanish, 120 kW at 350 degrees --- that must be for HFCC in the Dominican Republic. I believe the DRM transmitter there has been gathering dust for quite some time, or rather used in AM mode to outkeep the spiders (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** NEWFOUNDLAND. The application of CFLN-1230 Goose Bay NF to move to FM (97.9 MHz, 1kW, 25.4 meters) to move to FM has been approved by the CRTC. Its relay station in Wabush NF, CFLW-1340, is also moving to FM (94.7 MHz, 1kW, -26.4 meters). Note what while CFLN operates at the now usual 1kW graveyarder level, CFLW still operates at 250 watts, one of the few graveyarders to still do so. CFLN Goose Bay and its transmitter CFLW Wabush – Conversion to the FM band 1. The Commission approves the applications by Newcap Inc. (Newcap) for a broadcasting licence to operate a new English-language, commercial FM radio programming undertaking in Goose Bay, Newfoundland and Labrador, to replace its AM station CFLN Goose Bay and for the conversion to the FM band of its transmitter CFLW Wabush. The terms and conditions of licence for the new station and its transmitter are set out in the appendix to this decision. The implementation of the station and its transmitter is subject to the notification by the Department of Industry set out in the appendix to this decision. The Commission did not receive any interventions in connection to these applications. Simulcast period and revocation of AM licence 7. As set out in the appendix to this decision, Newcap is authorized to simulcast the programming of the new FM station on CFLN Goose Bay and CFLW Wabush 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, and consistent with the licensee’s request, the Commission will revoke the licence for CFLN and its transmitter CFLW Wabush effective at the end of the simulcast period. The station will operate at 97.9 MHz (channel 250A) with an average effective radiated power (ERP) of 1,000 watts (non-directional antenna/effective height of antenna above average terrain of 25.4 metres). The transmitter in Wabush will operate at 94.7 MHz (channel 234A) with an ERP of 1,000 watts (non-directional antenna/effective height of antenna above average terrain of -26.4 metres). 73, (via Deane McIntyre, VE6BPO, June 16, DXLD) ** NEW ZEALAND. 15720 RNZI, Rangitaiki, 2232-2336, 23 Jun, English, Dateline Pacific, programme announcements, NZ music, short story, newscast at 2300, pops; 35433. As usual, RNZI amends the schedules while keeping the same dates on the heading (29 Mar-25 Oct in the case of the A09), and the latest version (yesterday evening) reads as follows (I am omitting the DRM fqs): 0459-0658 11725 Pacific 0659-1058 6170 ditto 1059-1158 9655 NW Pac + Bougainv. + PNG + Timor 1159-1258 9655 ditto 1259-1550 6170 Pac. 1551-1850 7285 NE Pac. + Fiji + Samoa + Cook Is. 1851-1950 11725 Pac. 1951-2050 11725 ditto 2051-0458 15720 73, (Carlos Gonçalves, Portugal, June 24, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** NICARAGUA. PRIMERA RADIO CERRADA DURANTE EL GOBIERNO DE ORTEGA Ramón H. Potosme - 20:50 - 19/06/2009 Fuente: url: http://www.elnuevodiario.com.ni/politica/50481 Radio La Ley, de Sébaco, no se oirá más. El último botón que activaba los transmisores fue removido la tarde de ayer por 30 civiles armados que se identificaron como trabajadores de la empresa de Telecomunicaciones y Correos, Telcor, y de la Dirección General de Aduanas, DGA. Los paramilitares confiscaron todos los equipos de la radio, según lo informó una nota de prensa del Movimiento Vamos con Eduardo. La radio es propiedad del político opositor y comentarista del programa “Buenas tardes Nicaragua” en Radio Corporación, Santiago Aburto. El propietario asegura que tiene la frecuencia 102.1 en FM desde hace cuatro años y que anualmente hace los pagos correspondientes, prueba de ello es que hace dos semanas realizaron una inspección y le aseguraron que todo estaba en orden. Es persecución política Aburto calificó los hechos como “una persecución política del gobierno por ser opositor y denunciar lo que él considera atropello”. Adicionalmente señaló que no entendía por qué la retención de los equipos de transmisión por parte de la DGA, pues asegura no haber comprado aparatos en el extranjero. “Mi hermano me avisó, y cuando regresé encontré a los armados fuera y dentro de la casa, y cuando reclamé por qué también se estaban llevando los equipos me dijeron que cualquier reclamo lo hiciera a Telcor y que los equipos quedaban retenidos por la DGA; no entiendo porque yo no he comprado aparatos fuera de Nicaragua”, agregó. Aburto consideró que “es una confiscación de sus equipos previo al relanzamiento de su radio, previsto para hoy, por lo que adelantó que la concentración se hará, pero como una movilización de protesta por la violación a la libertad de prensa y expresión. Adelantó la participación de personalidades políticas. Los armados entregaron al hermano del propietario una notificación firmada por el director de Telcor, Orlando Castillo, cancelando la licencia número 2004-RDSF-118, otorgada a Santiago Aburto para operar la estación Radio La Ley, la primera radio que cierra durante el mandato del presidente Daniel Ortega. Durante el gobierno del ex presidente Enrique Bolaños también se cerró Radio La Poderosa, propiedad de amigos cercanos al ex presidente Arnoldo Alemán (via Yimber Gaviría, Colombia, June 19, DXLD) PRELADO DE NICARAGUA CONDENA CIERRE DE RADIO POR EL GOBIERNO 21 de Junio de 2009, 12:47pm ET MANAGUA, 21 Jun 2009 (AFP) - El vice presidente de la Conferencia Episcopal de Nicaragua, monseñor Abelardo Mata, condenó hoy la actitud del gobierno nicaragüense de haber clausurado el pasado viernes una radioemisora que operaba en el interior del país, según reportó la prensa local. Radio La Ley, que transmitía desde la ciudad de Sébaco, 107 kilómetros al norte de Managua, era propiedad de Santiago Aburto, un detractor del gobierno del presidente nicaragüense, Daniel Ortega, e integrante del grupo de la oposición liberal liderada por el ex candidato presidencial Eduardo Montealegre. . . ebs/afo --- Fuente: http://www.univision.com/contentroot/wirefeeds/noticias/7978880.html (via Gaviria, ibid.) ** NICARAGUA. REINAUGURAN RADIO DARÍO EN LEÓN Después de ataque orteguista en noviembre de 2008 --- Emisora fue saqueada y destruida por un grupo de encapuchados que vestían camisas y portaban banderas del FSLN José Luis González - 18:59 - 21/06/2009 LEÓN --- Después de siete meses de la destrucción y el saqueo de que fueron objeto Radio Darío, Metro Stereo y Caricias, de parte de simpatizantes del Frente Sandinista, en el período post electoral, los propietarios de Corporación de Radios AM y FM de Occidente (Corasa) reinauguraron las instalaciones del inmueble y celebraron 58 años de radiodifusión al servicio de la comunidad. . . Fuente: http://www.elnuevodiario.com.ni/politica/50632 (via Yimber Gaviría, Colombia, DXLD) WTFK? ** NIGER [non]. Have been hearing an African transmission on 9704, later evenings, cannot recall exact time. I think this may be la Voix du Sahel, Niger (Chris Lewis, UK, June 19, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Re. BC-DX 916 of 13Jun'09: " ETHIOPIA/NIGER 9704.176 La Voix du Sahel, ... ebenfalls noch gut in Schuss mit SIO 353, aber steigendem Rauschen ... 0910 UT. (Nils Schiffhauer-D DK8OK, A-DX June 6) Rather ETH, usually on 9704.186 " Yes, it's rather ETHIOPIA as NIGER is, at least apparently, mute for many, many weeks - months even. As for the increasing noise (at 0910?) reported by Nils Schiffhauer, I'd say it is highly dependent upon the receiving conditions. 73, (Carlos Gonçalves, Portugal, June 14, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** OKLAHOMA. Due to heavy T-storm my antenna was still disconnected at 9 am CDT June 12, when KOCO-5 OKC was scheduled to turn off analog. Well, not really; as of 1409 UT was already in Nightlight, Spanish. Is running continuous small-letter crawler across top of screen including call letters and phone numbers. There was no formal full-screen ID between the Spanish and the start of the English version a few minutes later. I daresay this is the first time KOCO has deliberately broadcast in Spanish. Notice that the NAB spiels have open captions in both languages during both versions now. There is also a big sporadic E opening in progress, so it should be widely visible. Lots of skip interference to KFOR-4. KFOR-4 is still on with NBC, no doubt to switch off later today. I should have noted when, as there is nothing obvious on their website about it. KOPX-62 is already gone. Local LPTV KXOK-32 is still on in analog. No telling when that will go away (Glenn Hauser, Enid OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Local KOPX 62 off sometime this morning, as Glenn Hauser noted earlier. KOCO went to nightlight rather abruptly at 9 AM CDT. KFOR is scheduled to go off at 1 PM. Sure hope this Es continues! Have had it all the way thru the dial, tho mostly contained below 99 MHz, ranging from south Florida to northern Michigan. Is solid into North Carolina right now (John Zondlo, Yukon, OK, 1653 UT June 12, WTFDA via DXLD) [later:] KFOR`s analog turnoff of channel 4 was scheduled for 1 pm CDT June 12 after its noon news hour; at 1756 UT ran a 2-minute retrospective of the station`s history, originally WKY-TV, then KTVY, then KFOR-TV, many clips seen before, 1758 commercials, 1759, to Bob Ablah, CE, standing by at the analog transmitter to Flip The Big Switch, turning off channel 4 forever. ``We`re gonna sign off the analog for good, good night`` [sic, at 1 pm]. I was recording off the air channel 4 analog, and it did go off immediately he said good night. Fortunately the Es DX QRM had abated allowing a decent recording; but I was also taping same off DTV feed to local cable, where they proceeded to join Bonnie Hunt late. And that was that. Per Girard Westerberg`s spreadsheet, http://www.dxfm.com/Database/TV%20NIGHTLIGHT.xls The only OK ``Nightlight`` stations staying on a bit longer in analog: KJRH-2 Tulsa until June 26 KOCO-5 OKC until July 12 [seems with reduced power now] KTEN-10 Ada until June 30 (Glenn Hauser, Enid OK, WORLD OF RADIO 1465, DX LISTENING DIGEST) KETA 13.1 and 13.2 were both running an NWS tornado warning streamer for three counties S/E of OKC, across screentop at 0325 UT June 13, along with NWS audio ruining two PBS programs in progress. But not wall-to-wall weather. It`s been a long time since OETA carried any weather warnings, so well-served is OKC by the commercial stations. I.e., goodbye Nightline, Tonight and Letterman for the duration. The fact that KFOR and KOCO are both running continuous weather anyway on subchannels is irrelevant. No one is watching that when there is a tornado warning, so they should put the unimpeded network feed on .2 for those of us far from the affected area! Just in case, we checked KOCO-5 at 0417 UT and they had put live weather coverage back on it instead of Nightlight. Is that allowed? Could be the only OKC TV signal getting into the warning area, and certainly the only analog one. But the worst of it was over, so shortly afterwards at 0419, KOCO-7.1 resumed regular programming (Oprah); after a few sex of Oprah (is that allowed?), 5 cut back to Nightlight (Nocheluz?) in progress. Now there is a static continuous ID in small print at the top left of the pixure (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Emergency information is specifically allowed and encouraged by the NightLight "rules". http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-09-1303A1.pdf Not sure how many stations on this list http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-09-1303A2.pdf will actually use their "Nightlight" but here it is. KAID 4 Boise is NOT doing the Nightlight. No analog left on 2-13 up here (Bill Frahm, Boise ID, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** OKLAHOMA. However, reception is unacceptable. Picture and sound breaking up, on two separate antennas aimed at OKC with which I can usually get OETA and OKLA off the air (on at least one of them). It seems Enid is now in the fringe/marginal area for reliable channel 13 reception, and we are in need of our own Translator! I strongly urge you to consider this as you re-do the translator network to DTV. This is probably due to the summer doldrums, when we could also expect a weakened hot afternoon analog signal from OKC. But then we could still see and hear it! Any instability in the atmosphere, and/or lots of leaves in the way impede your DTV signal more than analog. Regards, (Glenn Hauser to Mark Norman, OETA, June 9, via DXLD) Dear Glenn: The map I have attached shows the FCC coverage area for KETA. Enid has always been on the fringe. With digital you are going to have to have a good antenna such as a Radio Shack 120 mile outside UHF/VHF antenna mounted on a tower at least 15ft. to 20ft. off the ground to get OETA signal. As far as a translator is concerned putting one in Enid is not likely. You are covered by a full power station as far as the FCC is concerned. The $250,000 cost of a translator is not something OETA can afford. We still have much of the state we do not cover as well as we cover Enid. Our recent 7% budget cut for next year is going to slow any technical changes down at OETA from this point forward. We hope for higher gas prices so the taxes will go back up. Thanks again for your emails. We do appreciate you as a viewer and your comments, even if I can not help you solve the issues in many cases such as the size of the bug (Mark Norman, Deputy Director, Oklahoma Educational Television Authority, to gh, via DXLD) The map of ex-NTSC coverage at full power shows the grade B contour going just a bit past Enid as far as Ringwood, Carrier and Hunter, not quite to the Grant County line (gh, Enid, DXLD) ** OKLAHOMA. LIGHTNING UPDATE: NEW ANTENNA ON THE AIR! KOSU is happy to announce that our network of stations serving NE Oklahoma is fully functional again. KOSU's new antenna for 107.5 has been operating at full power since May 20th. On May 23rd we returned 107.3 serving south Tulsa to the air. 101.9, serving the Okmulgee area was returned to service on May 20th . KOSU apologizes for the outage and thanks all listeners for their understanding and support in the effort to make the network fully operational. (from http://www.kosu.org June 10 via DXLD) From Enid I happened to notice KOSN 107.5 back on the air June 9 at 1645 UT as it was running some 7 seconds ahead of original KOSU 91.7. We know that KOSU is running a delay so the analog will match its IBOC audio, but apparently not the case with full-power relay KOSN. Now the question arises, how does KOSN get its feed? Not off the air from 91.7 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Hi Dan, Noticed 107.5 here in Enid yesterday, and it was running about 7 seconds ahead of 91.7. I know you delay KOSU to match the `HD`, but does this mean that KOSN is not running HD? And I am wondering how it is getting the feed from Stillwater, as it can`t be off delayed 91.7 analog. Also wondering if you have taken additional measures to prevent a third lightning outage at Ketchum. Wonder if that`s one reason the original owners put it up for sale. Also, why could you not get a feed to the 107.3 and 101.9 translators directly off 91.7 if 107.5 is down? I know that 91.7 gets into Tulsa on the car radio, altho spotty in the valleys, and it ought to be reliable with a decent receiving antenna on the translator tower, as backup. Hmmm, maybe I am thinking of when 91.7 was really (nearly) in Stillwater. May we still hope for a new relay in northern Oklahoma you mentioned a while ago? Where? 91.7 is no longer the solid signal it once was, with some picket-fencing when driving, and forget about getting it around here on a walkman. Regards, (Glenn Hauser, Enid, June 10, to Dan Schroeder, KOSU CE, via DXLD) Glenn, All good questions. KOSN cannot run HD at present because the digital sidebands are centered around 187 kHz above and below the 107.5 center freq. If those sidebands were up and running, at -20 dB down from our center channel, the lower one would interfere with our 107.3 translator listeners. I have the same problem in my car listening to KWGS 89.5 in Tulsa with 89.7 Ponca HD running. We have an expensive C-band uplink/downlink with leased transponder space from the Public Radio Satellite System. This is the same folks and transponder that all NPR stations use to receive programs. At KOSN last June we added six 6-ft long ground rods at very top of tower with 18 sharp stainless steel spikes that are supposed to leak off the static charge before a strike can hit. Or, at least minimize the intensity of the strike. Must not have done its job... It is the exact same device we have at Guthrie (no damages in 4 years). We just replaced the stainless tips because there was a fair amount of strike damage; the points were melted. Original owner had only Buss AGC fuses blown out by lightning, creating short time outages of 1-3 hours during many storms. We added a 100 kW Onan with a $1500 surge protector on AC and $200 surge on the phone line. You may well be thinking of the Tulsa signal from just west of Stillwater. Our site in Tulsa is on good elevation but only 5 miles from 92.1 station running HD. That plus a lot of general noise on the FM band in the greater metro area made it very difficult. We spent $300 with our consultant tuning 4' tall dual cavities trying to filter out the garbage, but our $1500 Fanfare receiver was still not up to it, using a test antenna 20 feet off the ground at the site. I'm sure with a few dB of early morning and evening atmospheric enhancement, we could have a decent signal. But, it went off, or worse, was taken over by the KARG 91.7 religious 50 kW station on Cavanal Mtn during the middle of the day, it would not be progress. I can hear KARG weakly in my car all over Broken Arrow. Furthermore, we considered pointing our log periodic receiving antenna SW instead of NNE. Doing that, and turning it back would take a 10 days to schedule and almost $2000 to climb the 50'. We would have more success with getting a good 91.7 signal at Okmulgee. Our antenna is at 200'. Again, $2000 climbing fee. KARG off the back of the log periodic could be problematic if KOSU went off the air, or wild atmospherics. I now know how to add a $385 RDS receiver so the translator must hear OUR RDS data in order to stay transmitting. Now being used at Tulsa. Might make Okmulgee useable off 91.7. I see KLVV has a new or muchly improved translator in Enid. We looked hard at a Ponca translator but out of town co-channel signals from 98 miles away were eating up its coverage. It is possible that their transmitter was only running 25 watts instead of 250. That is kind of what it sounded like to me. The vertical polarization only transmitting antenna did not help. This was just before the Ketchum melt down. We may have a chance to investigate further. Anything we do needs to be a whole bunch better than what 91.7 does now. The other religious translator in Ponca (good signal) had no interest in selling. Any day now we expect to receive a new CP for a new 1200 watt 88.3 Stillwater station that will provide 20 dB more signal on campus than our current 91.7, giving us solid building penetration on campus. This was from the Oct 2007 filing window for non-comms. We had to buy out the application costs of two religious stations that interfered with us and lower our power and height. Our original Oct 2007 app would have provided 6 dB more signal in Ponca. Not to be. This 1200 watt station will provide no new coverage for Ponca (Dan Schroeder, KOSU CE via gh, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 88.3 FCC info for this app shows site as roughly 3 miles W and 1 mile N of downtown Stillwater, i.e. not on the main campus, nor on the original 91.7 tower, but maybe at the arboretum? (gh, DXLD) ** OKLAHOMA. Finally two Es logs from California --- Drought is over. I'll revel in the glory for 15 minutes and want more. KOFM - 103.1 - Enid OK with RDS display and ad for Ocean Dental (Ocean in Oklahoma?) KIMY - 93.9 - Watonga OK with religious talk. Both stations were non-existent to very strong in rapid waves. Nothing else noted, though frequencies here are either occupied by stations or IBOC sizzle from adjacents. Ready for more! (Mike Hawkins, San Mateo CA, 0440 UT June 10, WTFDA via DXLD) Yup, Ocean Dental; I pass by it nearly every day. Wishful thinking? (gh, Enid, DXLD) ** OMAN. 15140, R. Sultanate of Oman: May 30 1426-1438 35333 English, Talk and news, Gongs and ID at 1430 Jun 12 1411-1433 45433-35433 English, Music, ID 1417 and 1430, News Jun 16 *1359-1410 35433 English, 1359 sign on with music, ID at 1400 Jun 17 1417-1433 35433 English, Music, Gongs and ID at 1430, News (Kouji Hashimoto, Japan, Japan Premium June 19 via DXLD) ** PAKISTAN. The Beeb Web site has this piece on illegal (mostly Talib) FM radio in Pakistan: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/8108881.stm (Chuck Albertson, Seattle, WA, June 22, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 150 of them in NWFP. WTFK? Of course not! Also via Terry Krueger (gh) ** PAPUA NEW GUINEA. 3325, R. Bougainville/R. Buka (presumed), 1244- 1320, June 13. Heard under RRI playing pop songs (Cyndi Lauper with “Girls Just Want to Have Fun”, etc.); never came up to the same level as RRI. 3335, Radio East Sepik (presumed), 1235-1244, June 13. Non-stop talking in Tok Pisin. 1320-1350, M DJ in Tok Pisin; “Late night dedications”; TCs (“22 past 11”); taking listeners dedications via phone; song “I Will Never Leave You” dedicated to a listener in Solomon Islands; played some island music; mostly fair, but didn’t catch an ID. Scan at 1350, June 13 (assume PNG): 3290 – weak with island music. 3305 – weak with music. 3905 – weak in Tok Pisin. 3385, R. East New Britain, 1216-1336*, June 14. In Tok Pisin; DJ playing pop songs in English; TCs (“20 to 11”); into religious sermon and religious songs; off in mid-song; almost fair (Ron Howard, Asilomar Beach, CA, Etón E1, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Since I was getting VL8K on 2485, made a quick check of 90m June 20 at 1136, 22 minutes after sunrise, and found music on 3385, 3365; talk on 3335 and 3325; neither pair seemed // (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PAPUA NEW GUINEA. A 6.7 earthquake hit the PNG area this morning (6/23) at 1419:16 UT. Epicenter was 111 miles SE of Rabaul, 161 miles WNW of Bougainville. Might be interesting to see if R New Ireland on 3905 is operating tomorrow morning; it was on 6/21 (Bruce W Churchill, CA, June 23, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** PERU. 4775, R. Tarma, Tarma. June 18, Spanish 2142-2153 messages program and ads by OM “señor F. Saluda todos sus familiares”, 2143 local music, 2146 OM “noticias del último minuto con Claudio Rojas; la Radio Tarma..”. 24522, 73's (Lúcio Otávio Bobrowiec, Embu SP Brasil - Sony ICF SW40 - dipole 18m, 32m, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PERU. Glenn, I haven't heard anything from Radio Visión, Perú, on 4790 kHz in more than a week. I am wondering if they have given up on shortwave? (Chuck Bolland, FL, June 22, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Will be on lookout for any reports of it (gh, DXLD) Viz.: ** PERU. PERÚ, 4790.1, Radio Visión, Chiclayo, 0520-0541, 19-06, locutor, español, religioso, "La Voz de la Salvación". 25322 (Manuel Méndez, Lugo, España, escuchas realizadas en Camping de Reinante, Mar Cantábrico, Lugo, Grundig Satellit 500 y Sony ICF SW 7600 G, Antena de cable, 10 metros, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 4790.02, 0125-0455 08+13.06, R Visión, Chiclayo. Spanish religious talk by two men, also music same evening at 2355, 25232 4790.01, 2310-2330 18+19.06, R Visión, Chiclayo, Spanish ann, Andean pop music, hymns 25333. Samuel, I saw a tips from Roberto Pavanello, Italy about a week ago of R Atlántida, Iquitos, Peru on 4789.6 at 2315. Do you have a chance to check, if this still is active? Best 73, (Anker Petersen, loggings done at my AOR AR7030PLUS with 28 metres of longwire in Skovlunde, Denmark, via Dario Monferini, playdx yg via DXLD) Glenn, Radio Visión, Perú on 4790, still nil heard this morning (062309 1040Z) (Chuck Bolland, FL, June 23, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PERU. 4835.42, Radio Marañón, 1020-1030 June 11, Noted very distinctive flute music at tune with a male talking over it as well as canned ID. Later a female converses with the male in live comments. Signal had some muscle this morning as if someone had cranked up the power just this once resulting in it being fair (Chuck Bolland, Clewiston, Florida, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PERU. 4857.41, Radio La Hora, Cusco, 2330 to 2355. Pompano Beach, Cedar Key, Palm Beach, Clewiston, Coral Springs and Embu SP Brasil. [Florida/Brasil DX] 73s (Bob Wilkner, Pompano Beach, Southeast Florida, 10 June, NRD 535D ~ Drake R8, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 4857.4v, Radio La Hora, Cusco, 2320 with decent signal, not noted in the 1000 to 1120 [period]. Several days recently 11 June [Wilkner] Pompano Beach, Cedar Key, Clewiston, and Embu SP Brasil. [Florida/Brasil DX] 73s (Bob Wilkner, Pompano Beach, Florida US, June 11, NRD 535D ~ Drake R8, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PERU. 4940, R. San Antonio, Villa Atalaya. June 18, Spanish, 2154- 2206 monitored this time with religious music and some OM and YL talks; returned monitoring from 2238 with same content but a strange ID as “R. Lozano” or something around it, don’t heard it well (but with that known “voces del Perú”). From 2300 turned audio silent until 2305 returning with Latin music, at 2307 OM announcements about a sports program “el mundo deportivo; nuevo tenico [?] deportivo municipal, Copa Perú 2009”. 2319 hoped ID “R. San Antonio a servicio de la comunidad”, ads. Heard until 2322, at peak 34523, 73's (Lúcio Otávio Bobrowiec, Embu SP Brasil - Sony ICF SW40 - dipole 18m, 32m, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PERU. 5025, R Quillabamba, Quillabamba. June 19 Spanish but prevailing Quechua 2220-2248 messages program “atención Francisco Camargo Lima...; atención mesage para Margot Velarde...”, 2235 folk music, many mentions of “Quillabamba”, 2241 ads. From 2226 degrading and starting het, 2242 starting battle agaisnt Cuba, at peak 33433 (lob-B). 73's (Lúcio Otávio Bobrowiec, Embu SP Brasil - Sony ICF SW40 - dipole 18m, 32m, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PHILIPPINES. Hmong hmusic on 11935, June 24 at 1207, way underneath CRI in Russian; just like we hear on WHRI 11785. Sure `nuff, Hmong is scheduled on R. Veritas Asia 11935 at 1200-1227, 250 kW, 280 degrees from Palauig-Zambales, per Aoki (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** POLAND. Twoje R. heard on 1558.4v kHz at 2200. According to Karel Honzik, this is Cieszyn drifting from 1602 kHz. 73, (Mauno Ritola, Finland, June 8, mwoffsets yg via Steve Whitt, MWC via DXLD) ** PUERTO RICO. DTV in Puerto Rico --- Hi Glenn, You were wondering a few weeks back about digital TV in Puerto Rico. This came out in today's El Vocero daily in San Juan (Marty Delfín, Madrid, DX LISTENING DIGEST) A PARTIR DE HOY OFICIAL LA TELEVISIÓN DIGITAL Por Mariam M. Echevarría Báez EL VOCERO 12 de junio de 2009 04:00 am En 1954 la imagen blanco y negro del Indio simbolizó el nacimiento de la televisión en la Isla. Hoy, 55 años más tarde, todas las estaciones de alta potencia de Estados Unidos y Puerto Rico darán la bienvenida a la era de la televisión digital, que entre otras cosas, brindará al televidente una mejor calidad de imagen y sonido. El cambio, que surge por mandato del Congreso de los Estados Unidos, ha estado precedido a nivel local por un intenso plan educativo encabezado por la Comisión Federal de Comunicaciones (FCC), la Junta Reglamentadora de Telecomunicaciones de Puerto Rico y los principales canales. Y es que según William Berry y Reuben Jusino, representantes de la FCC, los puertorriqueños han sido prioridad en esta iniciativa, ya que el 50 por ciento de los hogares en el País dependían de televisión por aire, siendo el primer territorio de Estados Unidos en ese renglón. “La agencia no ha escatimado en esfuerzos y nos ha ayudado muchísimo el centro de llamadas de la Junta Reglamentadora”, expresó Jusino. Berry por su parte, reveló que ese centro había atendido hasta este mes cerca de 180 mil llamadas; 9 mil este pasado miércoles. Y es que según cifras de la semana pasada de Mediafax, ofrecidas por Jusino, el 7 por ciento de los hogares en Puerto Rico tendría alguna dificultad con la transición, para un total de 100 mil. No obstante, “basado en el número de la experiencia, hemos visto cómo en las últimas semanas ha ido disminuyendo el número de personas que asisten a las actividades (convocadas por la FCC y la Junta). De cientos, bajaron a decenas y ayer, (el miércoles), había una persona en un municipio”. Los ingenieros fueron enfáticos en que las personas que tienen un televisor digital con antena o están suscritos a algún sistema de cable o satélite, no tendrán problemas. Los que posean un equipo análogo, deberán adquirir una caja convertidora. El Gobierno Federal otorgó fondos para cupones para su adquisición. Hasta finales de mayo, de la Isla se habían pedido 2.3 millones de cupones, mientras que sólo se habían redimido 1.2. Hasta ayer, la mayor preocupación de Berry y Jusino era la recepción y programación de las cajas convertidoras. El Gobierno Federal asignó 200 mil dólares para la instalación de siete mil cajas y asistencia técnica, proceso que se coordina a través de la Junta Reglamentadora de Telecomunicaciones, al 787-641-0967. Los representantes de la FCC iniciaron su plan informativo desde el 2007, destacándose la visita a égidas, tomando en consideración las dificultades que pueden confrontar las personas de edad avanzada con la nueva tecnología. Se recomienda que las personas se familiaricen con los equipos, ya que existen 40 tipos de cajas convertidoras. Se exhorta además, a que se haga una nueva búsqueda de canales el sábado, ya que los canales tienen hasta las 11:59 de la noche de hoy para apagar sus transmisores análogos y transmitir sólo en digital. Por ejemplo, el canal 4, el 6, el 11 y el 24, transicionarán a las 11:59 p.m. de hoy, mientras que el canal 2; a las 6:00 a.m. El canal 40 hará lo propio a las 12:00 del mediodía y el canal 13 transmite en digital desde febrero. Al canal 6 se le extenderá el permiso para transmitir en análogo por 30 días adicionales, ya que “en todos los mercados debía haber un foco de información para las personas que no se prepararon”, informó Jusino. Este caso se repetirá en Estados Unidos a través de algunas estaciones de PBS. Cabe recalcar además que la señal digital no es sinónimo de alta definición. No obstante, entre las ventajas de esta tecnología se resalta la disposición de más canales, una imagen y sonido con mayor nitidez, mejores sistemas de seguridad pública y respuesta ante emergencias (via Marty Delfín, DXLD) ** PUERTO RICO [and non]. Beat bars on 3 - definitely peaking SE! MUF 3 (William R Hepburn, Grimsby ON CAN, 2244 UT June 21, WTFDA via DXLD) Zero beat to CKVR would be + offset which would match WIPM-3 PR. Decent pix u/CKVR for a short while but couldn't tell if it was the nightlight program (William R Hepburn, Grimsby ON CAN, 2248 UT, ibid.) Spanish on 3 and 4! Since 18:25 EDT [2225 UT]: Very unstable, doesn't look like ordinary skip. Image too distorted to try to make out anything, Two different Spanish audio on 4. Geez... this is definitely a new TV DX era! 73, (Charles Gauthier, Brossard, QC, ibid.) Es DR/PR to W. Mass --- TV 2 Tele Antilles DR WIPM 3 Mayagüez PR w/nitelite 4 weak suspect CERTV DR 5 Weak unID 88.1 Primera FM DR (Jeff Rostron, Springfield MA, Sangean HDT-1., Winegard HD 6065P @ 35Ft, 2330 UT June 21, ibid.) WIPM-3 PR still trying? Still getting occasional fade ups of a floater under CKVR from the SE. Nothing else noted. Still marked down as just a tentative WIPM-3 PR. Congrats to Jeff for the great catches !! (William R Hepburn, Grimsby ON CAN, 0000 UT June 22, ibid.) 3, WIPM Mayagüez, PR in here but not needed. That's it for now. Also 88.1 blocked by local (Roy Barstow, Cape Cod MA, 0008 UT June 22, ibid.) To ID WIPM: They have a custom nitelite video with a male and female sitting on a couch. Every few minutes they do a wipe with "TU DIGITAL" http://www.wtfda.info/showthread.php?p=8428#post8428 Here is an image of WIPM 3 (Jeff Rostron, MA, 0050 UT June 22, ibid.) Their nitelite is to run until July 12 (gh) New DX pics now posted in the WTFDA forums http://www.wtfda.info/showthread.php?t=3219 HIJB 2 Santo Domingo DR 1635 Mi http://www.wtfda.info/showthread.php?t=3218 WIPM 3 Mayagüez P.R. 1685 Mi (Jeff Rostron, Springfield MA, ibid.) Jeff and I were on the phone this evening until my wife made me get off and go upstairs :-) We both had D.R. on ch 2 with the same programming. I saw an ad for an FM station with a large 95.7 and there's a 95.7 in Santo Domingo. I also had the night light (WIPM)on 3 and we both confirmed the programming. My antenna heading was about 165 degrees. Jeff had much better video than I had. I was lucky to get discernible video for more than one or two seconds at a time. This video was blurry and very smeary. The D100 works a little better with the IF cranked as narrow as possible. The question is why the video was so smeary considering this stuff was most likely single hop. It should not have been THAT blurry. Another question is why this stuff (DR) is coming in on ch2 when WCBS and WGBH are still on the air. All that's changed is that WFSB is gone. Did WFSB pollute low VHF that much??? (Mike Bugaj, Enfield, CT, ibid.) Thanks VERY much for this, Jeff. We saw the same thing!! I saw that "TU DIGITAL" swipe the screen from left to right a couple of times. So if it is WIPM-3 PR, that's 1922 miles from here! Needless to say, that's a personal record. Antenna was aimed southeast BTW, and I had color on two brief occasions. 73, (Charles Gauthier, Brossard, QC, ibid.) Congrats Charles ! Puerto Rico to Canada! A new age in TV DX has begun (Hepburn, ibid.) Still in on the Icom R-7000 and mention of PR at 9:32 PM [0132 UT]. + offset (Roy Barstow, MA, ibid.) Reference Mike's comment: "The question is why the video was so smeary considering this stuff was most likely single hop. It should not have been THAT blurry." ... Here is my guess. Note that Charles G (Quebec) also had "blurry video" on channel 4 with Spanish audio. Given the slightly too long for single hop and slightly too short for double it is likely Jeff, Mike (and Charles who is another 100+ miles further out) were seeing cloud- to-cloud Es with one of the two being badly "tilted" creating multiple path (such as one gets with FM in a big city from reflections originating at several spots). Es clouds do move - we all know that, and they also can be less than flat or horizontal with relation to the earth below. It would be of interest to know whether the 6 meter signals reported from PR and that region into New England also exhibited abrupt, deep fading - another sign of multiple reflection points in the E layer - that "phasing thing" again (Bob Cooper in NZ, ibid.) Thanks Bill! A new age indeed! I didn't think I would ever beat my old E-skip record of 1464 miles by almost 500 miles! Couldn't have ID this without the help of JeffR. That's the strenght of a club like this one. I thought I had seen "To DIGITAL". But it was indeed "Tu DIGITAL" with a "u" minuscule, which is the way the PR network seems to use it. Tu Universo television: http://www.tutv.puertorico.pr/06_21.htm Now, makes me wonder what I actually got on channel 4 ! Hmmmm..... My setup doesn't include a VCR believe it or not. Well I do have one but it doesn't work well with weak signals, so I just bypass it. Something to re-think! Wish I could have recorded the audio on 4. And thanks BobC for the Es cloud info. Fascinating read. The image on channel 3 wasn't like anything I've never seen before, but after reading your explanation, it makes sense. Sorry for rambling but this is indeed one high point in this DXer's life. Who said post-digital TV DXing would be dull? 73, (Charles Gauthier, Brossard, QC, ibid.) ** RUSSIA. UNA ETAPA QUIZÁS POCO CONOCIDA DE KATIA OLEVSKAYA Saludos amigos, Acá en Cuba lamentamos mucho la pérdida de Katia, una etapa quizás poco conocida por los diexistas fue una etapa que marcó a Katia en los niños cubanos. Lo digo por experiencia propia, los cubanos contemporáneos conmigo crecimos con la voz de Katia. En mi infancia, la televisión cubana emitía en su programación infantil casi un 90% de dibujos animados rusos. Los Dibujos animados no eran doblados, sino que sobre la misma voz en ruso se escuchaba la voz de Katia diciendo los diálogos de la historia. Al finalizar cada dibujo animado y mistras corrían los créditos siempre se escuchaba una voz decir "...Voz y Traducción : Katia Olevskaya..." Crecimos con Katia y lo más triste es que acá no se le ha dado cobertura a su fallecimiento (Ing. Yandys Cervantes Rodríguez, Cuba, June 10, Noticias dx yg, Spain, via DXLD) ** RUSSIA. 7200, Radio Rossii via Yakutsk, 1441-1500*, June 10. In Russian with Russian ballads; pips and off; weak with good audio (Ron Howard, Asilomar Beach, CA, Etón E1, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** RUSSIA [and non]. 12000 with disco-beat music mixing at about equal level with RHC sports report in Spanish. That`s the V. of Russia khlash from Khabarovsk. They took turns dominating, June 11 at 1340. 12000, VOR Chinese service via Khabarovsk, June 13 at 1348 with YL singing traditional song in Russian, way over RHC, and not very distorted. 12000 with big collision of VOR Chinese and RHC Spanish, June 22 at 1234. When I tuned in, VOR was atop, but RHC soon took over for a bit, SAH of 160/minute between them. Commies vs ex-Commies! (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** RUSSIA. RÚSSIA - Onda DX é o nome do programa de dexismo que a Voz da Rússia leva ao ar nas emissões, em português, das quartas-feiras. Tem a produção e a apresentação de Jonas Bernardino. Confira, às 2300, no Tempo Universal, em 7300, 11510 e 11605 kHz (Célio Romais, Panorama, @tividade DX June 21 via DXLD) ** RUSSIA [non]. 9950, V. of Orthodoxy via Kazakhstan Jun 05 *1430- 1443 43443 Russian, 1430 sign on with IS, ID, Opening announce, Talk. Also Jun 12 *1430-1440 43443 Russian, 1430 sign on with IS, ID, Chorus music, Opening announce, Talk. Also Jun 16 *1430-1442 44444 Russian, 1430 sign on with IS, ID, Chorus music, Opening announce, Talk (Kouji Hashimoto, Japan, Japan Premium June 19 via DXLD) ** RWANDA. BBC KINYARWANDA BACK ON AIR Gilbert Ndikubwayezu 24 June 2009 Kigali — After two consecutive months being off air due to a controversial program it broadcast, the contentious Gahuzamiryango programme aired by the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), was expected back on air last evening. Information Minister Louise Mushikiwabo, told The New Times that they had written to the BBC management authorising them to resume broadcasting. Rwanda maintains the programme has for long been used as a means to spread heinous messages but also acknowledged that the problem lies within the language barrier, which top BBC management cannot understand to make an independent judgement on violation of some ethics. Full story at : http://allafrica.com/stories/200906240068.html (via Alokesh Gupta, New Delhi, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Referring to FM relays inside. ALWAYS on the air on SW from outside, but who cares about that? (gh) ** SAUDI ARABIA. BUZZ transmitter on 21505 kHz at 1200-1500 UT. 73 wb (Wolfgang Büschel, Germany, June 10, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SAUDI ARABIA. Summer A-09 of BSKSA: First General Program in Arabic 0600-0855 on 17730 RIY 500 kW / 295 deg to NEAf 0600-0855 on 17740 RIY 500 kW / 310 deg to WeEu 0900-1155 on 17805 RIY 500 kW / 295 deg to NEAf 0900-1155 on 21705 RIY 500 kW / 310 deg to WeEu 1200-1455 on 21505 RIY 500 kW / 295 deg to NEAf 1200-1455 on 21640 RIY 500 kW / 310 deg to WeEu 1700-1755 on 15225 RIY 500 kW / 295 deg to NEAf 1700-1755 on 15435 RIY 500 kW / 310 deg to WeEu 1800-2255 on 9555 RIY 500 kW / 295 deg to NEAf 1800-2255 on 9870 RIY 500 kW / 310 deg to WeEu Call of Islam in Arabic 1500-1700 on 15225 RIY 500 kW / 295 deg to NEAf 1500-1700 on 15435 RIY 500 kW / 310 deg to WeEu [the BUZZER, i.a.] Holy Qur`an in Arabic 0300-0555 on 15170 RIY 500 kW / 355 deg to WeAs 0300-0755 on 17895 RIY 500 kW / 040 deg to CeAs 0600-0855 on 15380 RIY 500 kW / 310 deg to N/ME 0900-1155 on 11935 RIY 500 kW / 310 deg to N/ME 0900-1155 on 17615 RIY 500 kW / 100 deg to SEAs 0900-1155 on 21495 RIY 500 kW / 070 deg to SEAs 1200-1355 on 15380 RIY 500 kW / 310 deg to N/ME 1200-1455 on 17895 RIY 500 kW / 295 deg to NEAf 1200-1355 on 21600 RIY 500 kW / 100 deg to SEAs 1300-1555 on 21460 RIY 500 kW / 190 deg to CSAf 1500-1755 on 13710 RIY 500 kW / 295 deg to NEAf 1600-1755 on 15205 RIY 500 kW / 320 deg to WeEu 1600-1755 on 17560 RIY 500 kW / 270 deg to WCAf 1800-2255 on 11820 RIY 500 kW / 320 deg to WeEu 1800-2255 on 11915 RIY 500 kW / 295 deg to NEAf 1800-2255 on 11930 RIY 500 kW / 270 deg to WCAf Second Programm in Arabic 0300-0555 on 9580 JED 050 kW / non-dir to N/ME 0300-0855 on 9675 RIY 500 kW / non-dir to N/ME 0600-1655 on 11855 JED 050 kW / non-dir to N/ME 1700-2155 on 9580 JED 050 kW / non-dir to N/ME External Service 0400-0655 on 15285 RIY 500 kW / 190 deg to CSAf in Swahili 0800-0955 on 17785 RIY 500 kW / 270 deg to WCAf in French 0900-1155 on 21670 RIY 500 kW / 100 deg to SEAs in Indonesian 1000-1225 on 15250 RIY 500 kW / 250 deg to WCAf in English 1200-1455 on 13775 RIY 500 kW / 070 deg to SoAs in Urdu 1200-1555 on 15120 RIY 500 kW / 070 deg to SoAs in Bengali 1400-1755 on 17660 RIY 500 kW / 270 deg to WCAf in French 1500-1755 on 7240 RIY 500 kW / 040 deg to WeAs in Farsi 1500-1755 on 9640 RIY 500 kW / 040 deg to CeAs in Turkmen/Uzbek/Tajik (DX Mix News, Bulgaria, June 17 via DXLD) ** SAUDI ARABIA [and non]. RTI [see TAIWAN] is lucky not to be under FCC jurisdiction. Sorry about the guy, though. Personally, I'm still waiting for words of apology from Radio Jeddah in Saudi Arabia. Don't get me wrong, its spoken English broadcasts on 15250 kHz are very pious. But a "F" word is heard loud and clear in many of the pop-songs it carries in between the features. Besides, I don't get it why the station broadcasts Britney Spears's "Oops, I did it again" right after the uplifting talk on the Righteous Women of Islam. Could that be a secret message from the Saudi dissidents? (Sergei S., Chicago or Moscow, June 16, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SAUDI ARABIA. 1071, BSKSA, Beesha, 2156-2223, 22 Jun, Arabic, Arabic, Arabic tunes, talks; soon mixed with Iran, but improved; 24442. (Check IRAN) 73, (Carlos Gonçalves, Portugal, June 24, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Now that Spain, q.v. is off 1071 ** SERBIA. DIMITE LA DIRECTORA DE RADIO YUGOSLAVIA --- La directora interina de Radio Yugoslavia, Milena Jokic, ha presentado la dimision a su cargo debido a que el estatus de este medio no se haya resuelto aun... http://glassrbije.org/S/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=7558&Itemid=32 (via José Miguel Romero, June 16, dxldyg via DXLD) She has resigned, frustrated that no info is forthcoming from government about the financial status of IRS (gh, DXLD) SERBIA Director of Radio Jugoslavia resigned. Antwort der Direktorin von Radio Jugoslavija an das Kulturministerium (Wolfgang Büschel, June 16, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews June 20 via DXLD) DIRECTOR OF INTERNATIONAL RADIO SERBIA/RADIO YUGOSLAVIA RESIGNS Acting director of Radio Yugoslavia (International Radio Serbia) Milena Jokic has resigned her post, due to the unresolved status of the organisation. In a written explanation sent to Prime Minister Mirko Cvetkovic, Ms Jokic stated that the Ministry of Culture, and primarily the minister and his media relations assistant, have not shown any readiness whatsoever to do anything about resolving the status of the organisation. Ms Jokic expressed hope that the Serbian Government will keep in mind the significance of informing the world public and the Diaspora in 11 foreign languages and in Serbian, through the Internet, satellite and shortwaves. There is a great deal more information about this development on the station’s website. http://glassrbije.org/E/ (June 17, 2009, 1554 UT by Andy Sennitt, Media Network blog via WORLD OF RADIO 1466, DXLD) 2 comments so far 1 Glenn Hauser June 19th, 2009 - 1:13 UTC Where is this much more info? I find much less, just a 5-liner in the news story file under 15 June. 2 Andy Sennitt June 19th, 2009 - 8:59 UTC The full story is here: http://glassrbije.org/E/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=7585&Itemid=32 There was also the full text of Milena Jockic’s letter to the Ministry, but this appears to have been removed from the English site, probably on legal advice, as she said some quite damning things about the Ministry. I did not include it here as I did not want RNW to get sued (comments, ibid.) see also BOSNIA ** SINGAPORE. Does anyone know what has happened to the BBC on 9740 kHz in the mornings. Nothing there the last few days. Could it be beamed in another direction like they did with a couple other frequencies? In Arizona I can't find any useable freq until later in the evening on 7 MHz. Anyone have any ideas if it is at all possible to hear them on the west coast any time between 1300-0600z? Thank God for the Internet (Gary W. Froemming, Glendale, Arizona, USA, WB7CAG / W7GWF, 33.5601N / 112.1841W, Grid Square: DM33vn74vk, June 11, ODXA yg via DXLD) 9740 is still on the schedule via Singapore at 0900-1600, 250 kW split into 125 kW each at 13 and 135 degree azimuths. Come to think of it, I was not hearing it either this morning. Hope it`s just a temporary problem. 73, (Glenn Hauser, OK, ibid.) Tuning across 9500 at 1344 June 13, heard B-B-C chimes weakly, and then accurate 6-pip timesignal. Must be about to start Burmese. Yes, as listed in Aoki, 340 degrees from Kranji. Very poor, but after all the pips had finished, I heard some more pips of a different pitch; strange. Someone in WNAm recently noted that BBCWS in English was inaudible on 9740, but I could hear that Singapore frequency somewhat better than 9500, when checked at 1309 with sports report about a Russian boxer, submarine (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SOLOMON ISLANDS. Re 9-048: ``No het on 9540 and no carrier detectable on 9541.5 June 8 at 1253, so I think SIBC was off; noticed when checking the Cuban overjamming on 9545 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)`` Why the expectation that SIBC might produce a carrier at 1253? Their programming sked on their website has them on the air only *1700 to 1100*. Has anyone actually IDed them on the air circa 1230-1300? If so, I missed seeing such a report. SIBC (tentative) heard here very weakly around 0535 today 9541.5 (dnj) (Don Jensen, Kenosha WI, June 9, NASWA yg via DXLD) Don`t you believe their website. There have been numerous DX reports from myself and others the past few months of 9541.5v on the air well past 1100 and probably 24 hours, always with BBCWS relays overnight. That is not worth their mentioning. It is hard (impossible?) to get an SIBC ID during this period, as they just plug into BBC, but on that distinctive off-frequency, there is no doubt. However, it does appear to be irregular (Glenn Hauser, WORLD OF RADIO 1465, ibid.) ** SOLOMON ISLANDS. IS SIBC STILL ALIVE? Tuesday, 09 June 2009 Viewpoint-Letters to the Editor http://solomonstarnews.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=9607&change=103&changeown=88&Itemid=45 DEAR EDITOR – I’m sorry I have decided not to attend Noro Anglican Holy Pentecost celebration on 31st May 2009 because I want to join in the live service programme on SIBC on the installation of the fifth new Archbishop of Melanesia, the Most Right Rev. His Grace Bishop David Vunagi. My question is “Is SIBC still alive or not?” Is there any live service on Sunday 31st May 2009? I’m asking the Board and Management of SIBC to relay any important historical events through Radio Happy Lagoon and Radio Lata for keen listeners. I must inform SIBC that Radio New Zealand international, Radio Australia, Radio Japan, World Harvest Radio, Radio Bougainville and PNG were all loud and clear from where I am writing. We in rural areas depend very much for radio loud and clear frequency for news and current affairs and of course sports and entertainments or music shows. Come on mates! Improve the frequencies! Matthias N Waifo, Noro, Western Province (via Kim Elliott, WORLD OF RADIO 1465, DXLD) ** SOLOMON ISLANDS. 9541.5, SIBC Honiara noted back 0310 on 10 June with repeated 'Born Free' orchestral. Then moved to soccer commentary, Solomon Islands vs PNG. Best on LSB to avoid Radio Republica 9545 with background 'waterfall' jammer, good signal strength but continuing modulation problems. Transmitter was absent when I previously checked frequency at 0415 on 8 June.(Bryan Clark, Mangawhai, New Zealand, dxld yg via WORLD OF RADIO 1465, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 9541.5, SIBC (Honiara) (presumed), 0551-0608, 6/10/2009, English. Talk by one, possibly two, Aussie accented men. Australia mentioned a couple of times. After 0603, joined or replaced by a man with a South Pacific sounding accent. Poor signal with slow fading, sufficiently above noise level to support identification of the language, but too weak to determine detailed content. No ID heard. First log of SIBC on this frequency. Usually only a weak carrier is heard (Jim Evans, Germantown, TN, E1, Random Wire (90'), DX LISTENING DIGEST) 9541.54, SIBC, 0540-0700, June 12, talk in English & presumed Pidgin. Local island music. Covered by DRM signal at 0700. Presumed. Weak in noise. Just too weak to pull out any program details. Irregular (Brian Alexander, PA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 9541.50, SIBC, 1450-1500, June 12. In English; British accent; sounded like typical BBC programming; slightly above threshold level (Ron Howard, Asilomar Beach, CA, Etón E1, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 9541.5, SIBC, 1140, 6/13/09. Presumed the one with a very weak signal. Suffered slop from CRI, Kunming, 9540. Able to distinguish male from female, and talk from music, but that was it. Het still heard, but audio gone by 1215 (Jerry Strawman, Des Moines, IA, Drake R8, Alpha Delta Sloper, Wellbrook ALA-100 Loop http://www.radiodx.net/wordpress/ Cumbredx mailing list via DXLD) SIBC, 9541.50, 6/17, 0651-0755 weak/fair, but steady. BBC news at 0700, played REO Speedwagon “In Your Letter” & Fleetwood Mac “Don’t Stop.” Most of the programming was some sort of news show with reports from reporters in the field, telephone interviews, etc. I could pick out a word or so here and there, but the weak signal and UK (I think UK, not Aussie, so maybe more BBC programming?) accents were just a bit too much for me to overcome (Andrew Yoder, PA, Cumbredx mailing list via DXLD) 9541.13, SIBC, 0820-0845 June 18, Not a very good signal yet. Consequently, copying any details was a struggle. Noted a male as host interviewing a couple of females in English. The signal was being covered by the "Pacific noise" that usually accompanies signals at this time of day and from that area (Chuck Bolland, Clewiston, Florida, Watkins Johnson HF1000, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 9541, Solomon Islands, SIBC, Honiara. June 21, English, 0735-0801, Pacific choral music, Pacific melodic theme music, folk music alternating OM and YL talks “Sunday evening..; SIBC..; Solomon Islands...”. Peak at 0748 but started to decline at 0755; 34522 (Lúcio Otávio Bobrowiec, Embu SP Brasil - Sony ICF SW40 - dipole 18m, 32m, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SOMALIA. AU TO START RADIO IN SOMALIA Risdel Kasasira 24 June 2009 Kampala — The African Union peacekeeping mission in Somalia will soon start a radio station in Mogadishu. The Defence/Army Spokesperson, Maj Felix Kulayigye yesterday told Daily Monitor that African Union Mission in Somalia (Amisom) has already procured the radio equipment. Full story at : http://allafrica.com/stories/200906240241.html (via Alokesh Gupta, New Delhi, dxldyg via DXLD) WTFK? Not a hint in brief story (gh) ** SOMALIA [non]. 11640 R. Freedom via Germany May 29 *1630-1640 34333 Somali, 1630 sign on with IS, Koran, Opening announce, Talk and local music. 15350, R. Freedom, May 29 *1700-1710 25332 Somali, 1700 sign on with opening music, Opening announce, Koran, Talk. 15350, R. Freedom, Jun 12 *1700-1710 25432 Somali, 1700 sign on with opening music, ID, Opening announce, Koran, Talk (Kouji Hashimoto, Japan, Japan Premium Jan 19 via DXLD) ** SOMALILAND. SOMALIA, all on 7145.04, R. Hargeisa in Somali: Jun 05 1514-1532 25332, Talk and Koran and Somali music, ID at 1530. Jun 12 1518-1543 35333, Local music and Koran and talk, ID 1527, 1530. Jun 16 *1459-1508 25342, 1459 sign on with opening music, Opening announce, Koran, talk (Kouji Hashimoto, Japan, Japan Premium via DXLD) Radio Hargeisa, Somalië on 7145.040, 1835 UT. With Afrika songs and vernacular talks about Nigeria, noisy but fair (Maurits Van Driessche, Belgium, June 20, bdx mailing list via DXLD) ** SPAIN. Glenn, beginning last Saturday, June 13, and repeated the following Monday, REE, one of my favorite stations, is broadcasting a program about the effect Spain`s history has had on music. I found it very enjoyable, and perhaps you might like it, and want to tell WOR listeners about it before it disappears, since they said it would only last a few months. It is a 25-minute segment of their 55-minute broadcast, and is aired to the US both days at 0000 UT on 6055, and to Europe on Saturday at 21 UT on 9650 and on Monday at 19 UT on 9665 and 11620. I heard the US broadcast on Monday, and it began at 0030 UT. I don`t know what time it will start on the Saturday broadcast (Kent Murphy, N Martinsville WV, June 16, by p-mail, WORLD OF RADIO 1466, DX LISTENING DIGEST) I assume he means UT Tuesdays 0030, UT Sundays at ???? (gh, DXLD) ** SPAIN [non]. REE, 9630 via Costa Rica, UT Sat June 13 at 0533 in Correo del Oyente program giving toll-free phone numbers including this one valid in USA and miscellaneous other Euramerican countries named: access code + 800-34-100-100. This presumably gets you an answering machine in Castilian only. First greeting, where else, was to someone in Cuba wanting contacts abroad, a 20-year-old YL with ojos de café; she also described her skin shade. Is this politically incorrect? UT Sat June 20 at 0538 caught part of REE`s Correo del Oyente mailbag show, not axually dominated by Cubans this week! Called listeners in Guatemala and Mexico with musical requests, later a Cuban too. The problem was getting a decent signal despite several frequencies available: 5965 and 9630 via Costa Rica were much less modulated than usual, requiring upturning the volume markedly. Besides low modulation, 3350 CR had too much nearby T-storm noise, also bothering the higher ones. 6055 direct suffered from RHC 6060 splash even when just talking there. 11890 direct to elsewhere was weak, tho on a good night around Solstice can be sufficient (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Re previous item under PERU, R. Victoria 6019v putting an harmonic on 12038v, I mentioned that REE Spain had a fundamental on 12040 to beware of --- but it`s axually on 12035, so never mind (gh, DXLD) ** SPAIN [and non]. 12015.00, Hefty heterodyne on this channel at 1900-2100 UT. REE Noblejas in French at 1920 UT June 14, and co- channel Pyongyang KRE in German on 12015.12 kHz underneath. 73 (Wolfgang Büschel, Germany, June 14, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SPAIN [and non]. I have been monitoring the former Euskadi Irratia's 1071 kHz channel, and am pleased with their absence - just as I would if many a channel would also be left without the exaggerated number or both private & government stations. Stations that so far were very difficult to receive on 1071 are now a daily catch: check ALGERIA (t), SAUDI ARABIA and IRAN. 73, (Carlos Gonçalves, Portugal, June 24, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SUDAN. 7200, SRTC, *0239-0429*, June 13, sign on with Qur`an. Arabic talk at 0240. “Huna Omdurman” IDs. Local chants. Time pips at 0300 & 0400 followed by possible news. Short breaks of local pop music. Announcements. Chirping birds. Fair to good but occasional ham QRM (Brian Alexander, PA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SUDAN [non]. USA (non) Frequency change of VOA R. Sawa Hello Darfur in Sudanese Arabic: 0300-0330 NF 9650 SAO 100 kW / 076 deg, ex 11635 \\ 4960 SAO, 5995 NAU (DX Mix News, Bulgaria, 22 June via DXLD) ** SUDAN [and non]. RADIO MINISTRY SPREADS IN SUDAN Words of Hope http://www.woh.org/ is preparing to expand its radio broadcasts in Sudan. Its Spirit FM station has been broadcasting from Yei since September 2008, covering an area near the Uganda border. It wants to do more FM broadcasting in place of shortwave. “For many years the only real way of reaching that vast country was through shortwave,” explained Lee DeYoung, Words of Hope’s Vice President for Broadcasting. Spirit FM broadcasts in five different languages: Dinka, Nuer, Bari, Arabic, and English. It hopes to expand its programming to other local FM stations. “With people inside Sudan, we are exploring relationships with other FM stations,” Mr DeYoung said. “We want to begin, as we have already done in other places, to use a greater amount of local FM station broadcasting in addition to, and perhaps eventually in place of, the shortwave.” The opportunities could extend the success that Words of Hope has already enjoyed in the region. Its shortwave Gospel broadcasts in the Dinka and Nuer languages are already among the most listened-to radio programmes. In addition, radio broadcasting is a powerful influence in this part of Sudan. People rely on the radio for their information. “We’re encouraged that audience research in the past two years has indicated that, in some parts of Sudan, the shortwave broadcasts are the most listened-to communications media of any that were surveyed, having a much bigger presence over newspapers, or television, or satellite, or Internet,” DeYoung explained. “Radio is really the primary medium for many in south Sudan and throughout much of Africa.” (Source: Mission Network News) Andy Sennitt adds: As usual, the story did not include the schedule of the shortwave broadcasts, which is not on the Words of Hope website, and I was unable to find a current one elsewhere. If anyone knows the missing details, please post a comment (June 19th, 2009 - 9:29 UTC by Andy Sennitt, Media Network blog via DXLD) Prob. Via FEBA, TWR, etc. ** SWEDEN. R. Sweden, English at 1330 on 15735 is seldom listenable here, aimed eastward, but June 12 at 1337 I was surprised to hear a good signal, also despite only using inside antenna during T-storm, talking about Swedish elexions. Certainly the strongest signal from Europe on 19m --- but a couple minutes later it faded out to nearly nothing. Theory: at least the last hop was getting boosted by sporadic E over eastern NAm, as WWCR with Tony Alámo was inbooming on 15825; could have been additional Es hops between Sweden and here helping things along, but Es patches move around, and a weak link anywhere along the line would disrupt reception. BTW, I am surprised that hardly anyone else mentions Es in connexion with SW DX. If you are also a VHF DXer there is an obvious correlation (Glenn Hauser, OK, WORLD OF RADIO 1465, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SWEDEN. Tentative frequency change of Radio Sweden International in Russian: 1630-1700 NF 11600 HBY 500 kW / 070 deg, ex 9690 to avoid RRI in Romanian (DX Mix News, Bulgaria, June 17 via DXLD) ** SWEDEN. Reminder of SAQ transmission 2009-06-28 From Lars Kalland lars.kalland @ telia.com June 22, 2009 REMINDER! We will remind you of the Grimeton Radio/SAQ transmissions on 17.2 kHz, CW, with the Alexanderson alternator this coming Sunday June 28, "Alexanderson Day", at 0900 and 1200 UT. We will start tuning up some 30 minutes before message. The radio station is open to visitors. We are glad to receive reports and will exchange QSL-cards. Reports to: - E-mail to: info @ alexander.n.se - or fax to: +46-340-674195 - or via SM bureau - or direct by mail to: Alexander - Grimeton Veteranradios Vaenner, Radiostationen, Grimeton 72, SE-430 16 ROLFSTORP, SWEDEN Also read our web site: http://www.alexander.n.se Yours, Lars Kalland SM6NM (via Mike Terry, June 22, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1466, DXLD) ** SYRIA. Radio Damascus heard with strong signal and good modulation on 6/12 between 2100 and 2200 UT. Into Spanish Between 2200 and 2300. Best Wishes (Christopher Lewis, England, June 12, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Which Damascus frequency? (gh to Chris, via DXLD) Hi Glenn, 12085. Waiting to see if modulation is OK this evening; transmission starts in 15 minutes. From reading the interview, sounds as though the transmitters are on their last legs. Hope they install the news txrs soon. 9330 not been heard for a week or so. Best Regards (Chris Lewis, England, 2050 UT June 12, ibid.) Checked Damascus last night and reception was extremely weak. Not at all like previous evenings, when signals had been very strong. Maybe changed antenna azimuth. Best Regards (Chris Lewis, England, June 13, ibid.) Radio Damascus with intermittent modulation at 2100 UT on 12085. On 6/17 tuned in at 2100 on 12085 with fair to good modulation, and strong signal (Chris Lewis, England, June 18, DX LISTENING DIGEST) So the first log cited was on 6/18, or 6/16? (gh) 12085, R. Damascus, Jun 04 2100-2110, 45442-35432, English, News, // 9330 kHz (Kouji Hashimoto, Japan, Japan Premium via DXLD) Does the O=2 allude to the abysmal modulation? (gh, DXLD) ** TAIWAN. 9774, Fu Hsing BS (tentative), 1245-1300*, June 16. Thanks to a tip from Dan Sheedy (So. Calif.), I heard this station that is not often reported. Mostly talking in Chinese; played one EZL song in English; weak with adjacent QRM. Results of Dan’s monitoring: *0800-0820 and *1100-1115, June 13; 0950-1000*, June 8; 0832-1000*, June 7; with Chinese programming. On 13th & 15th Dan had positive 9774 // 9410. Between both of our logs, am fairly sure it’s them. Schedule: 0400-0600, 0800-1000 and 1100-1300 (Ron Howard, Asilomar Beach, CA, Etón E1, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1466, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Aoki, which does not believe in decimals, does list this on 9774, as 10 kW ND from Kuanyin in Chinese, daily 04-06, 08-10, 11-13 and 23-01 // 9410 and 15375. In domestic sexion, WRTH 2009 had this only on 5995 and 9410 as third program for the Mainland. Operated by Military Information Bureau, Ministry of National Defense. I`d think that would be plenty to get it jammed, but not a*terisked by Aoki (Glenn Hauser, DXLD) ** TAIWAN. 11570, June 24 at 1213 in Burmese, spelling out Family Radio address; per Aoki it`s 1200-1300, 100 kW, 265 degrees from Hu Wei site (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** TAIWAN. RTI, 9735, Japanese service, again producing spurs on adjacents, June 21 at 1329 check, buzzy hets varying slightly on CRI 9730 and BBC 9740. Other days, no such problem (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** TAIWAN [non]. Hi Guys - I received a letter from Radio Taiwan today, dated May 26, that they are adding two new broadcasts to America beginning June 15, they will not replace any existing broadcasts: 0200-0300 ut 9680 aimed at the Midwest 0500-0600 ut 5950 aimed at the West Coast Sincerely - (Dean Bonanno, Durham, CT, June 10, DX LISTENING DIGEST) RTI confirmed with new 0500 English relay via WYFR: UT Wednesday June 17 at 0544 on 5950, Chinese classical music rudely interrupted for RTI ID in English, Jade Bells & Bamboo Pipes, with Carson Wong, then into another selexion. VG reception here of course (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** TAIWAN [non]. R. Taiwan Int "Taiwan Indie" program --- Listened to R. Taiwan Int. via the WYFR Okeechobee, Florida relay June 12, 2009 *0200-0259*, 5950. SIO 544 Enjoyable and informative mix of programming. However, the language on "Taiwan Indie" was shocking. Many curse words including the word "f***". I was glad my children were not listening with me as they do not need to hear these words. I'm sure the announcer and/or Radio Taiwan International believes they are being hip or connecting with a younger audience with such language. These types of words have no place in an international broadcast especially from a radio station representing a country (in this case the Republic of China). 73, (Kraig, KG4LAC, Krist, Manassas, Virginia, USA, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1466, DX LISTENING DIGEST) This led to a long thread discussing whether swearing should be allowed on SW, who should control it, and even whether swear words should be allowed in a yg when discussing the issue! Geez, grow up, people. Most of the discussion is omitted here, until we get to the consequences. BTW, I just heard a drama on a US public radio station webcast say ``**ck** up``. And do I ever feel silly putting in the asterisks, but they should be spread around (Glenn Hauser, DXLD) RADIO TAIWAN INTERNATIONAL CANCELS SHOW During the weekend there was lots of talk on the room about the show Taiwan Indie and the use of offensive language on it. For those out of the loop David Frazer the producer/presenter let the F word and S word air on the program. This morning I was notified that Taiwan Indie has been canceled and that David Frazer has been let go. Below is the letter that has been sent to listeners who wrote RTI about this: "We would like to offer our sincerest apologies for the program containing inappropriate language, "Taiwan Indie" which aired on Friday, June 12th. This type of programming is not representative of Radio Taiwan International, nor the Republic of China, and indeed we have a strict code which bans this type of language and content. Furthermore, we are aware of the severity of this type of mistake, and have moved swiftly to deal with the problem. RTI has cancelled the offending program and terminated the contract of the program host. In addition, we have conducted an internal review of our programming policy in order to ensure that this does not happen again. Sincerely, Paula" (via Keith Perron, Taiwan, June 16, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1466, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Wasn't my intention to get anyone fired or have the show canceled. Quite an overreaction by RTI. A simple "use discretion -- never know whom is listening or the age(s) of the audience" talk with the host would have been sufficient. 73, (Kraig, KG4LAC, Krist, ibid.) The station which relayed RTI is under FCC regulations, and RTI could also be subject to fines. My friend at RTI told me that a few listeners wrote in from the US and Europe over the comments. You right Kraig it might be an over reaction, but you also need to look at the politics of the larger picture. RTI right now is trying to get more money, and I think they could see any type of bad PR work against them. Also if you lived in this part of the world you also have to take in consideration what media in China would say. The propaganda machine in China could use this kind of thing to slam RTI. It has happened before. When RTI changed it's name from Voice Of Free China, media in China was reporting that this was Taiwan's way of saying we are independent and that Taiwan should be taken by force. Also I think RTI should be commended for dealing with this right away and willing to admit a mistake and taking responsibility. Don't forget RTI is the voice of the Republic Of China (Taiwan) it's not a private owned broadcaster (Keith Perron, Taiwan, ibid.) As of today, Tuesday, June 16, 2009 I have not had a reply from RTI concerning my comments on the show. Is this typical, "People only listen to get a QSL", but then when people make program comments, they are ignored? I always make it a point to comment on something in the broadcast. Rarely do I get a reply. I know people are busy. However, I do think these are probably not being read. Or, they are read and ignored. Someone, perhaps it was you Keith, originally suggested I contact WYFR about what I heard on the RTI broadcast. I didn't do so as I didn't want WYFR to cancel the relay. About music via Saudi Arabia, listen to the Voice of Turkey for some surprisingly frank talk on concubines. 73, (Kraig, KG4LAC, Krist, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) See also SAUDI ARABIA Well, the guy is fired, the show is canceled. What else do you want? ;) RTI is perhaps too embarrassed with the whole thing to write to you. Or maybe their lawyers advised them not to admit their fault no matter what ;) I guess potentially, FCC can go after WYFR, not RTI. I heard heavy swearing on WBCQ before. FCC seems to be ok with that as long as there are no wardrobe malfunctions on the national TV. FCC doesn't really care much about the SW programming. 73! (Sergei S. ibid.) One thing you need to be aware of when you send an email to an international broadcaster is sometimes depending on the email you send it from it could also be filtered and perhaps by accident just went into junk mail. Also RTI is very understaffed at the moment. What email are you sending it to? Or are you using the online forum? I can look into it for you from this end. I know the English staff and they do all they can to reply back. Also I did not suggest you contact WYFR. The relay on WYFR is paid for by RTI (Keith Perron, Taiwan, ibid.) I used the email address from the 2009 WRTH. 73, (Kraig Krist, ibid.) Next time it's better of you use the online form on the website. As at least it would not by accident get put in junk mail. it does happen. Just last week I found an email from a listener to HS from April, which had gone into my junk mail. I do check it but not often (Keith Perron, ibid.) Open letter to RTI listeners --- Dear listeners, It has come to our attention that one of our programs may have contained objectionable content. We would like to offer our sincerest apologies and ensure you that Radio Taiwan International is dedicated to offering quality programming that can be enjoyed by the whole family. We are in the process of conducting an internal review, and would like to encourage listeners to continue offering suggestions and feedback so that we can together create better quality programs in the future! Sincerely, The Staff of Radio Taiwan International === (From RTI English website http://english.rti.org.tw/Content/WhatsNewSingle.aspx?ContentID=80890 via Alokesh Gupta, New Delhi, June 18, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Received an email from RTI (spelling mistakes are theirs as I copied the email and pasted the contents here). Dear Kraig: I am glad to hear that you enjoy listening to RTI's English programming. We would like to take this opportunity to offer our sincere apology for the inapporpriate language used in Taiwan Indie. It was a mistake and RTI stricts bans obscene language in its daily broadcast. As a matter of fact, we have already cancellled the show and has terminiated our contract with the progarm host. We have also conducted an internal review to prevent similar mistakes from happening again. It is our hope that you will continue to support us by telling us your comments and suggestions about our programming. Best regards, Paula Chao Here is my reply: Dear Ms. Chao, Thank you for the reply. It was not my intention to have the show canceled or have the host fired. Somewhat of an overreaction by RTI. I believe a talk with the host pointing out he needs to use discretion as he didn't know the age(s) of worldwide listeners (meaning possibly children) nor, perhaps, the offensive content of the words. In the US the s*** word is not that bad, but it is considered a swear word. However, the f*** word probably is probably the ultimate swear word. Telling someone to go f*** themselves is very, very bad. Some people say the word as much as they breathe or as often as cliché words such as "like, you know, whatever, 24/7" etc. Unfortunately, some music, especially ghetto rap type songs, uses the f*** word repeatedly. Do I want my children hearing such words from an international broadcaster? No. Do I want my children saying these words? Absolutely not. Thanks again for your attention in this matter. Possible to give the show and the host a second chance? After all we are only human -- we all make mistakes. It is what people do after they make a mistake, have been informed they've made a mistake, that demonstrates their character. 73, (Kraig, KG4LAC, Krist, Manassas, Virginia, USA, via dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** THAILAND. 8-Jun-09 // 2359 UT // 15275 // Radio Thailand // 250 kW // Udon Thani, Thailand // About one minute of white noise then carrier appeared followed very shortly by time pips then male with "This is Radio Thailand, English language service." Into female with "Good morning, this is Radio Thailand's News Hour for Tuesday, June 9, 2009." Signal became stronger over the next 30 minutes. Clear ID at 0013: "You're listening to Radio Thailand news." Abrupt loss of signal at 0030 (presumed beam heading switch). // Thanks to Brian Alexander for posting his log of this station on 5-Jun-09 which prompted me to try for it. Entire 31 minute MP3 recording (including the first minute of white noise!!) can be found here: http://www.21centimeter.com/21centimeter/Recordings/15275-khz_2359-UTC_8-Jun-09_Radio-Thailand_Udon-Thani_Thailand.mp3 Rgds, (-Pete Jernakoff- K3KMS, Wilmington, DE, ABDX via DXLD) 15275, R. Thailand, 0155, 6/10/09. Thai chatter until 0200. Chimes IS and full ID, "This is HSK9, R. Thailand's world service, broadcasting from the public relations department in Bangkok". English news followed. Weak but in the clear (Jerry Strawman, Des Moines, IA, Drake R8, Alpha Delta Sloper, Wellbrook ALA-100 Loop http://www.radiodx.net/wordpress/ Cumbredx mailing list via DXLD) ** TIBET. 7350, CNR-11 (Tibetan service), 1430-1450, June 12. “Holy Tibet” program; C.N.R. ID; talking about Tibet and giving amounts of money (“Renminbi”) for Tibet; segment “Eyes on Tibet”; traditional Tibetan music and singing; mostly poor; // 6010 (Ron Howard, Asilomar Beach, CA, Etón E1, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** TIBET [and non]. 15430 in Chinese, and 1000 Hz heterodyne of 15429 kHz, latter maybe Voice of Tibet in Tibetan?, at 1300-1330/1330-1400 UT? 15412 V of Tibet via Dushanbe-TJK in Tibetan, strong het by DWL Kigali 15410 at 1300-1330 UT. 73 wb (Wolfgang Büschel, Germany, June 10, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Voice of Tibet via Yangiyul, Tajikistan. June 12, noted carrier on 15412.0 at 1324, along with strong Firedrake on 15410.0. FD off at 1330, leaving VOT in the clear. After 1335 VOT was heard on 15414.0 with fair reception and FD starting up again at 1335, again on 15410.0. At 1400 both VOT and FD suddenly went off-the-air. Thanks to Dragan Lekic’s (Serbia) dxldyg posting yesterday and to Hiroshi and S. Hasegawa (Japan) for the information in DXLD 9-047 (CHINA[non]) (Ron Howard, Asilomar Beach, CA, Etón E1, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) VoT noted also on 17500v and 17550v-17560v (Wolfgang Büschel, Germany, BC-DX June 13 via DXLD) TIBET/CHINA/MADAGASCAR: 17550 kHz, noted today, at 1330-1400 UT, mostly between Firedrake music renditions, and, also beneath same music. Dhabbaiya [UAE] site, per Aoki. Also on 17560, via Talata, with weak signal, but no Firedrake. At 1400 there was no break, only music bridge, ID and news. Although I'm not an expert, spoken language was not Mandarin and I think that CNR programs always ID on TOH. Even so I think I'll consider this log as presumed. 2009/06/15 (José Pedro Turner, Portugal, June 15, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** TURKEY. VOT, 9830, fair signal amid English to NAm at 2231 June 9 as Chris Lewis, England, was on phone for the n-th time on Live from Turkey, except this isn`t live but a playback of the 1830 broadcast -- - and this time with no RTTY QRM audible. I`m sure it will be back. VOT still hasn`t even acknowledged my recording of RTTY way over them on a previous date. Also checked June 8 and the RTTY was on but VOT signal underneath was a bit better than it had been. VOT buried but audible under RTTY on 9830.0, June 11 at 2201 as English broadcast began, on the DX-398 in the yard. Earlier listened to webcast of the 1230 Thursday broadcast (still labeled 1330!) with a new caller on Live from Turkey! --- Marty Delfín in Madrid, but the host kept referring to him as ``Mr. Martin``, and was eager to have him keep in contact. If I had heard that on SW, it would have been on 15450 at 1300. Presumably this transmission does not repeat later on SW unlike on Tuesdays when another LFT originally airs at 1850+, and the next three English hours? (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** TURKEY. About music via Saudi Arabia, listen to the Voice of Turkey for some surprisingly frank talk on concubines. 73, (Kraig, KG4LAC, Krist, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Actually I heard one or two of those reports in Russian on Turkey's tourist radio about a year ago. (This multilingual FM-network carries occasional bits and pieces from VOT's output.) It was ok. I thought VOT worked hard on glamorizing the whole phenomenon. Note that the Bulgarians, Armenians, Russia's Cherkess exiles and other "foreign" subjects of the Ottoman Empire provided a radically different perspective. 73! (Sergei S. ibid.) ** U K. Re 9-048, Spectrum 558: Why skip NewsHour on UT Saturday? (gh, DXLD) --- World Radio Network have Newshour UT Saturday. Spectrum have Paradise Club 0100-0400, a programme of Mauritian/Caribbean music, which may well be paid for airtime (Mike Barraclough, England, June 9, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U K. Radio head: BBC Asian Network Zoe Williams, The Guardian, Wednesday 10 June 2009 http://www.guardian.co.uk/culture/2009/jun/10/bbc-asian-network BBC Asian Network is a massive success story (it was recently up for a Sony Award) but I rudely shrugged it off because I never listen to it. Not because I'm not Asian - I just have an aversion to phone-ins which is two-pronged. It's boring to listen to someone bang on about current affairs. If it wasn't boring, I could listen to any given member of my family, or they could listen to me. It's a two-way street, which none of us want to live on: that's why we bought a radio in the first place. Secondly, I am embarrassed by a rude host. I feel a bit flushed and prickly at even a Dimbleby put-down, surely the most courteous of the put-down genus. My aversion is all predicated on the idea that everyone who isn't the host will talk rubbish because sensible people don't call phone-ins. Sensible people do, in fact, call the Asian Network - so in a week with an issue which has massive ramifications for the British Asian population (say, as a wild for-instance, the BNP has won its first- ever seats in the European parliament), this is as good as a current- affairs phone-in will get. Nihal (somewhat overworked, I think, with a daily lunchtime slot, a weekly late-night music programme, a show on Radio 1) was away, and Sonia Deol was covering. She is somewhat high- handed. "How do you feel about the results?" "A combination of rage and shame," started her caller. "Right, can you hold on for a minute," she bounced back, and played a record. It's not the time you want to be on hold, is it - ashamed and raging? A BNP-voter, Lee Ingram, came on, which I did think took some cojones, telling Sonia she ought to be voluntarily repatriated to a country she'd never even been to. A teacher from Leicester, whose family were originally Ugandan, wiped the floor with Lee, so calmly and methodically it was like watching him do up his shoelaces. That's what's missing from other phone-ins: it's not sensible people, it's the triumph of good over evil. Normally, the best you will get is the slightly-less-daft being shouted at by the daft (via Zacharias Liangas, Greece, DXLD) ** U K [non]. 15725/11860, BBC, Persian special --- Ralf Ladusch in A- DX report: ?1000-1200? UT BBC London in Persian, 11860 and 15725 kHz. Nothing discovered on http://www.bbc.co.uk/persian/radio/radioschedule/ http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/schedules/frequencies/index.shtml At 1215 UT silent. Zyyi Cyprus relay? Special broadcast on the western media Hype? 73 (Wolfgang Büschel, June 18, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Viz: ----- Original Message ----- From: "Wolfgang Bueschel" Sent: Thursday, June 18, 2009 2:12 PM Subject: Re: [A-DX] 15725, BBC, Welcher Sender? Wirklich BBC ? Dann ist das eine Extra die Wahl betreffende Sendung. Zypern oder U.K. spaeter dann VoA Urdu 1300-1400 UDORN-THA 300 15725 1300-1400 UDORN-THA 300 11835 1300-2400 Al Dhabbaya-UAE 70 1539 1300-2400 Dushanbe-TJK 1000 972 73 wb Subject: [A-DX] 15725, BBC, Welcher Sender? Hallo zusammen, auf 15725 khz laeuft derzeit BBC in Farsi (o.ae.) mit O=3. (10:59UTC, 18.06.2009) Welcher Sender wird genutzt??? vy73 Ralf I've heard 15725 kHz with a good signal at 1026z, so it is probably CYPrus. The program feed was from BBC Persian TV - continuous loop music. I stopped listening at 1029z and switched to FM, to hear BBC Serbian on local affiliate :) 73 (Dragan Lekic, Serbia, ibid.) Log this morning: lousy conditions. BBC Farsi TV tone relay on SW: SSB mode 11860 kHz at 0850 UT carrier only S=0-1, tiny Persian signal from Cyprus relay site ? Better on 15725 kHz, S=2-3 (Wolfgang Büschel, Germany, June 19, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Between 0800 and 1200 on 11860 and 15725, likely from Zyyi, Cyprus ? Today noted farsi speech to the crowd from Tehran? at 1230 UT on 15650 RMP and 17530 RMP. 73 (Wolfgang Büschel, June 19, ibid.) Die bekannten Kurzwellensendungen der BBC in Persisch. 7320 0230 0330 40 SKN 300 90 11855 0230 0330 40 SLA 250 335 9565 0230 0430 40 RMP 500 95 11855 0330 0430 40 CYP 300 97 15650 1200 1400 40 RMP 500 95 17530 1200 1500 40 RMP 500 95 15215 1400 1500 40 RMP 500 95 13840 1500 1600 40 RMP 500 95 15550 1500 1600 40 RMP 500 95 6100 1600 1630 40 NAK 250 300 9915 1600 1630 40 CYP 250 77 5875 1600 1700 40 CYP 300 97 6090 1600 1700 40 SLA 250 335 6195 1600 1700 27SE,28W SKN 300 110 13610 1600 1700 40 SKN 300 90 9810 1700 1800 40E,41NW SNG 250 315 13845 1700 1900 40 RMP 500 95 6125 1800 1900 40 DHA 250 345 5975 1900 2100 40 NAK 250 305 7270 1900 2100 40 CYP 250 97 5875 2100 2200 40 CYP 250 97 6185 2200 2300 40 CYP 250 97 5875 2300 2400 40 CYP 250 97 (Wolfgang Büschel, June 18, ADX via DXLD) 11860 = DHA 15725 = CYP -- According to monitoring schedule (log), there are just added transmissions from BBC Persian to the IBB Monitoring Baghdad station: http://nea.ibbmonitor.com/RMS_Data/Scripts/2009_06_19/BAGH/RMS_SCRIPT_BAGH_090619_131602.TXT 0000-0100 7410 CYP 0000-0230 6095 SKN 0100-0230 7410 SKN 0430-0600 11855 SLA 0430-0600 9565 DHA 0600-1200 15725 CYP 0600-1200 11860 DHA 1200-1500 17530 SKN 1200-1400 15650 SKN 1400-1500 15215 SKN 1500-1600 15550 SKN 1500-1600 13840 SKN 1700-1900 13845 SKN 1700-1800 9810 SKN 1800-1900 6125 DHA 1900-2100 7270 CYP 1900-2100 5975 NAK 2100-2200 5875 CYP 2200-2300 6185 CYP 2300-2400 5875 CYP (Dragan Lekic, Serbia, ibid.) BBC Persian 24/7 --- As the pre-crisis BBC Persian transmissions were at 0230-0430 and 1600-1700, the additional schedule above indicates the use of at least one SW frequency around the clock for BBC Persian. I understand that when there is no BBC Persian radio to be broadcast, the transmitters relay the audio of BBC Persian TV (Chris Greenway, England, June 20, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Except for the two hours between 0230 and 0430, corresponding to 7 AM to 9 AM local time, or do I overlook something? Are there certain reasons for this scheduling, i.e. why not pausing between 3 AM and 5 AM or so, as a European would consider as natural choice? (Kai Ludwig, ibid.) ** U K [and non]. Additional transmissions of BBC in Farsi: 0600-1000 on 11860 DHA 250 kW / 345 deg, 15725 CYP 250 kW / 097 deg 1200-1400 on 15650 RMP 500 kW / 095 deg, 17530 RMP 500 kW / 095 deg 1400-1500 on 15215 RMP 500 kW / 095 deg, 17530 RMP 500 kW / 095 deg 1500-1600 on 13840 RMP 500 kW / 095 deg, 15550 RMP 500 kW / 095 deg 1700-1800 on 9810 SNG 250 kW / 315 deg, 13845 RMP 500 kW / 095 deg 1800-1900 on 6125 DHA 250 kW / 345 deg, 13845 RMP 500 kW / 095 deg 1900-2100 on 5975 NAK 250 kW / 305 deg, 7270 CYP 250 kW / 097 deg 2100-2200 on 5875 CYP 250 kW / 097 deg 2200-2300 on 6185 CYP 250 kW / 097 deg 2300-2400 on 5875 CYP 250 kW / 097 deg (DX Mix News, Bulgaria, 22 June via DXLD) Even more additional transmissions of BBC in Farsi: 0000-0200 on 6095 RMP 500 kW / 095 deg, 7410 CYP 250 kW / 090 deg >>>>> new from June 22 0200-0230 on 6095 DHA 250 kW / 345 deg, 7410 RMP 500 kW / 095 deg >>>>> new from June 22 0330-0430 on 9565 DHA 250 kW / 345 deg >>>>> new from June 22 0430-0600 on 9565 DHA 250 kW / 345 deg, 11855 CYP 250 kW / 097 deg >>>>> new from June 22 0600-1030 on 11860 DHA 250 kW / 345 deg, 15725 CYP 250 kW / 097 deg >>>>> correction 1030-1200 on 11860 DHA 250 kW / 345 deg, 15725 CYP 250 kW / 081 deg >>>>> correction 1200-1400 on 15650 RMP 500 kW / 095 deg, 17530 RMP 500 kW / 095 deg 1400-1500 on 15215 RMP 500 kW / 095 deg, 17530 RMP 500 kW / 095 deg 1500-1600 on 13840 RMP 500 kW / 095 deg, 15550 RMP 500 kW / 095 deg 1700-1800 on 9810 SNG 250 kW / 315 deg, 13845 RMP 500 kW / 095 deg 1800-1900 on 6125 DHA 250 kW / 345 deg, 13845 RMP 500 kW / 095 deg 1900-2100 on 5975 NAK 250 kW / 305 deg, 7270 CYP 250 kW / 097 deg 2100-2200 on 5875 CYP 250 kW / 097 deg 2200-2300 on 6185 CYP 250 kW / 097 deg 2300-2400 on 5875 CYP 250 kW / 097 deg Regards (Ivo Ivanov, DX Mix News, later June 22, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U K. BBC BANGLA STRUGGLES TO SWITCH TO BANGLADESH LOCAL TIME It took me 24 hours and whole of 20th June 2009 to realise that BBC Bangla had changed its broadcast times and frequencies to adjust to the Bangladesh local time which was advanced by one hour on 19th June 2009 at 1700 hours UT. As a regular listener of BBC Bangla when I missed their second broadcast at 0130 UT on 20th June 09, I checked their streaming audio to find one day old stale programs still being aired. The shortwave frequencies had announcements saying that no program was available. No other details were given. The BBC Bangla website frequency information is notoriously backdated and still showed old B08 schedules even three months after the change.By the end of the day the streaming audio were either airing BBC WS English or stale news. To add to my confusion, the 0030-0100 UT broadcast of 21st June 09 called itself "Protyusha" which is the name of their second program 0130-0200 UT. The closing announcements asked Indian listeners to come back at 7.0 pm Indian evening. This should have been "6 pm Indian evening". The BBC Bangla website on 21st June 09 at 0100 had not been updated for 36 hours. The chaos was total! However, the streaming audio in the website had been updated and this is what I gathered. BBC Bangla from 20th June 2009 2330-0000 UT: 6065, 9505, 11695 kHz 0030-0100 UT: 6065, 9570, 11850 kHz 1230-1300 UT: 9590, 7350, 17615 kHz 1530-1600 UT: 5965, 9510, 11685 kHz (Supratik Sanatani, June 20, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U K. BBC RADIO INTERNET STREAMS NOW IN IMPROVED QUALITY Another exciting new sound for BBC Radio James Cridland | 10:30 AM, Friday, 19 June 2009 "Welcome to the exciting new sound of Radio 1!" Those words, spoken on 30 September 1967 by Tony Blackburn, heralded a new sound to the airwaves. And today on the BBC iPlayer, I'm proud to also be able to welcome something new - this time, an "exciting new sound" for all our UK national radio stations on the internet, as we make a number of changes to our live and on-demand streaming infrastructure. Full details and link to Iplayer Radio Help board at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/bbcinternet/2009/06/better_sound_for_bbc_radio.html (via Mike Barraclough, UK, June 19, dxldyg via DXLD) BBC iPlayer - Help - Where can I find the Real and Windows Media streams to listen live to local radio and the World Service? Those who use Internet Radios to listen to BBC live programming might find this information handy, if your radio's database provider hasn't updated its feeds for the stations you listen to: http://iplayerhelp.external.bbc.co.uk/help/streaming_programmes/local_radio_streams (Richard Cuff / Allentown, PA USA, June 20, Swprograms mailing list via DXLD) BBC SWITCHES TO FLASH FOR LIVE STREAMING The BBC iPlayer now uses Flash-based streams for live radio as well as on-demand radio on all its UK national radio stations. For live radio, the BBC iPlayer requires Flash Player v9.0.115 or above - which has been freely available since December 2007. In the UK, the opportunity has been taken to greatly increase the audio quality: doubling the bitrates for most live streams, and using a significantly more efficient audio codec which increases the audio quality yet further. The results are excellent, says the BBC’s Executive Producer A/V Products, James Cridland in the BBC’s Internet blog. For overseas listeners, the BBC is using 48kbps HE-AAC v2 format stereo streams (known by some as aacPlus) for all stations, excepting BBC Radio 5 Live which is a 32kbps HE-AAC v1 mono stream. Read the full blog posting from James Cridland http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/bbcinternet/2009/06/better_sound_for_bbc_radio.html (June 21st, 2009 - 12:52 UTC by Andy Sennitt, Media Network blog via DXLD) 3 comments so far 1 Hotbirdwatcher June 21st, 2009 - 17:33 UTC On this page http://iplayerhelp.external.bbc.co.uk/help/finding_programmes/real_wma_streams the BBC reveals all the URLs of the WMA streams. Also BBC Radio4 now has one. So even with an internet radio that is not capable to receive Real Audio streams you can receive this station now. Thanks a lot beeb! 2 James Cridland June 22nd, 2009 - 19:36 UTC Pleasure, hotbirdwatcher - we rolled out the FM stations (R1, R2, R3 and R4) in Windows Media as part of this release. (And the BBC iPlayer is the only place to find BBC Radio 4 LW in… stereo, oddly. No, really.) 3 Ryan Morrison June 23rd, 2009 - 11:15 UTC All BBC Local Radio stations will be going flash with a Windows Media version by August as well - making all BBC Radio available as flash and windows media and saying goodbye to Real. James - any idea why we can’t deep link radio in the same way we can for TV on the iPlayer? Is it a music rights thing? (comments, ibid.) ** U K. DIGITAL BRITAIN: ANALOGUE RADIO SWITCH-OFF SET FOR 2015 Government unveils ambitious targets for move to digital radio John Plunkett, guardian.co.uk, Tuesday 16 June 2009 16.28 BST All the UK's national radio stations and many local services will stop broadcasting on analogue by the end of 2015, according to ambitious switch-off targets unveiled by the government today. . . http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2009/jun/16/digital-britain-analogue-radio-switchoff (via Alokesh Gupta, New Delhi, India, June 16, dxldyg via DXLD) ** U K. DIGITAL BRITAIN SETS U.K. RADIO DIGITAL SWITCH FOR 2015 The U.K. government's long-anticipated DIGITAL BRITAIN report has set 2015 as the date that radio is to permanently switch over from analog to digital. The plan proposes that existing radio station licenses be extended for up to seven years and requires that 50% of all radio listening be to digital signals by 2013, a sharp increase from today's 20%. Under the plan, all new car radios will be required to offer DAB by the end of 2013; all analog AM stations will be required to move to DAB, while the emptied FM band will be opened to a class of very small new community radio stations. The digital plan is part of a wide-ranging report from Lord CARTER that proposes a roadmap for the communications industry in the U.K. for the coming years, including universal broadband access, requirements that ISPs keep track of illegal downloaders, and changes to CHANNEL 4's remit to allow a joint venture with BBC WORLDWIDE and changes in children's television (allaccess,com via Brock Whaley, Oahu, June 17, DX Listening Digest) ** U K. National Radio to upgrade to digital by 2015 Lord Carter's 'Digital Britain' 245-page report was published today. This summary of its proposals for radio from Radio Today: [NATIONAL] RADIO TO GO DIGITAL BY 2015 Culture Secretary Ben Bradshaw has announced the government's intention to upgrade all national stations from analogue to digital by 2015. The statement preceded the hotly anticipated Digital Britain report. The report also includes a recommendation that all new car radios sold in the UK by the end of 2013 should be digital, similar to legislation already introduced in France. . . http://radiotoday.co.uk/news.php?extend.4854 (via Alan Pennington, BDXC-UK via DXLD) UK GOVT. REPORT SAYS NATIONAL RADIO STATIONS TO BE DAB-ONLY FROM 2015 The UK Government published its final Digital Britain report today with a number of actions to secure DAB digital radio as the primary radio broadcast platform in the UK. It proposes all national radio stations will be transmitted on DAB-only within 6 years, signalling the end of national FM services in the UK. A five point plan for DAB to be in all new cars by 2013 is proposed and the report calls on the European Commission to lead a common Europe-wide approach to digital radio. The UK government proposes that radio will undergo a Digital Upgrade so that all UK national broadcast radio stations are DAB-only from the end of 2015. . . http://blogs.rnw.nl/medianetwork/uk-govt-report-says-national-radio-stations-to-be-dab-only-from-2015 (June 16th, 2009 - 17:58 UTC by Andy Sennitt, Media Network blog via DXLD) + 17 comments so far as of 24 June ** U S A [and non]. V O I C E O F A M E R I C A A 0 9 ------------------------------------- updated schedule, as of June 22, 2009 AFAN OROMO 1730 1800 11520 BOT 010 MO-FR 1730 1800 11905 NAU 140 MO-FR 1730 1800 11925 SAO 076 MO-FR 1730 1800 12140 IRA 275 MO-FR 1730 1800 13870 WER 150 MO-FR ALBANIAN 0500 0530 5945 BIB 126 1600 1630 9605 BIB 105 1830 1900 3995 BIB 088 AMHARIC 1800 1900 11520 LAM 132 1800 1900 11905 UDO 276 1800 1900 11925 SAO 076 1800 1900 12140 WER 150 1800 1900 13870 NAU 140 ARABIC (SAWA) 0000 0400 1431 DJI 325 0000 0600 1548 KWT 323 0000 2400 1170 DHB 000 0000 2400 990 CYP 134 0600 1400 1548 KWT 323 1400 2400 1548 KWT 323 1630 2400 1431 DJI 325 ARABIC TO SUDAN (SAWA) 0300 0330 4960 SAO 030 0300 0330 5995 NAU 150 0300 0330 9650 SAO 076 1800 1830 11635 BOT 010 1800 1830 4960 SAO 030 1800 1830 9650 IRA 275 1900 1930 11635 LAM 132 1900 1930 5880 IRA 275 1900 1930 9650 WER 150 AZERBAIJANI 1730 1800 13580 LAM 092 1730 1800 5830 BIB 105 1730 1800 7215 BIB 088 BANGLA 0130 0200 11735 IRA 033 0130 0200 15205 PHT 283 1600 1630 1575 BAK 145 1600 1700 7260 UDO 284 1600 1700 9320 PHT 270 1630 1700 1575 BAK 145 BURMESE 0000 0030 1575 BAK 145 0000 0030 6035 UDO 280 0000 0030 7430 IRA 057 0000 0030 9325 PHT 270 0130 0300 11820 IRA 057 0130 0300 15110 PHX 280 0130 0300 17775 PHT 283 1130 1230 11965 PHT 283 1130 1230 15620 PHT 283 1130 1230 17775 TIN 279 1430 1500 1575 BAK 145 1430 1530 11910 PHT 283 1430 1530 12120 IRA 057 1430 1530 5865 PHX 285 1430 1530 9325 PHX 285 1500 1530 1575 BAK 145 1530 1600 1575 BAK 145 1530 1630 5865 PHX 285 1530 1630 9940 PHT 283 2300 2400 6185 UDO 280 2300 2400 7430 IRA 057 2300 2400 9325 PHT 270 CANTONESE 1300 1400 9355 SAI 285 1300 1500 1170 PHP 332 1300 1500 7365 PHT 332 1400 1500 9355 SAI 310 CREOLE 1130 1200 15390 GB 164 MO-FR 1130 1200 9660 GB 184 MO-FR 1630 1700 15390 GB 174 1630 1700 17565 GB 174 1700 1730 15390 GB 174 WE 1700 1730 17565 GB 174 WE 2100 2130 11895 GB 174 2100 2130 13725 GB 168 2100 2130 15390 GB 174 CROATIAN 0430 0500 5975 BIB 126 1830 1845 6060 BIB 126 1830 1845 7295 BIB 126 DARI (ASHNA) 0130 0200 12140 UDO 297 0130 0230 1296 KAB 999 0130 0230 9335 UDO 300 0200 0230 12140 UDO 297 1530 1630 1296 KAB 999 1530 1630 15090 KWT 070 1530 1630 15380 WER 105 1530 1630 9335 KWT 070 1730 1830 11565 KWT 070 1730 1830 11580 KWT 070 1730 1830 1296 KAB 999 1730 1830 9335 KWT 070 1930 2030 1296 KAB 999 1930 2030 7555 KWT 070 1930 2030 7595 UDO 304 ENGLISH TO AFGHANISTAN 0000 0030 1296 KAB 999 0000 0030 7555 KWT 070 2030 2400 1296 KAB 999 2030 2400 7555 KWT 070 ENGLISH TO AFRICA 0300 0330 15580 IRA 279 0300 0400 9885 BOT 350 0300 0430 1530 SAO 040 0300 0500 6080 SAO 138 0300 0600 4930 BOT 020 0300 0600 909 BOT 999 0330 0600 15580 IRA 263 0400 0430 9885 MDC 335 0400 0500 12080 MDC 335 0400 0500 4960 SAO 030 0430 0500 9885 GB 091 0500 0600 12080 BOT 010 0500 0600 6080 SAO 138 0600 0700 12080 BOT 010 0600 0700 1530 SAO 040 0600 0700 15580 IRA 263 0600 0700 6080 SAO 335 0600 0700 909 BOT 999 1400 1430 17585 GB 094 1400 1500 11715 PHX 220 1400 1500 13570 SAO 100 1400 1500 15580 SAO 138 1400 1700 4930 BOT 020 1400 1700 6080 SAO 138 1430 1500 17585 BOT 350 1500 1530 13570 BOT 010 1500 1530 15580 SAO 124 1500 1530 17895 BOT 350 1530 1600 13570 BOT 010 1530 1600 17895 BOT 350 1530 1700 15580 BOT 350 1600 1700 1530 SAO 040 1600 1700 909 BOT 999 1600 1800 9885 GB 091 1700 1730 11835 MEY 330 1700 1730 15580 BOT 350 1700 1800 15675 GB 094 SA-SU 1700 1800 6080 SAO 138 1730 1900 17895 GB 094 1730 2200 15580 BOT 350 1800 1830 4930 BOT 020 SA-SU 1800 1830 909 BOT 999 SA-SU 1800 1900 11975 SAO 114 1800 1900 9885 IRA 275 1800 2100 6080 SAO 138 1830 2100 4930 BOT 020 1830 2100 909 BOT 999 1900 2000 6120 MEY 335 1900 2030 4940 SAO 030 1900 2030 9885 BOT 350 1900 2100 17895 GB 094 2000 2100 1530 SAO 040 2030 2100 9885 GB 091 2100 2200 1530 SAO 040 2100 2200 6080 SAO 138 ENGLISH TO ASIA & PACIFIC 0100 0200 11705 UDO 280 0100 0200 7430 KWT 070 0100 0200 9780 IRA 352 1100 1130 1575 BAK 145 SA-SU 1130 1200 1575 BAK 145 1200 1300 1170 PHP 332 1200 1300 12075 IRA 049 1200 1300 6140 PHT 200 1200 1300 7575 UDO 030 1200 1400 9510 UDO 130 1200 1500 9760 PHT 021 1300 1400 7575 PHT 021 1300 1500 9760 PHT 270 1400 1600 7545 PHT 270 1400 1600 7575 UDO 268 1500 1600 12150 IRA 332 1500 1600 9700 UDO 292 2200 2300 5915 UDO 018 2200 2300 7460 KWT 058 2200 2400 11955 PHT 021 2200 2400 5895 PHX 285 2200 2400 7480 PHT 270 2200 2400 9415 PHT 150 2230 2400 1575 BAK 145 FR-SA 2300 2400 13755 UDO 030 2300 2400 1593 KWT 350 2300 2400 5915 UDO 018 ENGLISH TO EUROPE, NORTH AFRICA & THE MIDDLE EAST 0100 0130 1593 KWT 350 1400 1500 15530 LAM 092 1400 1500 17740 BOT 010 1500 1600 12005 LAM 104 1500 1600 15530 BIB 085 ENGLISH - SPECIAL 0000 0100 1593 KWT 350 0030 0100 11725 PHT 150 0030 0100 15205 PHX 212 0030 0100 15290 PHT 349 0030 0100 15560 UDO 154 0030 0100 1575 BAK 145 0030 0100 17820 PHT 021 0030 0100 7430 PHT 270 0030 0100 9715 UDO 166 0030 0100 9780 PHT 270 0130 0200 1593 KWT 350 TU-SA 0130 0200 6040 GB 174 TU-SA 0130 0200 9820 GB 164 TU-SA 1500 1600 15550 PHT 200 1500 1600 6160 PHT 275 1500 1600 7520 PHT 270 1500 1600 9485 PHT 349 1500 1600 9760 PHT 270 1600 1700 1170 PHP 332 MO-FR 1600 1700 12080 BOT 350 1600 1700 13570 MDC 300 1600 1700 17895 SAO 114 1900 2000 7480 IRA 328 1900 2000 9780 UDO 316 2230 2300 11705 TIN 317 2230 2300 9570 UDO 006 2230 2400 15145 PHT 332 2300 2400 9570 PHT 349 2330 2400 15340 TIN 279 2330 2400 7460 PHT 270 ENGLISH, NDEBELE AND SHONA FOR ZIMBABWE: MO-FR 1700-1730 Shona, 1730-1800 English, 1800-1830 Ndebele SA-SU 1700-1720 Shona, 1720-1740 English, 1740-1800 Ndebele 1700 1800 11605 MDC 265 1700 1800 15775 SAO 124 1700 1800 4930 BOT 020 1700 1800 909 BOT 999 1800 1830 4930 BOT 020 MO-FR 1800 1830 11605 IRA 239 MO-FR 1800 1830 15775 SAO 124 MO-FR 1800 1830 909 BOT 999 MO-FR FRENCH TO AFRICA 0530 0600 13710 MDC 305 MO-FR 0530 0600 1530 SAO 040 MO-FR 0530 0600 9885 MEY 335 MO-FR 0530 0630 4960 SAO 030 MO-FR 0530 0630 6035 SAO 000 MO-FR 0530 0630 6095 SAO 020 MO-FR 0600 0630 13710 IRA 275 MO-FR 0600 0630 13710 BOT 350 MO-FR 0600 0630 9885 GB 091 MO-FR 1830 1900 1530 SAO 040 1830 1900 17550 BON 090 1830 1900 6170 MEY 335 1830 1900 9815 MDC 295 1900 1930 9815 IRA 275 1900 2000 1530 SAO 040 1900 2000 17550 BON 090 1900 2000 6170 MEY 335 1930 2000 9815 BOT 010 2000 2030 12080 SAO 138 2000 2030 15730 SAO 076 2000 2030 17550 BON 090 2000 2030 6170 MEY 335 2000 2030 9815 BOT 010 2030 2100 12080 IRA 275 SA-SU 2030 2100 15225 BOT 010 SA-SU 2030 2100 15730 GB 094 SA-SU 2030 2100 4940 SAO 030 SA-SU 2030 2100 9815 NAU 190 SA-SU 2030 2100 9830 SAO 335 SA-SU 2100 2130 12035 SAO 020 MO-FR 2100 2130 12080 SAO 138 MO-FR 2100 2130 9815 BOT 010 MO-FR 2100 2130 9830 SAO 335 MO-FR GEORGIAN 1530 1600 11945 IRA 324 1530 1630 15460 LAM 080 1600 1630 9850 LAM 080 1700 1800 15455 BIB 085 1700 1800 7480 BIB 088 HAUSA 0500 0530 1530 SAO 040 0500 0530 4960 SAO 030 0500 0530 6045 ASC 027 0500 0530 9600 SAO 335 0700 0730 11785 BOT 350 0700 0730 17800 IRA 275 0700 0730 4960 SAO 030 1500 1530 11890 SAO 020 1500 1530 11905 SAO 335 1500 1530 13750 BOT 350 2030 2100 15185 BOT 350 MO-FR 2030 2100 4940 SAO 030 MO-FR 2030 2100 6170 SAO 000 MO-FR 2030 2100 7355 IRA 275 MO-FR 2030 2100 9815 NAU 190 MO-FR INDONESIAN 0000 0030 11805 PHT 200 0000 0030 13705 UDO 154 0000 0030 9535 UDO 166 1130 1230 12010 PHT 200 1130 1230 9700 UDO 182 1130 1230 9890 PHT 200 1400 1500 7550 PHT 200 TH-SA 1400 1500 9945 PHT 200 TH-SA 2200 2400 11805 PHT 200 2200 2400 7225 UDO 154 2200 2400 9535 UDO 166 KHMER 1330 1430 11540 IRA 073 1330 1430 1575 BAK 145 1330 1430 5955 PHT 275 2200 2230 15340 TIN 279 2200 2230 1575 BAK 145 2200 2230 6060 PHT 270 2200 2230 9325 PHT 270 KINYARWANDA/KIRUNDI 0330 0400 7340 IRA 259 0330 0430 11905 SAO 114 0330 0430 6095 SAO 100 0400 0430 7340 IRA 259 1600 1630 11640 MEY 019 SA 1600 1630 12015 LAM 132 SA 1600 1630 15730 SAO 100 SA KOREAN 1200 1300 9490 SAI 325 1200 1330 1350 CHO 150 1200 1400 7225 TIN 329 1200 1500 5890 TIN 325 1300 1500 11740 PHT 021 1330 1500 1188 SEO 359 1400 1500 7225 TIN 329 1900 2100 6060 UDO 038 1900 2100 648 USS 230 1900 2100 7365 UDO 038 1900 2100 9510 PHT 021 KURDISH 0500 0600 15380 MDC 359 0500 0600 7230 LAM 104 0500 0600 9770 NAU 105 1300 1400 15130 SAO 052 1300 1400 15530 LAM 104 1300 1400 9825 BIB 105 1300 1500 13680 LAM 108 1400 1500 15130 NAU 113 1400 1500 1593 KWT 350 1400 1500 9825 BIB 105 1700 1800 11950 NAU 113 1700 1800 15130 LAM 108 1700 1800 9770 BIB 088 2000 2100 1593 KWT 350 LAO 1230 1300 11930 PHT 283 1230 1300 1575 BAK 145 1230 1300 9810 PHT 270 MANDARIN 0000 0200 15150 UDO 030 0000 0300 11830 PHT 349 0000 0300 11925 PHT 349 0000 0300 15385 PHT 332 0000 0300 17765 PHT 349 0000 0300 9545 PHT 332 0700 0900 21705 UDO 030 0700 1000 13740 UDO 030 0700 1000 17775 TIN 295 0700 1100 13610 TIN 304 0700 1100 15250 PHT 332 0700 1100 17855 PHT 349 0900 1100 11965 UDO 030 0900 1100 15665 SAI 300 0900 1300 11825 PHT 349 1000 1100 12040 UDO 030 1000 1200 9575 TIN 305 1100 1200 1170 PHP 332 1100 1230 11990 TIN 304 1100 1230 6110 TIN 297 1100 1300 15255 PHT 315 1100 1400 11785 UDO 030 1100 1500 12040 PHT 332 1200 1300 9845 SAI 300 1230 1300 11805 UDO 030 1230 1500 6110 PHT 332 1300 1400 9985 SAI 310 1300 1430 11805 PHT 315 1300 1500 11990 NVS 111 1300 1500 9845 PHT 349 1400 1500 11615 SAI 310 1430 1500 11805 TIN 295 2200 2300 11925 PHT 349 2200 2300 13775 UDO 030 2200 2300 6135 UDO 030 2200 2300 7205 PHT 332 2200 2300 9510 PHT 315 2200 2300 9845 SAI 325 PASHTO (ASHNA) 0030 0100 7555 KWT 070 0030 0130 1296 KAB 999 0030 0130 9335 UDO 300 0100 0130 7555 UDO 300 1430 1530 1296 KAB 999 1430 1530 15090 KWT 070 1430 1530 15380 WER 105 1430 1530 9335 KWT 070 1630 1730 11565 KWT 070 1630 1730 11580 KWT 070 1630 1730 1296 KAB 999 1630 1730 9335 KWT 070 1830 1930 1296 KAB 999 1830 1930 7555 KWT 070 1830 1930 7595 UDO 304 PASHTO FOR PAKISTAN (DEEWA) 0000 0100 11535 KWT 078 0000 0230 12015 KWT 078 0000 0230 9380 IRA 334 0100 0200 11535 IRA 332 0200 0300 11535 UDO 300 0230 0300 12015 UDO 297 0230 0300 9380 LAM 108 1200 1230 9310 KWT 070 1200 1300 7495 IRA 340 1200 1300 9380 UDO 311 1200 1300 9780 IRA 340 1230 1300 9310 UDO 300 1300 1500 9780 IRA 340 1300 1600 9310 IRA 334 1300 1800 7495 IRA 340 1300 1800 9380 UDO 311 1500 1700 9780 UDO 300 1600 1700 9310 LAM 108 1700 1800 9310 KWT 078 1700 1800 9780 WER 090 PERSIAN (FARDA) 0000 2400 1575 DHB 000 0030 0200 5860 IRA 315 0030 0230 7295 BIB 105 0030 0400 7280 WER 105 0130 0200 5885 LAM 108 0130 0830 15475 PHT 283 0200 0230 5885 IRA 315 0200 0530 5860 KWT 046 0230 0300 5885 IRA 332 0230 0430 15690 IRA 315 0300 0400 9480 BIB 088 0300 0400 9805 LAM 075 0300 0400 11700 IRA 316 0300 0400 13810 IRA 315 0300 1000 5885 KWT 046 0400 0500 9635 WER 105 0400 0500 11705 IRA 316 0400 0500 13810 IRA 310 0430 1400 15690 IRA 315 0500 0600 13810 IRA 299 0500 0600 15255 IRA 316 0530 0600 21715 UDO 296 0530 0930 7220 KWT 046 0600 0630 13810 IRA 310 0600 0800 21715 UDO 296 0600 0830 17545 UDO 300 0600 1000 17845 IRA 316 0600 1230 17630 PHT 315 0800 1000 17880 IRA 322 0830 0930 13825 IRA 332 0830 1030 17545 UDO 304 0830 1000 17590 IRA 299 0830 1130 15610 LAM 104 1000 1100 5885 KWT 046 1000 1030 17590 IRA 310 1000 1030 17880 IRA 316 1030 1200 17695 IRA 332 1030 1200 17880 IRA 322 1000 1400 7435 KWT 046 1100 1200 5885 KWT 046 1200 1600 17755 BIB 085 1330 1400 15330 IRA 316 1400 1500 11520 BIB 088 1400 1500 15330 BIB 085 1400 1500 17670 WER 105 1400 1500 5870 KWT 046 1500 1600 11520 BIB 105 1500 1600 15410 LAM 108 1530 1630 11560 KWT 046 1600 1700 7340 WER 105 1600 1700 7580 IRA 322 1600 1730 11520 BIB 105 1630 1730 15475 LAM 092 1700 1800 9760 WER 105 1700 2130 7580 IRA 322 1730 1800 9855 UDO 300 1800 1900 5830 KWT 046 1800 1900 9855 WER 105 1900 2130 5830 KWT 046 1900 2130 9505 LAM 104 PERSIAN (VOA) 0230 0330 11870 BIB 085 0230 0330 17855 IRA 322 0230 0330 9695 WER 105 1530 1600 11780 BIB 105 1530 1600 6040 UDO 300 1530 1600 9405 IRA 299 1530 1830 1593 KWT 350 1600 1700 11780 BIB 105 1600 1700 9840 BIB 088 1600 1930 6040 WER 105 1700 1730 9855 BIB 105 1700 1800 9840 UDO 300 1730 1900 7455 UDO 300 1800 1900 648 DB 230 1800 2030 5860 UDO 300 1900 2030 7455 IRA 332 1930 2030 9310 IRA 315 PORTUGUESE TO AFRICA 1000 1030 17740 IRA 239 SA-SU 1000 1030 21590 IRA 251 SA-SU 1700 1730 12080 BOT 350 1700 1730 15740 GB 094 1700 1800 11960 SAO 335 1700 1800 1530 SAO 040 1730 1800 12080 IRA 255 1730 1800 15740 BOT 350 1800 1830 11960 MEY 335 MO-FR 1800 1830 12080 GB 094 MO-FR 1800 1830 1530 SAO 040 MO-FR 1800 1830 15740 MDC 275 MO-FR SOMALI 0330 0400 12110 LAM 132 0330 0400 15430 BOT 010 0330 0400 5945 SAO 088 1300 1400 12110 LAM 132 1300 1400 15170 MDC 359 1600 1630 1431 DJI 999 1600 1630 15430 BOT 010 1600 1800 12110 IRA 275 1630 1700 15430 NAU 140 1700 1800 15430 UDO 264 SPANISH 1130 1200 13715 GB 168 MO-FR 1130 1200 15590 GB 174 MO-FR 1130 1200 9885 GB 184 MO-FR 1200 1300 13715 GB 168 1200 1300 15590 GB 174 1200 1300 9885 GB 184 2300 2400 5890 GB 190 2300 2400 6110 GB 235 2300 2400 9825 GB 146 SWAHILI 0300 0330 7380 BOT 350 MO-FR 0300 0330 9440 SAO 138 MO-FR 1630 1700 15365 SAO 112 1630 1730 15730 SAO 100 1630 1730 9815 BOT 010 1700 1730 15365 IRA 255 TIBETAN 0000 0100 7250 UDO 324 0000 0100 9480 UDO 324 0000 0100 9855 IRA 020 0300 0400 17735 PHT 315 0300 0600 15265 UDO 313 0300 0600 15490 PHT 315 0400 0600 17735 UDO 324 1400 1500 11510 UDO 321 1400 1500 11975 KWT 078 1400 1500 7465 UDO 324 1600 1700 7330 PHT 332 1600 1700 7565 UDO 304 1600 1700 9565 PHT 315 TIGRIGNA 1900 1930 11520 BOT 010 MO-FR 1900 1930 11905 DHA 225 MO-FR 1900 1930 11925 SAO 076 MO-FR 1900 1930 12140 WER 150 MO-FR 1900 1930 13870 NAU 140 MO-FR TURKISH 0330 0400 7265 BIB 105 MO-FR 1045 1100 15240 IRA 316 MO-FR 1045 1100 17565 LAM 108 MO-FR 1830 1900 12025 LAM 104 MO-FR 1830 1900 9840 BIB 105 MO-FR URDU (AAP KI DUNYA) 0000 0100 1539 DHB 070 0000 0100 7460 KWT 086 0000 0100 9515 IRA 332 0000 0100 972 DB 999 1300 1400 11835 UDO 300 1300 1400 1539 DHB 070 1300 1400 15725 UDO 300 1300 1400 972 DB 999 1400 2400 1539 DHB 070 1400 2400 972 DB 999 UZBEK 1500 1530 12110 WER 075 1500 1530 13755 KWT 046 1500 1530 15450 IRA 340 1500 1530 801 DB 181 1500 1530 9670 UDO 316 VIETNAMESE 1300 1330 1575 BAK 145 1300 1330 5955 PHT 275 1300 1330 9720 TIN 278 1500 1600 1170 PHP 262 1500 1600 5955 PHT 270 1500 1600 7440 IRA 073 1500 1600 9355 PHT 270 2230 2330 15340 TIN 279 2230 2330 6060 PHT 270 -- SATELLITE/INTERNET ONLY: GREEK, RUSSIAN, SERBIAN, THAI VOA TV ONLY: ARMENIAN, BOSNIAN, HINDI, MACEDONIAN (compiled by Dragan Lekic, Serbia, for DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A [and non]. USA(non) [sic] Frequency changes of IBB, all NF: 0300-0400 9435 LAM 100 kW / 075 deg, ex 11530 RL No. Caucasus langs* 0330-0400 5945 SAO 100 kW / 088 deg, new txion VOA in Somali 0330-0400 12110 LAM 100 kW / 132 deg, new txion VOA in Somali 0330-0400 15430 BOT 100 kW / 010 deg, new txion VOA in Somali 0500-0530 5945 BIB 100 kW / 126 deg, ex 9460 VOA in Albanian 1400-1500 12075 BIB 100 kW / 085 deg, ex 9685 RL in Turkmen 1500-1530 12110 UDO 250 kW / 316 deg, ex 7280 VOA in Uzbek 1700-1800 15455 BIB 100 kW / 085 deg, ex 9530 VOA in Georgian 1730-1800 5830 BIB 100 kW / 105 deg, ex 5820 VOA in Azeri 1800-1830 12080 GB 250 kW / 094 deg, ex 9815 VOA in Portuguese M-F 1800-1830 11960 MEY 250 kW / 335 deg, ex 6170 VOA in Portuguese M-F 1800-1830 15730 MDC 250 kW / 275 deg, ex 7310 VOA in Portuguese M-F 1900-2000 6120 MEY 250 kW / 335 deg, ex 5990 VOA in English *Avari/Chechen/Chercassi (DX Mix News, Bulgaria, 09 June via DXLD) See comment under YFR entry. The above listing includes one US site, GB, so it should be USA [and non], not USA [non] (gh, DXLD) ** U S A [non]. Additional frequencies of RFE/RL Radio Farda in Farsi: 0130-0200 on 5885 LAM 100 kW / 104 deg 0130-0830 on 15475 PHT 250 kW / 270 deg 0200-0230 on 5885 IRA 250 kW / 315 deg 0230-0300 on 5885 IRA 250 kW / 332 deg 0230-0400 on 9480 BIB 100 kW / 105 deg 0300-0500 on 9805 LAM 100 kW / 104 deg 0300-1200 on 5885 KWT 250 kW / 046 deg 0500-0930 on 7220 KWT 250 kW / 046 deg 0800-1200 on 17880 IRA 250 kW / 322 deg 0830-1130 on 15610 LAM 100 kW / 108 deg 1330-1400 on 15330 IRA 250 kW / 315 deg 1400-1500 on 5870 KWT 250 kW / 046 deg 1400-1800 on 15330 BIB 100 kW / 085 deg 1500-1630 on 11560 KWT 250 kW / 046 deg 1500-1630 on 15475 IRA 250 kW / 315 deg 1600-1700 on 7580 IRA 250 kW / 332 deg 1630-1730 on 15475 LAM 100 kW / 104 deg (DX Mix News, Bulgaria, 22 June via DXLD) See also IRAN; KUWAIT Intermittent bubble jamming of Radio Farda has been heard the last few days, particularly affecting 15690 around 0630 and 7580 around 1800. And a so far unidentified/unrecognised English speaking (mechanical sounding) number station appeared on 15690 using SSB-USB on the 19th at around 0645 (Noel R. Green (NW England), June 19, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) more about this jamming under IRAN ** U S A [and non]. USA/THAILAND. 17585, VoA, Greenville, noted in English at 1400-1430 UT with usual program and fair reception. Interesting was that at 1422 a huge silent carrier appeared on QRG, drowning Greenville signal. From 1428 onwards VoA, from Udon Thani, per Aoki, totally obliterated Greenville signal. 2009/06/15 (José Turner, Portugal, June 15, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Just as expected, as we have reported the same problem from here after 1430 when Greenville carrier sometimes stays on 8 minutes, VOA vs VOA! Except it`s no longer Thailand but Botswana from 1422 (gh, DXLD) ** U S A [non]. Sat June 20 at 1355, open carrier on 9945; must be IBB warming up; yes, at 1404 recheck, Indonesian talking about the Billboard 200, Hot 100, song in English from VOA via Tinang, PHILIPPINES, 1400-1500 Fri/Sat/Sun only, 250 kW, 200 degrees (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. Re shortwave discussion at NETHERLANDS: Hi David, 100% agree. That goes for me too. Even though I have to recognize I became an "internetholic" for the last five years, there's no real excitement like shortwave reception. You know why VOA News Now is among my Winamp bookmarks? Just to enjoy Jazz America on my Saturday and Sunday mornings, 1300 UT, as reception 9760 via Philippines has downgraded lately, lamenting also VOA doesn't use stereo like many other less powerful organizations offer on the web. There's some strange magic in a shortwave receiver that makes a passion of this way of listening. It has to be those hard to get signals you can't convince anyone else to enjoy, just because they rely on the web only. Whatever others may say, and being myself an internet fan nowadays, only thing I can express on and on: "Long live shortwave". And keep enjoying it daily as long as I live. 73 and good DXing while available! (Raúl Saavedra, Costa Rica, June 17, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Dear Raúl, I also enjoy very much in VOA's Jazz America with Russ Davies. NOW YOU CAN DOWNLOAD the entire show: First hour [rm, 20 kbps, 44 kHz, mono, 8 MB]: ftp://8475.ftp.storage.akadns.net/real/voa/english/jaz1/jaz10705aSAT.r m Second hour: ftp://8475.ftp.storage.akadns.net/real/voa/english/jaz2/jaz20805aSAT.r m Files are updated few minutes after 0800 and 0900 UT on Saturdays! Good listening! (Dragan Lekic, Serbia, ibid.) I suspect the studio used for these broadcasts is simply not stereo- capable. And a refitting program has just been provided in the budget request if I recall correct. For comparison: The old Deutsche Welle building at Cologne had basically only one stereo-capable studio. . [see GERMANY] (Kai Ludwig, Germany, June 17, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) June 18, 0831z, 9530 kHz, VOA MUSIC MIX variety with Larry London, excellent reception. This is probably broadcasted by mistake, probably from LAMPERTHEIM, Germany transmitting station. I enjoyed very much in music variety. At 0900z there was a 5-minute news bulletin from VOA English, and at 0905z VOA Music Mix continued. Transmitter was suddenly OFF at 0907z. Best reagrds & many 73s! (Dragan Lekic from Subotica, SERBIA, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. Please note the following changes (effective 15 June 2009) to the WYFR A-09 operating schedule: Del 11855 kHz 0200-0400 UTC 222 Degrees Add 9385 kHz 0200-0400 UTC 222 Degrees Del 15190 kHz 0100-0400 UTC 142 Degrees Add 11550 kHz 0100-0400 UTC 142 Degrees Del 15215 kHz 2100-0100 UTC 160 Degrees Add 6915 kHz 2100-0100 UTC 160 Degrees Del 17750 kHz 2245-0300 UTC 160 Degrees Add 11580 kHz 2245-0300 UTC 160 Degrees Del 17805 kHz 2200-0100 UTC 142 Degrees Add 7520 kHz 2200-0100 UTC 142 Degrees Del 17845 kHz 2300-0300 UTC 160 Degrees Add 11530 kHz 2300-0300 UTC 160 Degrees (Evelyn Marcy, WYFR, June 10, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Frequency changes of WYFR Family Radio from June 1: 2100-0100 NF 6915 YFR 100 kW / 160 deg, ex 15215 in Spanish 2200-0100 NF 7520 YFR 100 kW / 142 deg, ex 15190 in Portuguese 0100-0345 NF 11550 YFR 100 kW / 142 deg, ex 15190 in Portuguese 0200-0400 NF 9385 YFR 100 kW / 222 deg, ex 11855 in English/Spanish 2300-0245 NF 11530 YFR 100 kW / 160 deg, ex 17845 in Sp/Sp/Port/Sp 2300-0245 NF 11580 YFR 100 kW / 160 deg, ex 17750 in En/Port/Sp (DX Mix News, Bulgaria, 09 June via DXLD) Moving off 15190 should clear that for Radio Africa running past 2200 on same (gh, WORLD OF RADIO 1465, DXLD) Note that the two versions a fortnight apart are not identical, e.g. re 15190 (gh) ** U S A [non]. RUSSIA(non) [sic]. Summer A-09 of WYFR Family Radio via TRW: 1400-1700 on 5845 DB 100 kW / 137 deg to SoAs in Hindi 1200-1300 on 5970 K/A 250 kW / 313 deg to EaAs in Korean 1400-1500 on 7215 IRK 250 kW / 224 deg to SoAs in Nepali 1000-1100 on 7245 K/A 100 kW / 178 deg to EaAs in Japanese 1800-1900 on 7320 ARM 300 kW / 290 deg to WeEu in German 1900-2000 on 7320 SAM 250 kW / 284 deg to WeEu in German 2100-2200 on 7430 KCH 250 kW / 309 deg to WeEu in English 1400-1500 on 9365 TAC 200 kW / 131 deg to SEAs in English 1400-1500 on 9405 ARM 300 kW / 110 deg to SoAs in Punjabi 1800-1900 on 9405 ARM 250 kW / 290 deg to WeEu in English from June 4 1000-1100 on 9450 IRK 250 kW / 110 deg to EaAs in English 1100-1200 on 9450 IRK 250 kW / 110 deg to EaAs in Korean 1100-1200 on 9460 P.K 250 kw / 247 deg to EaAs in Cantonese 1200-1300 on 9465 IRK 250 kW / 152 deg to SEAs in Cebuano 1900-2000 on 9490 MSK 250 kW / 240 deg to WeEu in Italian 1500-1600 on 9500 NVS 250 kW / 195 deg to SoAs in Urdu 1200-1400 on 9615 IRK 500 kW / 180 deg to SEAs in Indonesian 1400-1500 on 9615 IRK 500 kW / 180 deg to SEAs in English 1800-1900 on 9615 SAM 250 kW / 284 deg to WeEu in Polish 1600-1700 on 9735 ARM 300 kW / 110 deg to SoAs in Punjabi 1100-1400 on 9865 P.K 250 kW / 263 deg to EaAs in Chinese 1400-1500 on 9865 P.K 250 kW / 263 deg to EaAs in English 1100-1200 on 9900 VLD 250 kW / 220 deg to SEAs in Illocano 1500-1600 on 11505 ERV 300 kW / 110 deg to SoAs in Punjabi 1600-1700 on 11505 ERV 300 kW / 110 deg to SoAs in Urdu 1300-1400 on 11520 A-A 200 kW / 132 deg to SoAs in Burmese 1600-1700 on 11630 ARM 250 kW / 100 deg to SoAs in Urdu 1500-1600 on 11655 ARM 300 kW / 110 deg to SoAs in Marathi 1100-1400 on 11725 P.K 250 kW / 244 deg to EaAs in Chinese 1400-1500 on 11725 P.K 250 kW / 244 deg to EaAs in English 1200-1300 on 11855 DB 100 kW / 024 deg to CeAs in Russian 1200-1400 on 11895 IRK 250 kW / 180 deg to SEAs in Vietnamese 1900-2100 on 12060 ARM 250 kW / 290 deg to WeEu in French 1400-1600 on 12065 ARM 300 kW / 110 deg to SoAs in Urdu 1300-1500 on 13810 A-A 500 kW / 121 deg to SEAs in English 1100-1200 on 13850 VLD 200 kW / 220 deg to SEAs in Indonesian 1200-1300 on 13850 VLD 200 kW / 220 deg to SEAs in Tagalog 1200-1300 on 15490 NVS 250 kW / 155 deg to SEAs in Thai (DX Mix News, Bulgaria, 09 June via DXLD) Every so often, someone asks me to explain what [non] means in DXLD or my personal reports, even tho I have explained it again and again, and expect it to be understandable by applying simple logic. This situation is not helped by DX Mix News using the term in a different, even opposite way, as above. YFR has nothing to do with Russia except some of its broadcasts are transmitted from there. Not even all the sites above are in Russia: also Moldova, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan. It originates in the USA, so it`s U S A [non]. (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Additional transmissions of WYFR Family Radio via Media Broadcast: 1400-1500 on 13660 WER 500 kW / 090 deg to SoAs in Sinhala 1800-1900 on 5910 ISS 250 kW / 065 deg to WeEu in English, now cancelled! Additional transmission of WYFR Family Radio via VT Communications: 1800-1900 on 9505 RMP 500 kW / 095 deg to WeAs in Czech, ex-English (DX Mix News, Bulgaria, June 17, as updated, via DXLD) Hi Glenn, Just wondering what happened to a couple of transmissions. The new Family Radio transmission I asked about, has disappeared as quickly as it arrived, namely 1800-1900 UT on the frequency of 9405 kHz (Chris Lewis, England, June 18, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Please note the following additions (effective 15 June 2009) to the Family Stations transmissions via RTI: 0900-1000 UT China 11565 kHz Mandarin 0900-1100 UT China 9855 kHz Mandarin (Monday & Tuesday) 1000-1100 UT China 9855 kHz Mandarin (Wed, Thurs, Fri) 1000-1100 UT China 9920 kHz Mandarin 1200-1300 UT China 11535 kHz Mandarin (Evelyn Marcy, WYFR, June 10, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A [non]. 15760 fair at 1844 June 19, unID language mentioning Harold Camping, so must be WYFR or a relay. Can you imagine any other SW station ever mentioning Harold Camping? Can you imagine YFR ever not mentioning Him? What does PWBR `2009` say? Nothing at all listed on this frequency. Per HFCC, it`s Turkish via Woofferton, UK, 1700- 1900, 250 kW, 102 degrees (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. Mock gets SW CP (WJHR) PUBLIC NOTICE FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION Tuesday June 23, 2009 Report No. IHF-00091 RE: ACTIONS TAKEN, INTERNATIONAL HIGH FREQUENCY === The Commission, by its International Bureau, took the following actions pursuant to delegated authority. The effective dates of the actions are the dates specified. For more information concerning this Notice, contact Tom Polzin at 418-2148; tpolzin @ fcc.gov TTY 202-418-2555. NEWIHF-C/P-20080603-00005 P Date Effective: 06/15/2009 Grant of Authority Construction Permit George S Mock ( d/b/a Hill Radio International ) Application for Authority to Construct a New International HF Broadcast Station located in Milton, FL (via Benn Kobb, June 23, WORLD OF RADIO 1466, DX LISTENING DIGEST) We have had several other items about WJHR in previous issues (gh) ** U S A. AREA 51 EXPANDS ON WBCQ In the event that you might not know, Area 51 is a program dedicated to pirate programming. This is one of the few place where the ops can get their programming out and not violate any federal laws. This is a great place to hear a lot of different ops in the same place! So, if you are even remotely interested check it out! Well worth our attention and support! News Flash! Fellow free radio enthusiasts: I want to bring to your attention the following news now posted on http://www.wbcq.com and http://www.worldmicroscope.com: "Thanks to a kind benefactor, we are pleased to announce that Area 51 programming on WBCQ The Planet is expanding seven hours a week for the next two weeks. The expanded Area 51 schedule, effective Monday, June 8, 2009, is as follows: - Monday through Friday : 7PM to 10PM US Eastern time (2300-0200 UT) - Saturday : 6PM to 10PM US Eastern Time (2200-0200 UT) - Sunday : 6PM to 8PM US Eastern Time (2200-0000 UT) Keep a close eye on the Area 51 program schedule for up to the minute changes and additions. Thanks for all your support. Lw Thanks, (Mike and good DXing! Rohde, Columbus OH, June 10, NASWA yg via WORLD OF RADIO 1465, DXLD) ** U S A. QSO Live on Field Day on WBCQ --- Hello Glen[n], We will be broadcasting live during ARRL Field Day 2009. This is the proposed schedule. Starting at 2 PM Eastern Daylight Time. 2:00 PM 7415 and 9330 [1800 UT] 3:00 PM 7415 and 9330 4:00 PM 7415 and 9330 5:00 PM 15420 and 9330 6:00 PM 15420 and 9330 7:00 PM 15420 and 9330 8:00 PM 15420 and 9330 9:00 PM 15420 and 9330 10:00 PM 5110 and 9330 11:00 PM 5110 and 9330 12:00 PM 5110 and 9330 [0400 UT --- until???] [Field `Day` is both Sat and Sun June 27 and 28, sez ARRL, so both days?? --- gh] No, just Saturday. Contemplating a lot of guests to be joining us as well as live reports from field day locations. I would love for you to call in and join us for some “World of Radio” talk … and comments from you! 73 (Ted Randall, Radio Disclosure, QSO Radio Show, http://www.tedrandall.com June 21, WORLD OF RADIO 1466, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A [non]. El 30 de junio del 2009 se cerrará el servicio de programación radial en portugués. Según palabras de nuestro Director Regional para las Américas, Juan Mark Gallardo: "CVC A Sua Voz apuntó a proveer programación de calidad para impactar los oyentes de habla portuguesa. Sin embargo, debido a muchos factores, hemos considerado que el cierre de este servicio nos da la oportunidad de tener un receso, en el cual podremos analizar cómo podemos cubrir de manera más efectiva las necesidades que tiene el público en Brasil." From CVC website http://www.cvclavoz.cl/noticias.html (via Tomás Méndez, El Prat de Llobregat-Barcelona España, logsderadio yg via DXLD) O editor de esportes da rádio CVC Paulo Roberto Machado, que comanda o programa esportivo Jogo Limpo, comentando sobre a falta de pagamento no Fluminense, fez uma alusão à situação da CVC, cujos funcionários foram surpreendidos com a repentina parada de seus trabalhos e de repente se viram "na rua". O programa que foi ao ar dia 4 foi repetido dia 9 de junho. Foi um desabafo do apresentador e uma crítica à atitude da CVC. 73 (Luiz Chaine Neto, Limeira sp, Brasil, June 10, radioescutas yg via DXLD) Colegas. Uma explicação que realmente não achei correta foi dizer que um dos motivos do encerramento das transmissões foi de não encontrar profissionais qualificados. Pergunto: e os profissionais que lá estão desempenhando de maneira excelente a apresentação e produção dos programas até hoje? Dizer que não existem profissionais qualificados para atuarem na CVC para mim foi uma desconsideração aos profissionais que lá estão e aos outros inúmeros bons profissionais brasileiros. 73 (Jorge Freitas, Feira de Santana, Bahia, ibid.) Caros amigos Luiz Chaine, Jorge Freitas e demais amigos da lista, Quanto a CVC, eu acredito que o pessoal da emissora deva estar muito P. [issed off?] com a direção, face a nota que foi apresentada, como justificativa pelo fim das emissões em português. Tal como mencionou o amigo Jorge, citar a carência de bons profissionais foi uma grande falta de ética, e todos sabemos que não exprime a verdade. Pois, mesmo em se tratando de uma emissora evangélica, que por linha deveria ter uma transmissão muito direcionada e bitolada em seus princípios, a emissora sempre apresentou uma grande e atrativa variedade de programas, principalmente devido a larga competência dos profissionais que tem. É a velha história que todos já vimos profissionalmente; pessoas atrás de uma mesa apresentam explicações, sem ter o mínimo conhecimento daquilo que estão falando. Enquanto os profissionais de linha de frente, que são os que realmente impulsionam a máquina e sabem das coisas, são relegados a um segundo plano. Um abraço, (Adalberto Marques de Azevedo, ibid.) Prezados, Embora eu não siga a linha religiosa da CVC, acho que o nível de sua programação em português é muito bom. Quem conhece outras emissoras brasileiras do mesmo segmento religioso, em OM e FM, talvez saiba de que estou falando e concorde comigo. A CVC apresenta programas bem produzidos, que agradariam a qualquer ouvinte do Brasil. Assim, penso que foi incoerente e desrespeitosa a justificativa dada pela direção da emissora para o encerramento das transmissões em língua portuguesa. Mas como no meio radiofônico nem sempre o talento e a qualidade vencem, nada mais me surpreende. Vai daqui a minha solidariedade aos profissionais da CVC. 73, (Fabiano Henrique, Niterói - RJ, ibid.) CVC PORTUGUESE CLOSEDOWN JUNE 30: EDITORIAL Caros amigos, Estamos aqui, na triste e desmotivada missão de escrever um epitáfio! É isso mesmo, estamos, tal qual aquele “discursador”, á beira do túmulo, rodeado pelos amigos do falecido, se preparando para falar algumas palavras abonadoras, que o “passante”, o qual merece que as mesmas sejam ditas. Vamos falar um pouco sobre o nosso falecido serviço em português da Rádio CVC – A Sua Voz, que no final de junho deixa de se a nossa voz, em português. É triste falar de um assunto assim, algo que nos trás tristeza profunda, visto, ser um serviço, que era do agrado geral dos dexistas brasileiros. O primeiro contato com esta emissora, tivemos em “priscas eras” , quando ela se denominava “A Voz Cristã” e este contato não ocorreu através das ondas hertezianas, mas sim, através de um artigo publicado pelo dexista Valter Aguiar, em sua coluna, na também falecida revista “Eletrônica Popular”. Á partir deste primeiro contato, tivemos a grata oportunidade de acompanhar, por muitos anos as emissões em português, que esta emissora, sediada em Miami, nos EUA, com que sempre ela brindou sua enorme platéia de admiradores no Brasil. A CVC de hoje, Voz Cristã do passado, sempre foi uma emissora que deu importância relevante ao trabalho dos dexistas, sendo que até forneceu espaço em sua programação, para a apresentação de programas específicos sobre nosso hobby, em dias considerados nobres dentro da programação de uma emissora de rádio, que são os sábados e domingos. Não satisfeita em ceder este espaço para programas dexistas, ainda os reapresentava em horários e dias diferentes, dando oportunidade aos dexistas de acompanharem estas transmissões específicas, que lhes trouce sempre muita informação, notícias, conhecimentos e mais uma série de adendos aglutinadores ao mundo radio escuta brasileiro. Uma emissora, evangélica, que sempre se caracterizou por uma programação aberta ao interesse de seus ouvintes, onde procurava atender os gostos daqueles que a ouviam, criando uma maneira típica e singular de passar sua mensagem aos ouvintes. Com que saudade nos recordamos do programa “Altas Ondas”, onde no passado, sob a coordenação de Edson Bruno, a emissora se tornava o ponto de reunião de todo os dexistas de língua portuguesa, e nos fornecia inestimáveis momentos de programação específica para radio escutas. O tempo passou, com esta passagem do tempo ocorreram as mudanças... Mudou o nome da emissora, mudou o apresentador, mudou até o nome no programa, mas continuou a mesma atenção da emissora com o universo dexista brasileiro, através do programa “Rádio DX”, apresentado ás sextas feiras e atenciosamente reprisado pela emissora, nos sábados e domingos. Um excelente programa com produção e apresentação são de membros do DXClube do Brasil, com a coordenação técnica e de produção do jornalista Célio Romais. Existe uma frase, que incorretamente diz “ninguém é insubistituível!“; ao que acrescentamos a reflexão: Quem substituiu Bethovem ? E Airton Senna, foi substituído por quem ? O especial, o talento, a alta qualidade; esta é insubstituível, por demandar pequenos detalhes que não podem ser conseguida com substitutivos... somente o original consegue ter o efeito correto. É por isso que, temos certeza, que a CVC fará falta. Pela qualidade de sua programação, pela sua atenção com os dexistas do Brasil, a CVC não poderá ser substituída, e por isso ficaremos sentindo a sua falta pelo passar do tempo. Será muito triste, sintonizarmos os 15410 kHz e não ouvirmos mais a programação dinâmica e interessante da CVC, em português. Será uma lacuna insubstituível que passaremos a ter no dial de nossos receptores, lacuna esta que sempre nos trará tristeza, por nos ter deixado tão gratas e felizes recordações. CVC-A Sua Voz, em português...uma perda, e uma tristeza geral a todo o seus ouvintes do Brasil. CVC – A Sua Voz... deixou de ser a nossa voz... Um abraço a todos, Equipe Editorial do @tividade DX, DX Clube do Brasil (@tividade DX June 21 via DXLD) ESTADOS UNIDOS VIA CHILE – De forma alguma a informação de que existe uma dificuldade em conseguir talentos para trabalhar na programação em português da CVC, apresentada pela direção da emissora como um dos motivos para o seu fechamento, foi “para desmerecer os profissionais que lá labutaram”. É o que esclarece Sérgio Coelho Lara, o apresentador mais antigo da CVC em português. Com cinco anos de trabalho em frente aos microfones da emissora na condução do programa Revolução, ele não se sente desmerecido, pelo contrário, sempre foi valorizado pela estação, tanto é assim que poderá permanecer nos quadros da emissora atuando em outra área. “O fato é que havia uma dificuldade em conseguir talentos em Miami toda vez que um de nós avisava que iria sair da emissora”, esclarece. Lara também relata que, realmente, não tem muito lógica manter um ministério e uma emissora nos Estados Unidos. “Você manteria este ministério ou o levaria para o Brasil, onde a despesa é menor com funcionários e a facilidade de contatos com todo mundo é muito maior?”, questiona. “Verdadeiramente falando, não faz sentido”, responde (Célio Romais, Panorama, @tividade DX June 21 via DXLD) See also CHILE ** U S A [and non]. WRMI, 9955, June 8 at 2037 with KBS World Radio via WRN; very good, no jamming. However, June 9 at 1419, during R. Prague relay, heavy jamming was still running. You never know whether WRMI will be on the air or not during the afternoon: June 9 at 2231 check of 9955, it was not, when Radio Netherlands could have, despite its best efforts to the contrary, again been broadcasting in English to America thanks to WRN and this optional relay. I wonder if RN has nixed it? (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) No ** U S A. You hear Allen Graham and Jeff White on WRMI 9955, Wednesday June 24 at 1155, so it`s DX Partyline, right? Wrong; it`s Wavescan, as scheduled from 1130, Allen (with an E as in Ecuador) guesting in Miami studio; a bit of Aegean folk music Jeff no doubt picked up on a recent cruise, and wrapup. Grind jamming bothering and steadily building up, but WRMI still audible at 1200 ID and into Radio Cuba Libre, opening with martial fanfare and Cuban national anthem(?) we used to hear also on RHC. By a few minutes later, buried under DentroCuban Jamming Command (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A [non]. Glenn: Just to let you know, we are changing the frequency of the Cheetah Radio relay from Media Broadcast from 11885 to 11730 kHz as of this coming Saturday, June 20. That's 1600-1700 UT. This is due to interference from China, which has recently expanded its use of this frequency from one to 19 hours a day. The target is South Asia (Jeff White, Radio Miami International, June 16, DX LISTENING DIGEST) GERMANY. Frequency change of Cheetah Radio in English from June 20: 1600-1700 NF 11730 JUL 100 kW / 090 deg Sat to SoAs, ex 11885 (DX Mix News, Bulgaria, 22 June via DXLD) Effective 20th June, 2009 Cheetah Radio via MB moves to 11730 kHz. 1600-1700 UT on 11730 kHz (ex 11885) (Sat only) to avoid co-ch qrm from PBS Xinjiang (Alokesh Gupta, New Delhi, dxldyg via DXLD) ** U S A. WMLK antenna repair project photos updated --- You can see 2 large pictures, dated June 8, 2009 here: http://wmlkradio.net/antenna_update_progress.htm WMLK is off air on SW, so why are they registered at FCC? 9265 0400 0900 27,28,39 MLK 125 053 9265 1600 2100 27,28,39 MLK 125 053 234567 9955 0400 0900 27,28,39 MLK 125 053 15265 1700 2200 27,28,39 MLK 250 057 And I was surprised to hear their audio streaming is working just fine (WMA, 20 kbps, 22 kHz, stereo): mms://stream.evenlink.com/wmlk 73 (Dragan Lekic, Serbia, June 19, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Will be interesting to hear if and when the antenna is fixed, they manage to modulate more than 5 percent, as it was barely audible, Damascus-like, long before the storm damage. You don`t have to be on the air to be registered with the FCC! Just ask KTMI, WRNO, et al. You are supposed to be paying spectrum usage fees, tho the FCC is not too strict on collecting those either. BTW, the FCC listings are even more imaginary in the case of 9955 and 15265, which WMLK have never really used, (meanwhile, WRMI really has 9955 24/7 available) and anyone who knows anything about the Ass. of Yahweh knows that Elder Meyer`s day off is The Sabbath, i.e. Saturday, not Sunday or Monday (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. According to the WRTH 2009, WWRB operates 4 x 50 kW plus 1 (and maybe a second) 100 kW transmitters. Thursday evening at 0030z they were on 3185, 3215, 5050 & 5745. Nothing here on 6890 or 9385 at that time. All listed on the "A09 31-MAR-2009 FCC A09fcc00.TXT" schedule at 100 kW. I suppose that they may be operating the 50 kW units in parallel, creating two 100 kW units plus the first and second stand alone 100 kW units. Is this known? Also, the FCC required (at one time) that International Broadcast Stations operate with antennas that provided a power gain of 10x. Yet the same FCC list shows 3215 & 5050 with an azimuth of 0º ( ND). Is this correct? The WWRB website shows a different frequency lineup but all with 100 kW (Jerry Lenamon, Waco, Texas, June 19, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Yes, a mysterious operation ** U S A [and non]. Another sporadic E morning causing WWCR to inboom on 13845 and 15825, June 9 at 1348; 13845, BTW, lacked any crosstalk, and 15825 still had the squeal. So naturally I checked 18770 for the WWRB harmonic 2 x 9385, and there it was fading S6-S9 with someone other than Brother Scare preaching. I could even detect the 18770 carrier on the DX-390 with internal reel-out antenna. Strangely, there was no axion on 15 or 12m, but CB 27 MHz channels were hopping, and some hams on 10m, such as VE3TMG around 28395 at 1351. This time Es reached VHF, and at 1426 UT on channel 2 saw WESH news from Daytona Beach FL; at 1436 probably the same NBC station infaded again running a crawl in Spanish with an 800 number, no doubt about their impending closedown of analog channel 2 on June 12. I will really miss this ``common`` Es catch I have seen from OK every summer I have been here since 1961, as it banishes itself to DTV channel 11. There has been a DTV on channel 2 from FL, WTWC in Tallahassee, which some have DXed, but not me; it`s closer than ideal skip distance, and it`s going back to channel 40 permanently (Glenn Hauser, Enid OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) WESH 2 Will be turning off its analog signal at 9 am on June 12 (Jeff Rostron, Springfield MA, June 9, WTFDA via DXLD) 1300 UT Another big summer sporadic E opening June 10 at 1344, with WWCR inbooming on 13845 and 15825, so another check of 18770 for the second harmonic of WWRB 9385 --- yes, there is Brother Scare, easy copy peaking S9, into clip of Obama talking about our multi-religious nation. At 1353 BS was offering a Kaito 1123 as a premium for donations. Still audible on 18770 at 1417. Back at 1345, this led me to look once again for harmonix from WWCR itself. Yes, 19960 is audible for the first time with Pastor Pete Peters, 2 x 9980. But just barely, fading in and out. There should be something on 14980 = 2 x 7490, but nothing detected there. Must make a note to look too for 27690 = 2 x 13845. And if a receiver tunes that hi, unlike the FRG-7, 31650 = 2 x 15825. And well into VHF, higher harmonix are quite possible from both stations when the Es is strong. WWRB could also show on x 3 = 28155. No axion at all on hambands 15, 12 and 10 meters, tho CB 11m was hopping full of signals. Another big sporadic E opening the morning of June 23, evidenced by inbooming WWCR on 13845 and 15825 at 1354, so check 18770 for WWRB 2 x 9385, and there is Brother Scare peaking S9. In next few minutes, looked for other WWRB and WWCR harmonix, 19960, 27690, 28135, but nothing audible. At 1358, 27 MHz CB + freebanders were rife, but nary a 10m phone ham to be heard above 28 MHz. WWV inbooming on 20000, but no KOA on 25950. Then I switched to TV; see MEXICO. Lots of sporadic E on lowband TV, and now it`s mostly in Spanish --- but that doesn`t necessarily mean non-USA. The NAB Nightlight DTV primer is bilingual all over the country, so if you hear a bit of Spanish, you have to be sure it`s not that. There are 13 US channel 2 analog stations still running this, per http://www.dxfm.com/Database/TV%20NIGHTLIGHT.xls some, but not all until July 12; notably KTUU in Anchorage AK, and those needing Alaska by double hop should frequently aim their antennas that way! At the opposite corner of the country, WPBT channel 2, Miami FL, is still on the air with NL, and fortunately shows their ID and 2 logo in center screen frequently, such as June 22 at 1700, 1719 UT, mixing with Mexico. Over the years, WPBT has been seen here countless times at 1270 miles. Once it is off July 12, a major obstacle to real multi- hop TVDX from Latin America will be removed. It`s also an obstacle to Mexico DX, as despite the divergent direxions from here, Es openings often bring in both at same time (Glenn Hauser, Enid OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. Nice to see KODE-TV, analog 12, Joplin MO, one last time, as had not picked it up for some time, only 200 miles away --- tropo was such UT June 11 at 0300 that the signal remained quite steady past 0500, first with local news, then ABC programming. Their digital on 43 was probably in too per meter, but not enough signal to break thru (Glenn Hauser, Enid OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A [and non]. Obama on CBC, and FOX (local KLRT) but not NBC, ABC, or CBS locally --- At before 11 am CT, noticed a unID 2 (probably CKPR 2) with CBC via Es carrying a live news conference with President Obama in the Rose Garden. Signal was in and out. Meanwhile on the local airwaves here, none of the two area NBC affiliates carried it -- KTVE 27 (10-1) El Dorado AR carried "The 700 Club" while KARK 32 (4-1) Little Rock carried a local 11 am newscast. Obama was MIA on Little Rock ABC affiliate KATV 22 (7-1) with "Jeopardy" in its usual time slot, and CBS airing the network feed of "The Young And The Restless" (via KTHV 12 (11-1). Ironically, it was a FOX Network feed (// with Fox News Channel (?) ) aired by KLRT 30 (16-1) the FOX affiliate for Little Rock that carried the Obama news conference on OTA TV in Central Arkansas. I wonder if the station got any calls about "Maury" being partly pre-empted (note- -the noxious "Maury" talk show is back on at 1115 CT) (Fritze H Prentice Jr, KC5KBV, Star City, AR, EM43aw, http://tvdxseark.blogspot.com http://www.twitter.com/KC5KBV June 16, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. CHANNEL 9 FACES SIGNAL ISSUES [Cincinnati] By John Kiesewetter Watching Channel 9 over the air – which has been a problem for many digital TV viewers without cable service – could get worse for the next two weeks as WCPO-TV switches from analog to digital signals. Channel 9’s power for digital and analog will be reduced Wednesday until June 26, while a crew removes the old analog antenna from atop its Walnut Hills tower and installs a new digital antenna. . . http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20090608/ENT/306080116/Channel+9+faces+signal+issues (via Brock Whaley, Oahu, June 9, DX Listening Digest) ** U S A. K02NT-2 Scottsbluff NE (KOTA) Logged --- This one was a surprise, and I made a blunder. I found a DTV signal showing on the DTT901 meter and analog KOB-4 nightlighting with a small logo and calls/location across the top. Not long after that, a weak "Regis and Kelly" made an appearance on channel 2. The signal was in and out good enough to see that there was no weather warning, so I was puzzled. However, I left the antenna aimed at Albuquerque, thinking maybe it was something in that direction. To say the least, I was shocked when a big "KOTA" ID came up at 1000 C[D]T [1500 UT], followed by ABC's "View." K02NT relays KDUH, which relays KOTA. I immediately rotated the antenna a little northward. The signal was better, but didn't last much longer. The last time I received a LPTV via Es from the west was when I had a "5-10-3" ID (KREX-5 and others) on channel 4. As there were two, I never knew which one was received (Danny Oglethorpe, Shreveport LA, June 19, WTFDA via DXLD) With fewer and fewer full power stations on lower channels, analog or digital, it becomes increasingly possible to DX the translator and low-power ones remaining in analog (gh, DXLD) Great catch, Danny!! I knew loggings like this would happen when the channels became emptier. Could you imagine the AM band with most of the US stations cleared out!! (Bill Hepburn, Ont., WTFDA via DXLD) Nice catch indeed! Has anyone else in this club besides Jeff Kadet received more than one TV translator via Es? (Doug Smith, ibid.) Not more than one TV translator, but I also logged K02NT back on 06/15/05. I had a couple other suspects, but could not pin down an ID before they went away. I know with the big guns gone we will have plenty of opportunity to log more LPs and translators (Girard Westerberg, http://www.DXFM.com Lexington, KY, ibid.) ** U S A. Re DAVID COURSEY, KSCO interview with gh --- Glenn, Cool, I was curious what David was up to these days. I haven't seen or heard from him in over thirty five years now. Did you know that as a sixteen-year-old boy in Dallas , David had his own evening show on WRR 1310 AM radio in Dallas? I used to listen to his show from San Antonio back then. I've been wondering what he's up to these days. Anyway, I enjoyed the interview and THANKS for posting the link to the interview. Here is his site: http://davidontheair.com/ (Artie Bigley, OH, June 9, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. EAGLE RADIO Talk KFEQ-A/ST. JOSEPH, MO is operating at reduced power after one of its four towers collapsed TUESDAY evening. The ST. JOSEPH NEWS-PRESS reports that the tower came down when a mower snagged a guy wire on the 360 foot tower. Daytime coverage is unlikely to be affected, but the tower was part of the station's nighttime array and may cause reception problems in some areas at night (5 kW on 680) (allaccess.com via Brock Whaley, Oahu, June 17, DX Listening Digest) MOWING ACCIDENT CAUSES A MISSOURI STATION'S RADIO TOWER TO COLLAPSE Picture a person on a large riding mower cutting hay near a broadcast tower. That mower then inadvertently clips a guy wire holding up a very large broadcast tower, dragging the wire and causing enough tension to bring down the entire 360-foot tower. That’s what happened to St. Joseph, Missouri’s KFEQ-AM (680). Station GM Gary Exline tells Radio-Info, “It was tower 4 of a four-tower radio array for KFEQ, originally built in the 1940’s, out on a big field. Fortunately nobody got hurt, but this will affect our signal strength at night.” Exline says the station, one of four owned by Eagle Communications in the market, sent an emergency request to the FCC to operate at night at reduced power. “Daytime power and direction were not affected,” says Exline, who adds the other three towers in the array are okay (via Artie Bigley, DXLD) KFEQ Tower down & STA Info --- Picture of the KFEQ radio tower from the http://www.680kfeq.com website (Roy Blazek, Kansas City, June 17, via Ernie Wesolowski, NE, via Bill Hale, via Wayne Heinen, CO, NRC-AM via DXLD) Last night at 5 past 9, local sunset [0205 UT], I did not notice a change in signal strength here in Omaha. Was still on full daytime power (Ernie Wesolowski, NE, June 18, ibid.). Ernie, I found some data at the FCC website and will include this item in the next AM Switch: 680 KFEQ MO St. Joseph - Licensed for U4 5000/5000, KFEQ has been granted an STA for U1 1870/1250. A farmer, plowing at the KFEQ 3-tower site, snapped one of the guy wires causing one tower to topple. KFEQ will be using tower # 3 only day and night at those reduced powers until the downed tower can be replaced and necessary tuning of the array is completed. DXers living east and west of St. Joseph should give 680 a try, as their night pattern delivers all of their signal due north and south. You may want to pass this along. Thanks for the tip. 73, (BILL Hale, TX, ibid.) ** U S A. 1710, RSI - Radio Soleil International, Boston, MA, JUN 13 0230 EDT / JUN 13 0630 UTC+ - playing kompas music with occasional overmodulated male kreyol DJ voiceover. Good peaks, deep fadings and I had to tune on the high side of 1710 kHz to avoid a computer growl that was heard around 1705 kHz. Mainly threshold audio using the Sanyo MCD-S830, but the PK AM loop brought this one nicely ! NEW ! First pirate in years ! Mixing with an unID Spanish station that had romantic music and seemingly religious SS talk that was hard to follow in heavy co-channel and man-made QRM, almost certainly a pirate as well, as the only legal stations on this channel are Traveller Information Service outlets (TIS stations) ! I couldn't believe my ears when I had two apparent pirates fighting for dominance on 1710 kHz the last night. I was so excited as I haven't DXed a pirate in ages, since I wen to bed at 3 and a half this morning and fell asleep after 4 AM with the sun starting to rise... Hence, I didn't eat my breakfast yet ! This report is brought to you by (Bogdan Alexandru Chiochiu, Québec, ABDX via DXLD) ** U S A. Who Is 101.3 Boston, MA? I am hearing what sounds like black talk with telephone calls on 101.3 in the Boston area. It is quite strong in my qth 15 miles to the south of Boston. The FCC database shows nothing even close to me on that channel. I thought that channel was once a FM translator for WFNX, but it is not parallel to them. Pirate? (Allan Dunn, K1UCY, June 14, WTFDA via DXLD) Yeah, it's a pirate (Aaron Reed, from Brockton, MA (21 miles south of Boston), ibid.) Any idea where it is located? (Dunn, ibid.) Big City FM: http://www.myspace.com/bigcityfm --- They even run RDS. Too bad the FCC is so impotent (Keith McGinnis, Hingham MA, ibid.) On Blue Hill Ave, across from Franklin Park. They've been the biggest pirate in Boston for at least 2-3 years now. Recently they added stereo, RDS, and what seems like an even stronger signal. http://www.bigcityfm.com (Jeff Lehmann, ibid.) http://www.energyradio1015.com/ This is the Hartford pirate on 101.5 and from the sound of them they are running serious power as they are heard in Springfield with no problem (Jeff Rostron, Springfield MA, Sangean HDT-1, Winegard HD 6065P @ 35Ft, ibid.) Yes, it is that pirate called "Big City FM". It recently upgraded to Stereo and has a coverage similar to that of the best 100 or 1000 watt FM. You might also receive other "boots" in the Greater Boston area. While driving home last night in Boston, the pirates were in full force on 89.3, 90.1, 91.3, 94.9, 96.5, 99.7, 101.3, 102.9, 105.3, 106.1 and I may have missed a few. It's truly amazing about the nonchalant way they operate right out in the open. And this is happening in many other cities, everywhere. It's a joke. (Peter Q. George, ibid.) I would love the FCC to stop being a vestigial organ of government and have money to stop this kind of thing (Kevin Redding, Crump TN, ibid.) I'm wondering if the 94.9 or 96.5 pirate is right up the street from me. There's a garage behind an ethnic barber shop on Cresecent Street in Brockton with a rod antenna extending about 10 feet or so. I remember seeing antennas like that as part of CB, small ham or other two-way communications set ups, yet my gut thinks it's one of the pirates (Aaron Reed, from Brockton, MA, (21 miles south of Boston), ibid.) 94.9 and 96.5 are both located at 69 North Montello St. in Brockton. I noticed that there's a 90.1 in Brockton again, maybe the one that was on 104.3 moved. I'll have to try tracking this one down sometime soon (Jeff Lehmann, Hanson, MA, ibid.) Peter, And so what, if anything, is being done? When I was involved with a pirate FM station back in the 60's a local broadcaster called the FCC who came and shut us down. They confiscated the transmitter, all 15 watts of it, and told us that next time we were caught it was going to be jail time. More recently --- For years a bootlegger in Berkeley has been spewing splatter. Since I've had my APS13 I discovered they are interfering with a legal station. Did the FCC go the way of the SEC when it comes to enforcement? What ever happened to the Anti-Piracy Task Force the FBI had? Rhetorical questions. Is this something that should be of concern to FM DXers? (Tim Alderman, ibid.) Back in the 80's, the FCC would give a seminar in Boxboro at the FEMARA convention for ham operators. The person who spoke had to pay his own way to the convention. He said there were two of them in the Boston office to handle all of New England, and that they did not even have a clerk/typist. Their biggest concern then was the proliferation of false maydays on the marine bands causing the Coast Guard to scramble for nothing, or worse, to dismiss a very weak mayday followed by laughter as a prank when a vessel truly was in trouble and became a casualty. Most of the false maydays were from teens whom they could not prosecute. The hams complained enough about problems on their own frequencies that the FCC appointed Riley Hollingsworth to bring sanity back to the ham bands, and that may have brought some enforcement back into the FCC mindset. Obviously not enough (Allan Dunn, ibid.) Please keep the discussion here. This is interesting reading. These are DX targets for many of us. Well, I'll have a hard time getting even the higher-powered Boston FM pirates, but someone closer to the 1000-mile range oughta have a shot. If we can log LPFMs and translators by skip, surely we can catch pirates by skip. I am amazed to read of the sheer number of Boston pirates. Nothing like that in Toronto. One or two at best. (Including an Islamic station on 87.9; at least it was there a few weeks ago...). (Saul Chernos, Ont., ibid.) ** U S A. 87.7 FM in Krum --- Anyone in the D-FW area hearing Norteña music on 87.7? It's full-quieting as I finally hooked up an indoor dipole to the Yamaha T-550 I bought a year or so ago --- but it's only faint in one direction of the whip on my DX-398. I've checked all the DFW FM frequencies and find no parallel, so it's not an image; and I did hear at TOH what appeared to be ochocientos setenta [sic] punto siete mentioned a couple of times. Heard it first on Sunday, thought maybe my T-550 analog dial was off and KNTU had expanded its weekend Spanish program ... but not so. Never heard an FM pirate before (John Callarman, Krum TX, 0239 UT June 23, ABDX via DXLD) [Later:] ID at 2205 CDT La Ley 87.7 Fort Worth. Google shows a MySpace reference to someone named "Lil Erica" Female Fort Worth "Philly made me, Fort Worth raised me!!!! May 7 2009 6:39 AM ... listen to my morning show at 87.7FM Radio La Ley every day from 6am to 10am and Saturdays ..." but I get only a sign-in message at http://www.myspace.com/smileydafirst and I'm not really interested in myspace. At 2205 CDT, the programming with a lot of production sounds and promos for music, apparently at a place called "La Pequeña México," gave way to more simple segued music with frequent "Radio La Ley" IDs dropped in. Something to shoot for, I suppose, when e-skip opens up to North Texas (Qal R. Mann, Krumudgeon, ABDX via DXLD) You have now! I checked out her Myspace page because I do have an account there - what a cutie! The most notorious pirates in DFW have been: --- A Spanish language church known to show up on 92.9 prior to KSKY grabbing the frequency - old Cowboy Stadium to 635 / I35E area --- A Garland church on 87.9 --- An ultra libertarian group on 95.7 in the high five area --- A pretty professional sounding oldies on 102.5 before KMAD came on the air as a rim shot and before 1040 grabbed the frequency. There may be others I missed. (Bruce Carter, ibid.) Wow, 4 FM pirates in the DFW area? I wonder how many we have in or near Houston as I haven't heard one in quite a while (Robert M. Bratcher, Jr., ibid.) One of the BEST radio stations I have ever listened to was a Pirate. Lynks-FM in Ft. Lauderdale, FL actually won several community service awards, ran spots, and did remote broadcasts. They SMOKED the licensed stations in that market. LOL 73, (Kevin in Upstate SC, KJ4HYD, ibid.) I guess one of the byproducts of the DTV Transition is now it is going to be easier for pirates to use 87.5-87.9 without TV interference from 87.75 audio (Darwin Long, ibid.) ** U S A. ANOTHER NEWCOMER ON THE DFW FM DIAL Somehow I missed the expansion of KSKY-660 onto FM. But there it was, Dennis Prager on 92.9, with KSKY news breaks. I thought perhaps it was a new nearby translater, but the FCC data base had nothing. The KSKY website, though, made reference to 92.9 in Dallas, but no specific details. Googling KSKY 92.9, though, brought this from, of all sources, Wikipedia: KSKY claims that the Nighttime Interference Free (NIF) contour has been "reduced by cochannel interference from illegal operations at Mexican stations XEDTL, San Lorenzo Tezoneo, DF and XEEY, Jalpa, ZA. The Mexican stations are notified to and accepted for nighttime operation with power levels limited to 1.0 kW. However, both stations appear to be operating with a nighttime power level on the order of 50 kW. Mitigation efforts of both the Federal Communications Commission http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Federal_Communications_Commission (FCC) and KSKY (AM) with the Mexican government and the offending stations have been unsuccessful. Therefore, the applicant herein seeks extraordinary relief from the interference by proposing to re-transmit the KSKY (AM) programming on three low power FM repeaters throughout the KSKY(AM) nighttime loss area to restore lost KSKY(AM) service to the public." - from a document filed with the Federal Communications Commission. The request for FM repeater STAs could be an attempt to gain an FM license for KSKY. In and near Dallas: Special Temporary Authorization (STA) in operation 92.9 MHz, Channel 225, has an Effective Radiated Power of 800 Watts Antenna Location Coordinates (NAD-27) 32-46-43 North at 96-43-51 West FCC Antenna Structure Registration Number 1221248 Overall Tower Height Above Ground Level 160.9 meters Height of Radiation Center Above Mean Sea Level 270 meters Height of Radiation Center Above Ground Level 144 meters In and near Fort Worth: Proposed STA, 95.5 MHz, Channel 238, would have an Effective Radiated Power of 140 Watts Antenna Location Coordinates (NAD-27) 32-47-33 North at 97-13-47 West FCC Antenna Structure Registration Number 1211877 Overall Tower Height Above Ground Level 32.9 meters Height of Radiation Center Above Mean Sea Level 190 meters Height of Radiation Center Above Ground Level 30 meters In and near Arlington: Proposed STA, 92.1 MHz, Channel 221, has an Effective Radiated Power of 99 Watts Antenna Location Coordinates (NAD-27) 32-44-26 North at 97-03-33 West FCC Antenna Structure Registration Number 1225675 Overall Tower Height Above Ground Level 62.8 meters Height of Radiation Center Above Mean Sea Level 240 meters Height of Radiation Center Above Ground Level 59 meters The proposed station on 92.1 would cause interference to 92.1 KTFW http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KTFW of Glen Rose http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glen_Rose,_Texas (32 16' 31.00" North Latitude at 98 01' 22.00" West Longitude (NAD 27) The 92.9 coordinates put the 800 watt HAAT 160.9 meter transmitter at the KGGR-1040 tower site, which, if I remember correctly from the tower tour with Scott Fybush & others in 2002 is the most isolated of the DFW transmitter sites. It's 44.501 miles from my DX den in Krum. The signal is about 98 percent readable, with occasional co-channel QRM from possibly Wichita Falls but more likely, based on orientation of the indoor ribbon dipole, from Waco. I can't find this in the FCC data base. Qal R. Mann, Krumudgeon (John Callarman, TX, June 23, ABDX via DXLD) Nor will you, since these aren't separate licensed stations, per se - they're covered by the KSKY(AM) license, with special temporary authority conveyed to KSKY by letter. I don't see any precedent by which KSKY could convert these to fully-licensed FM facilities, or even to separately-licensed translators, since they would require a whole slew of waivers from the Commission's FM allotment/translator rules. These facilities are (so far) one-of-a-kind - while I know of other broadcasters that have tried to claim them as precedent to get the FCC to approve similar operations, nobody's succeeded yet. s (Scott Fybush, NY, ibid.) 92.9 was about the only open frequency for DX in the DFW area - I think it is a travesty that our FCC lets Mexico get away with leaving high power illegal broadcasts on at night without so much as a protest, and attempts to patch the situation by giving away valuable free FM frequencies. They also jammed classic rock rim shot KMAD with some southern gospel AM getting an FM frequency, just so they can stay on at night. The law clearly says interference with any over the signal, not just local. But since when does the FCC care about interference issues? (Bruce Carter, ibid.) ** U S A. KERA BUYS ANOTHER FREQUENCY, 91.7 http://blogs.dallasobserver.com/dc9/2009/06/kera_purchases_917_fm_frequenc.php (via Artie Bigley, OH, DX LISTENING DIGEST) In this age of gospel huxters proliferating on the `educational` band, it`s great news that public radio takes one back. However, any mention of classical music programming? Of course not --- leave that to the taxpayers on city-owned WRR-FM (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. FCC ENFORCEMENT WATCH, SELECTED ITEMS o Ateret Israel (Jewish organization), Los Angeles, issued a Notice of Unlicensed Operation (NOUO) for broadcasting on 92.1 MHz: http://www.fcc.gov/eb/FieldNotices/2003/DOC-291281A1.html o The property used by Ateret Israel is reportedly owned by Netan Eli Hebrew Academy, Studio City, so they received a NOUO for the 92.1 MHz operation too: http://www.fcc.gov/eb/FieldNotices/2003/DOC-291282A1.html o Note that on Ateret Israel's Web page, the second box down in the right column is entitled, "Radio Listen Now 92.1 FM." We tried it and found dead air. http://www.ateretisrael.org/ (CGC Communicator June 15 via Kevin Redding, ABDX via DXLD) We previously had some reports on this 92.1 Jewish pirate in LA (gh) ** U S A. FM stations gone in Michigan --- The FCC has canceled four non-commercial FM licenses and four translators in Michigan. One more license and two translators are in trouble, with the licensee at risk of being declared ineligible to hold FCC licenses. The allegations (backed by substantial evidence) are that the co-owned stations were not built at all, or were built at sites not specified in the permits, but the permittee certified they had been built according to the permits. In a move I've not seen happen before, the Public Notice also says the case has been referred to the U.S. Attorney's Office for possible criminal prosecution. http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-09-1372A1.txt (Doug Smith, WTFDA via DXLD) Are these gospel huxters or not? No hint of the real programming aside from guessing whether the corporate name is a sham (gh, DXLD) Apparently one of the licensees considers himself an expert on educational radio and has written a book about how to do it which can be found on Amazon: Advising Managing and Operating a Successful Student and Non Commercial Radio Station by James McCluskey Ph.D. and James McCluskey (Mass Market Paperback - 15 Oct 1999) Regards, (Fred Laun, Temple Hills, MD, WTFDA via DXLD) I really gotta comment on this one. One of those stations in the list of Michigan stations gone (which never really existed to start with) was W206AZ 89.1 Fremont, Michigan, less than a mile from my parents house where I was living and DXing from. I complained some months back to the FCC about this, along with 93.3 W227BB saying that: 1. The station never went on the air and had no facilities that I knew of at the site. 2. They (that is, 93.3) would interfere with WKQZ's strong local signal on the same frequency. 3. The FCC should cancel both of their CPs for lack of action and wasting a frequency by reserving it and taking no action. Now I'm sure it's a coincidence there; but I was pretty happy to see these stations disappear or at least be blocked from taking space. On the plus side, with them not taking action on the CP, I had 2 frequencies that remained both reserved and open for that time. W285DU 104.9 in Fremont, a translator of full-power 91.7 WMCQ in Muskegon, transmitting just 10 miles from its translator, abruptly disappeared off the air back in early May resulting in a nice open frequency again. Aside from the in-town pirate on 93.1, this completes a clean sweep of translators and translator CPs in my hometown (Chris Kadlec, Fremont, Mich. (now in Korea), ibid.) In Canada, stations have a specified period, in their new licence, indicating how long they have to get on-air. They can generally apply for an extension but the CRTC expects a reason, and extensions aren't generally all that long. Station trafficking is also not allowed. Go online to read the CRTC's decision (crtc.gc.ca) about 95.5 in Kincardine, and its application for a relay on 90.9 in Port Elgin, tabled in with its sale to another owner. The CRTC denied this, citing concerns over potential trafficking. (A loophole: The new owner has to wait 9 months and can then reapply, but at least it's the new owner and not the old owner applying). The deal would have set prices for two or three stations - depending on the CRTC's ruling. I think Scott Fybush reported on all of this in his NERW online site. Google NERW and Kincardine and you'll likely find the link. The CRTC does things differently than the FCC, though the CRTC, I guess like any body, is not always consistent in its rulings or in its approaches to comparable problems (Saul Chernos, Ont., ibid.) There is also a definite period for construction of a U.S. station -- 18 months if I recall properly with *one* 18-month extension available if good reason is given. This is a change: the permit for WCTX-59 remained open for **FORTY-TWO YEARS** before the station was actually built... Scott will have to elaborate but there is no limit on trafficking once the station is built. A permit with no license-to-cover cannot be sold for profit -- you can recover the reasonable expenses involved in obtaining the CP (including what you paid the FCC at auction?) but nothing more (Doug Smith W9WI, Pleasant View, TN EM66, ibid.) ** U S A. AM via FM --- Look for the FCC to release a Report and Order on rule changes that would officially allow AM stations to use FM translators to fill in service within their coverage areas. The Commission has placed the item on its tentative JULY 2nd open meeting agenda. AM stations are presently able to use FM translators as rebroadcasters under Special Temporary Authority, but the rule has yet to be officially codified (allaccess.com June 15 via Brock Whaley, DX Listening Digest) ** U S A. HAPPY BIRTHDAY, FCC? Broadcasting & Cable, New York NY, USA, June 18, 2009 As the Federal Communications Commission (FRCS) celebrates the 75th anniversary of its formation Friday, media diversity activists Everett C. Parker and David Honig aren't exactly sending flowers. Instead, they've sent an unvarnished yet affectionate look back on the commission's first 75 years in the form of this exclusive op-ed for Broadcastingcable.com. This hard-hitting article is at http://www.broadcastingcable.com:80/blog/BC_DC_Eggerton_on_Washington/15564-Happy_Birthday_FCC_.php The FCC is an independent agency of the United States government, created, directed, and empowered by Congressional statute, and with the majority of its commissioners appointed by the current President. The FCC works towards six strategic goals in the areas of broadband, competition, the spectrum, the media, public safety and homeland security, and modernizing the FCC. The FCC was established by the Communications Act of 1934 as the successor to the Federal Radio Commission and is charged with regulating all non-federal government use of the radio spectrum (including radio and television broadcasting), and all interstate telecommunications (wire, satellite and cable) as well as all international communications that originate or terminate in the United States. It is an important factor in U.S. telecommunication policy. The FCC took over wire communication regulation from the Interstate Commerce Commission. The FCC's mandated jurisdiction covers the 50 states, the District of Columbia, and U.S. possessions. Due however to close geographic proximity to the United States, the FCC also provides varied degrees of cooperation, oversight, and leadership for similar communications bodies in other countries of North America. The FCC has a 2009 proposed budget of $466 million which is funded by $1 million in taxpayer appropriations and the rest in regulatory fees. It has 1,899 "Full Time Equivalent" federal employees. On 14 November 2008, Barack Obama selected Susan P. Crawford and Kevin Werbach to lead the review of the FCC. The review team will review the commission to aid the new administration in its planning decisions.The team "will ensure that senior appointees have the information necessary to complete the confirmation process, lead their departments, and begin implementing signature policy initiatives immediately after they are sworn in." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Federal_Communications_Commission The National Radio Club's DX Audio Circle has been running a fascinating series about the history of US radio and there are many mentions of the FRC and FCC. This excellent programme is issued monthly for a modest annual subscription via http://www.nrcdxas.org/ "WHEN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT STEPPED IN" Radio World, By James E. O'Neal, June 16, 2009 The Federal Communications Commission was created on June 19, 1934, and thus marks its 75th anniversary this month. A recent article in Radio World discussed whether the FCC is still relevant. Here, we look back to its roots. "In the beginning, there was a ponderous cacophony and great confusion. Rear Admiral W.H.G. Bullard, first chairman of the Federal Radio Commission. 'There are no czars, as some newspapers like to suggest; we are all equals - the commission and the public,' he said. Radio, basically in the form of broadband brute force spark transmissions, had been around since the turn of the 20th century. Some businesses made use of radio for dispatching ships and reporting meteorological conditions, others engaged in the transmission of personal and commercial messages for profit; but the simple truth was that anyone could build and operate a wireless station..." See full article at http://www.rwonline.com/article/82456 (Mike Terry, June 19, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. UCSD, San Diego, is operating a 1610 kHz Travelers Information Station (WQKI718) under an STA expiring July 6, 2009. It's on the air now from a site at I-5 and Genesee: http://tinyurl.com/UCSD-STA-1610 (CGC Communicator June 15 via Kevin Redding, ABDX via DXLD) After reading this morning's CGC Communicator I checked and sure enough there is a great big TIS station on 1610 kHz somewhere near the I-5/I-805 merge in northern San Diego. According to CGC the station is located at UC San Diego. It has a great big signal with very clean audio, and gets out for miles (I could still hear traces 20 miles away). Currently running a test message describing itself as a community radio station for "this community" (with no mention of licensee) and promising to be on regular schedule soon. Located near the coast, so it might be audible in Orange County or Santa Barbara at night? 73, (Tim Hall, Chula Vista, CA, June 15, ABDX via DXLD) ** U S A. NEW TIS --- 540, WQIH850, WA, Burien. First noted today on an airport run. Subsequently heard 20 miles north of Seattle; after that, heard all the way down I-5 to 348th St. and from there all the way home to NE Tacoma. It is readable in my driveway. This is one of the most potent TIS outlets I have ever noted. Burien is next to SeaTac both physically and on the dial (530). Short squibs about city activities and frequent stand-alone IDs (Pete Taylor, Tacoma, WA, June 16, IRCA via DXLD) ** U S A. DX ALERT --- Hi gang-real quick DX alert. KSLL 1080 Price, UT is on tonight. Format is standards. Perry Como, Temptations, Linda Ronstadt all heard. Pretty clear atop KRLD. Go get em if you need 'em (Michael n Wyo Richard, 0449 UT June 24, ABDX via DXLD) ** U S A. Re WLO/KLB weather broadcasts: As to robotic voices, They are called screen-readers. Because of my being blind totally, I need a software application to navigate the computer screen. There are many screen-readers out such as Jaws, Window-eyes, nvda and many more. The first two are the major ones which have many powerful features built- in. There are also voices which you can get that will work with screen-readers, male and female with names as sam, mary, jill and many more. The good voices known as sappi take up a lot of space in ram and sound pretty good (Pastor Darryl Breffe -- Founder/C.E.O. http://www.cjoyinternetradio.com We play programs produced by blind persons. twitter.com/cjoyinternet June 13, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. MARITIME RADIO HISTORICAL SOCIETY "NIGHT OF NIGHTS" http://www.dxtests.info/2009/06/night-of-nights-x.html Dxtests.info Posted by Brandon June 21, 2009 This was recently posted to the Radiomarine forum and I thought it may of interest to some DXers. The annual Maritime Radio Historical Society "Night of Nights" event is less than one month away. This will be the tenth annual Night of Nights! Every year on 12 July (US time) many famous coast stations return to the air to commemorate what was then thought to be the last commercial Morse stations in the USA. Since then MRHS coast station KSM has taken to the air and three other commercial coast stations have received licenses for operation in the MF band (KNE, KDR and WFT). Historic ships have reactivated their radio consoles and are active on MF and HF. The purpose of Night of Nights is to emphasize the objective of the MRHS: to preserve the skills, traditions and culture of the men and women who came before us and who made the profession of radiotelegrapher one of honor and skill. This year stations KPH, and KSM will be on the air. We anticipate that KFS will be on the air as well. We hope that US Coast Guard stations NMC, NOJ and NMN will join us as they did last year. Amateur station K6KPH will guard 3550, 7050 and 14050 kc for reception reports. Preliminary information has been posted on the MRHS Web site: http://www.radiomarine.org Check back often for updated information as it becomes available. If you would like to receive announcements like this and are not already a member of our mailing list just send a message to: radiomarine-subscribe [at] yahoogroups.com (via Mike Terry, dxldyg via DXLD) ** U S A. AIR AMERICA TAKES TO THE WASHINGTON AIRWAVES Tuesday, June 16, 2009, 2:30pm EDT Washington Business Journal - by Jennifer Nycz-Conner Staff Reporter http://www.bizjournals.com/washington/stories/2009/06/15/daily35.html?t=printable Air America Media hits the D.C.-area airwaves at midnight Tuesday. The liberal talk radio station will begin broadcasting on 1050 AM under new call letters, WZAA, as well as stream its signal online at http://www.airamericawashington.com Air America is operating the station as part of a local marketing agreement reached June 3 with Bonneville International Corp. The channel will feature national names such as Rachel Maddow, Montel Williams, Arianna Huffington, Ron Reagan and Ana Marie Cox. “We plan to utilize our new Washington broadcast facilities to originate nationwide programming with our talent,” Bill Hess, Air America Media senior vice president of programming, said in a statement. “Now that we are in our new home on Idaho Avenue, we’re also producing regularly-scheduled local programming.” Air America also announced that it has hired former Clear Channel and ESPN Radio executive Martin Sheehan as station manager (via Kevin Redding, TN, June 16, ABDX via WORLD OF RADIO 1466, DXLD) Hello Kevin, What was the 1050 call before WZAA? (Barry Davies, UK, ibid.) Call Sign Begin Date WZAA 06/15/2009 WTOP 09/15/2008 WFED 12/13/2004 WPLC 10/11/2000 WKDL 03/01/1993 WNTR 08/31/1984 WGAY 73, ([another] Kevin in Upstate SC, KJ4HYD, ibid.) ** U S A. Shortwave - Who Needs It --- The following Washington Post article shows how Washington DC now gets ten channels of foreign TV thanks to the MHz network and the technology of digital multiplexing. Comcast is picking up all of these channels for relay to their customers. MHZ NETWORKS --- By Kim Hart, Monday, June 22, 2009, Washington Post The switch to digital TV has caused static and headaches for thousands of viewers in the Washington region. But for one local station, the transition has been something of a revival. MHz Networks, based in Falls Church, has carved out a niche for international programming over the past 15 years, showing Russian newscasts, Nigerian documentaries and Italian mysteries, to name a few of its offerings. To build its digital antenna and boost the signal's power, MHz shut off analog to its two channels in September -- the first station in the country to do so -- leaving many viewers who were not yet equipped to receive digital signals believing it had simply disappeared. But on June 12, when viewers hooked up converter boxes and scanned for digital stations, MHz came through at full strength. "We got calls from people all over saying, 'You're back!' " said chief executive Frederick Thomas, who started working at the public television station 15 years ago as a programming manager. MHz Networks is owned by Richmond-based Commonwealth Public Broadcasting and, through affiliate agreements with broadcasters and cable and satellite companies, reaches 27 million households across the country. But viewers in the Washington region, and some in Baltimore, now get to watch 10 channels over the air free of charge. (The digital transition gave the network eight extra channels to broadcast additional foreign content.) Five channels, including programs from the Middle East, China and Japan, are aired from a 698-foot tower in Falls Church, while the remaining five channels with programs from Vietnam, France and South Africa are aired from a tower in Prince William County. (Viewers have to point their antennas in that direction to receive the channels.) When Thomas arrived at the station in 1993, he said it was airing a hodgepodge of programs on a random schedule. He saw the opportunity to cater to the growing diversity of Washington and, starting with the showing of 10 foreign films, slowly acquired the rights to air programs from foreign news services. He said that with an eye on numbers from the 1990 Census, he tried to air content that would appeal to the largest ethnic groups in the region. "I knew there was this international underbelly to the nation's capital," he said. Now that MHz has mastered digital broadcasts, it's branching into new territories. Starting next month, it will begin airing mobile video broadcasts as part of a larger pilot project by the Open Mobile Video Coalition, which will also provide video for the major network affiliates in the area, Ion Media and Howard University's public television station. Mobile video, Thomas said, takes advantage of a "big, open-air broadband pipe -- it's wicked cool." But there's a problem: Handsets capable of receiving the new mobile video broadcasts aren't yet available to consumers. Broadcasters are testing the service so it will be ready when devices become available next year. Ion Media, which is taking part in the mobile video trials and started airing its mobile content recently, said it has also benefited from the digital transition. The network has gained 2.4 million more viewers in the Washington region, bringing its projected audience to nearly 7 million, according to the Federal Communications Commission. Ion airs four stations in the region, and moved its antenna from a tower in Fairfax to a taller tower in Northwest D.C. to boost reception, said John Lawson, executive vice president of policy and strategic initiatives. Headquartered in Florida, Ion has offices in Arlington and Fairfax. The network is also in talks with BET founder Robert L. Johnson to create a channel primarily geared toward African American audiences, called Urban TV. While Ion's mobile content is available on the airwaves now, area consumers won't get to try it out until January, when prototype devices will be made available for the trial. The Open Mobile Video Coalition has chosen to have its only service trial in Washington, giving local early adopters a sneak peak. Lawson said he tested a prototype device downtown this week. "I got a strong signal on Capitol Hill," he said. "But I had some challenges around the White House." (via Joe Buch, June 22, Swprograms mailing list via DXLD) Joe, and using an innovative way of channel diversity so as not to overcompress the channels. Subchannels 1 thru 5 are broadcast via RF24 in Fairfax, while subchannels 6 thru 10 are via RF30 in Independent Hill. All use a PSIP of 30-* to make it appear that it's one contiguous digital station. One issue is that the fixed guide data in my DirecTV HR20 doesn't understand that some of it is on RF24. The older, but scannable ATSC tuner in my HR10 picks it all up just fine. From out here in backwoods Remington, RF30 is fairly reliable while RF24 needs some extra help from late afternoon and evening ducting. The general subchannel lineup, which varies from time-to-time is: 1 - General programming 2 - NHK World (Japan) 3 - Metro Chinese Network 4 - Russia Today 5 - BTN (Dutch) -> Supposed to be replaced by Al Jazeera in July 6 - SABC (South Africa) 7 - France 24 8 - Nigeria TV Network 9 - VTN4 (Vietnam) 10 - Euronews Interesting stuff, indeed (Mark J. Fine, ibid.) Hopefully these broadcasters will remember that some of us prefer radio - er, audio programming vs. TV because it is a multitasking- friendly platform (Richard Cuff / Allentown, PA, ibid.) After reading the posts about the availability of the MHz network in the DC area, I know I would love to have it hear in the Oklahoma City Area. However even with it I would not give up shortwave (Steve Cross, OKC, OK, ibid.) MHz delivers their "MHz Network" which is mostly equivalent to their MHz Network 1 in the DC area to public television stations in 22 markets across the US now. They have a listing here: http://www.mhznetworks.org/mhzworldview/carriage/ And my website has a listing here (arranged differently): http://www.afana.com/drupal5/tvinfo (2nd bullet on page) They aren't yet in Oklahoma City but you can lobby your local public television station to add them. MHz entire US strategy is to get on the secondary digital channels of other public television outlets. Side note: For those on the list who don't know, I have spent the last 14 years promoting Australian football in the US and Canada (now moving on other challenges). More than 8 years ago now, we hitched our wagon for "free" distribution of the sport to MHz Network. (The sport is also available by a pay channel [Setanta]). Over the years, it has been a great pleasure to work with Fred Thomas and his staff at MHz Network. Now, thanks to that strategic decision, we have the sport free to air in half of the major markets of the US and it's growing by the month (Rob de Santos, http://afana.com Columbus, OH, ibid.) Incidentally, if you're in the Washington DC area, Lou Josephs advises that WNVC will give Al Jazeera English fulltime carriage from 1 July, when it adds it to its 30-5 digital broadcast signal via its MHz batch of foreign channel relays, replacing BVN, Our Dutch-language television service (Andy Sennitt, RNW Media Network newsletter June 18 via DXLD) ** U S A. LOCAL EXPERIMENTAL GRANTS OF INTEREST o New experimental for Hatfield & Dawson Consulting Engineers to operate in the 54-60, 66-72, 192-198, 476-482, 566-572 and 764-770 MHz bands to "modernize and transform psychological operation (PSYOP) equipment." Fixed: NAS El Centro (Imperial), CA. [TV channels 2, 4, 10, 15, 30] o New experimental for Hatfield & Dawson Consulting Engineers to operate on 88.3, 89.1, 93.5 and 97.1 MHz under Space and Naval Warfare (SPAWAR) Systems Center contract to develop and test enhancements to FM radio transmitter systems. Fixed: NAS El Centro (Imperial), CA. http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-291445A1.doc (CGC Communicator June 22 via Kevin Redding, ABDX via DXLD) ** VENEZUELA [non]. 6180, Radio Nacional de Venezuela via RHC, 1033- 1040, June 13, Spanish, DX program: "Contacto con los Diexistas". Letters and short basic talks about DX (SINPO code, etc). Conduced by Cristina López & Freddy Santos. ID as: "Radio Nacional de Venezuela, Canal Internacional", 34433 (Arnaldo Slaen, Argentina, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Still the very same one with letter from Crespo and someone in Japan? (gh, DXLD) ** VENEZUELA. El calvario de Globovisión --- 06-19-2009 | EFE SIGUEN SUMÁNDOSE MULTAS, PROCESOS Y REQUISICIONES Las presiones sobre la cadena noticiosa se acumulan . . . http://www.laestrella.com.pa/mensual/2009/06/19/contenido/112633.asp (via Yimber Gaviría, Colombia, DXLD) RECOLECTAN 1.1 MILLONES DE DÓLARES PARA PAGAR MULTA DE GOBIERNO A GLOBOVISIÓN --- Viernes, 19 de junio de 2009. Actualizado a las 21:46h | El canal de televisión venezolano Globovisión anunció hoy que una campaña a su favor recolectó el equivalente a 1,16 millones de dólares para ayudarlo a pagar unas multas gubernamentales por un total de 4,1 millones de dólares. Manuela Bolívar, presidenta de la organización "Futuro Presente", que coordinó la colecta bajo el nombre de "Globopotazo", agradeció a los ciudadanos que donaron el dinero el pasado fin de semana y anunció que la campaña se mantendrá hasta el próximo 30 de junio para intentar reunir el monto total de las multas. Fuente: ADN ES [más:] http://www.and.es/sociedad/20090619/NWS-2900-Globovision-Recolectan-Gobierno-millones-dolares.html (via Yimber Gaviría, Colombia, DXLD) ** VENEZUELA. At 12:15 PM [EDT] on 3 with a rotor heading of 150 degrees picking up SS station and for a moment in color. Lower right of screen had PNi and U/L had a white crescent moon and below that what looked like tvs. Running tape now. Also along with the SS audio what sounds like a siren going up in pitch and back down - this goes along with long haul stuff (Roy Barstow, Cape Code MA, 1628 UT 22 June, WTFDA via DXLD) Yes, it is Ven. Nation station on 3, tves gov. (Roy Barstow, 1633 UT, ibid.) Also // 2 on the Icom (Barstow, 1640 UT, ibid.) With antenna at 150 and even at 120 degrees, Venezuela coming in and with Icom excellent audio at times in wide filter mode. 3 Venezuela out around 1:35 PM. But now piano music and woman singing in Spanish, so maybe back (Roy Barstow, MA, 1801 UT, ibid.) ** VIETNAM [non]. 6175 with Mideast-sounding music UT Sunday June 14 at 0514, until some lyrix in Vietnamese appeared, and later announcement in Viet, reassuring us this was just VOV via Sackville (Glenn Hauser, OK, WORLD OF RADIO 1465, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 6175 Voice of Vietnam; 0247-0257:41*, *0300, 10-June; English feature about Malaysian investment in VN. 0252 folk tune sounding Balkan rather than Asian. S20 sig. OC stayed up for *0300 VoV s/on in SS (Harold Frodge, MI, MARE Tipsheet via WORLD OF RADIO 1465, DXLD) ** VIETNAM [non]. 15670, Que Huong R., Jun 10 *1200-1213, 35433, Vietnamese, 1200 sign on with opening music, ID, Opening announce, Talk. 15670, Que Huong R., Jun 11 *1200-1207, 33433-35433, Vietnamese, 1200 sign on with opening music, ID, Opening announce, Talk. 15670, Que Huong R., Jun 12 *1200-1218, 34333, Vietnamese, 1200 sign on with opening music, ID, Opening announce, Talk (Kouji Hashimoto, Japan, Japan Premium Jan 19 via DXLD) ** WESTERN SAHARA [non non]. MOROCCO, 711 RTM-"R", Laâyoune, 2246- 2303, 20 Jun, Castilian (weekly), international music, s/off announcements and into Arabic at 2300; 44443, but this reflects the signal, not the audio quality which is bad in terms of not good readability and above all very weak audio level; QRM de France. 73, (Carlos Gonçalves, Portugal, June 24, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ZANZIBAR. 6015, 0410 06/06, TANZANIA, V. of Tanzania Zanzibar, em Swahili, desde Dole, com 50 kW, OM Talk, as 0415 UT YL entra na conversa, 33333 (Jorge Freitas, SWL1023B, Feira de Santana Bahia - Brasil, Degen 1103, Antena Dipolo de 16 metros e balum 4:1 em toroide Direção Leste/Oeste, HCDX via DXLD) ** ZANZIBAR. Re: R. Tanzania Zanzibar is no more relaying the English news from "Spice FM". They are coming now from the own house from "Voice of Tanzania, Zanzibar" as it is announced. The time is 1800- 810. I observed the English news on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday. There were no English news broadcasted on Thursday and Saturday (Erich, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews June 5 via DXLD) Thanks to a tip above, I checked on June 8th the frequency of 11735 at 1759 and after the Swahili ID (Sauti Tanzania Zanzibar) the English news bulletin started with ID "Voice of Tanzania - Zanzibar" at 1800 (Jari Savolainen, Kuusankoski, Finland, June 9, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1464, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Re: DXLD 9-047: Voice of Tanzania, Zanzibar heard today, Thursday 11 June, at 1800-1810 with English news on 11735 kHz (Alan Roe, Teddington, UK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED [non]. 1710 kHz, Russian, Lynnwood, Washington area --- Good Morning, While driving to Forks, WA this afternoon, 8 miles North of Lynnwood, WA on I-5, the Russian speaking station was booming in. It was a good signal for about 4 miles with music and started fading 4 miles North of Lynnwood. Signal vanished before the Lynnwood exit (Dennis Vroom, Forks, WA, 0618 UT June 12, IRCA via DXLD) So the `good morning` refers to UT date, and the `this afternoon` must refer to local June 11 (gh, DXLD) I've just returned from a 3 week holiday in Tuscany, and still jet- lagged, been up since after 5:00 AM local. As I type this, it's 7:10 AM [PDT = 1410 UT], many hours after LSR and I'm getting fair audio from the Russian language station on 1709.987 as measured on my Perseus SDR. I can identify the language fine, but not much of the details due to the weak strength. Congratulations to those that pinpointed the location of the station. Now, do we have any more information on what stream they're broadcasting, strength, legality, QSLs, etc., yet? (Walt Salmaniw, Victoria BC, June 16, IRCA via DXLD) Walt, I e-mailed Mauno Ritola in Finland a few minutes of the CD that Pat Martin sent me. Below is what Mauno wrote back. "Unfortunately there still isn't any ID, just reading fairy tales. Famous Russian DXer Victor Rutkovsky noticed that they are actually these:" the end of http://belief.ucoz.ru/Books/00038.htm#a11 and http://asd-kupchino.narod.ru/bookskids/kid02.html so could it be relaying one of these streams: http://belief.ucoz.ru/index/0-28 for example http://globalvisionfaith.org/radio_bbn_bible.htm A Seattle Dxer could check some of these links and see if they match up to the Russian speaking station on 1710 kHz. (Dennis Vroom, Salmon Creek, WA, ibid.) The BBN Bible link at the very bottom http://globalvisionfaith.org/radio_bbn_bible.htm is the Russian version of the English-speaking Bible Broadcasting Network in Charlotte, NC (Paul Walker, ibid.) RUSSIAN ON 1710 IDENTIFIED I drove up to the area of the 1710 Russian language station in the southern part of Everett today and taped what appeared to be an ID in the form of "Radio MV." I was all ready to send copies to Walter Salmaniw, Dennis Vroomski and Mauno Ritola when I thought I had better test my hearing by Googling "Radio MV." It was there. This is Russian Christian Radio, Box 523, Mount Vernon, WA 98273, (425) 296-7829. The web site is in Cyrillic so I clicked a word which looked like "Kontact" and voila, the location in English appeared. The audio is available on line. I didn't see 1710 mentioned anywhere. As for the significance of Radio MV, perhaps it simply stands for Mount Vernon. While driving up I-5, it started appearing at Exit 175; I could identify it as Russian by Exit 178. Its coverage does not seem remarkable for a Part 15 station, at least from my car. If anyone would like a copy of the audio, let me know and I will send it off list. It is 2MB mp3 and is 2:08 in length (Pete Taylor, Tacoma, WA, June 16, ibid.) You nailed it. The online stream is identical although delayed about 3 seconds. I live 6.1 miles south of the transmitter (Tom R, K7WV, Brier, WA, ibid.) Pete, Congratulations for finding the source of programming for the Russian speaking station on 1710 kHz. Last Thursday afternoon around 2:00 PM I heard them just out of Everett, WA with a good signal and continued good for about 4-5 minutes. Faded out just before Lynnwood. Bet the operators of the station would be surprised to know the coverage their station has (Dennis Vroom, Salmon Creek, WA http://www.radiomv.com/rus/ Fancy website... Can we assume that 1710 is FCC legal... or? (Colin Newell, Victoria, British Columbia, June 17, ibid.) I think it is a Part 15. Its coverage is comparable to the Part 15 operation on 1700 I am confronted with here in the Browns Point neighborhood of NE Tacoma (Pete Taylor, Tacoma, WA, ibid.) Pete, I would be very surprised if 1710 is legal. 1/10th of a watt just does not get out that well. Plus the vertical antenna is too high for a part 15 station (Patrick Martin, OR, ibid.) I operate an "out-of-the-box" Part 15 station on 1630 kHz (Talking House) here at home and with the antenna fully tuned up, I am lucky to get 1/4 mile at the listed 100 mW. It seems to me that our little friend on 1710 is at least 5 to 10 watts (maybe more). (Bill Harms, MD, ibid.) I would agree, there`s no way this station is Part 15; or at least they aren't part 15 all the time. If they have an adjustable power transmitter, anything is possible (Paul B. Walker, ibid.) When I heard them last week, they had faded out North of Lynnwood, but had a good signal out of Everett. Two stations? Hard to believe that a 100 mw signal could be heard daily by Steve 250 miles away. Heard here at night at 150 miles (Dennis Vroom, Salmon Creek, WA, June 18, ibid.) Sure enough, at 0530, 1710 is strong enough to be sure that it's // with satellite delay with the website that Pete's discovered. Radio MV --- suspect it does stand for Mt Vernon. Nothing on the site indicates that it stands for anything else. Note the "Christian programming 24/7" at the top of the page (in Russian). Lots of static crashes tonight, otherwise not a bad signal strength. I agree with the guess that it's running more like 5 or 10 watts. Now, who's going to knock on the door??? There's also a phone number to the organization. Perhaps a call there might shed some light (Walt Salmaniw, UT June 18, ibid.) Walt, I tried calling them but the voice mail is in Russian. I did write them; perhaps a contact name will come out of this (Pete Taylor, Tacoma, WA, ibid.) Bill, Russian 1710 could be operating with less than 5 watts as I have heard and QSL'd few TIS types under that. A 1 watter from San Diego, a 2 watter from Sacramento and another 2 watter from SLC, plus a 3.5 watter from Central Texas. But they can't be 1/10 watt though. The best I have done on a 1/10 watter Talking house and a Drive In Theater is about 4-5 miles on gw with a good antenna and a communications receiver like the R8. Dennis, I have heard the 1710 carrier during the day here. At least that is what I think it is, no audio though. Barely above the receiver noise. At night 1710 is there all of the time. The signal varies, but always present after dark (Patrick Martin, OR, ibid.) Pat, You receive the station far better than I do here. Our locations are about equal distant from the station if the station is in the Lynnwood area? Weak here tonight on the slinky antenna. Hopefully Pete will get a reply from his letter (Dennis Vroom, Salmon Creek, WA, ibid.) Dennis, I have the NE EWE pretty much aimed right at them. They are better on the NE EWE than anything else. I get them on the NW EWE, but much weaker. Since my neighbors moved, I no longer have noise issues with their light dimmers either. My noise level is now about zip, except for atmospheric noise, like it was in the 80s & 90s. Hope it stays that way too. 73, (Patrick Martin, ibid.) In the case of my 1630 Talking house, I was using my truck's radio. I can hear something at a mile or so with the engine turned off, but I have co-channel interference from Maryland DOT TISs and the audio was difficult to pull out. I have heard talking houses at a range of 3 to 5 miles at home (Bill Harms, MD, ibid.) I'm thinking two transmitters or more. The two differing sets of fade- up, fade-out and two apparently different transmitters locations - Lynwood and Mt. Vernon suggest that (Russ Edmunds, Blue Bell, PA ( 360' ASL ), ibid.) Bill, Same here with 100 mw reception, but not hundreds of miles. 1710 is too strong for that. They have to be using a few watts anyway. Maybe a pair of 10 watt TIS transmitters as those can be purchased. 73, (Patrick Martin, OR, ibid.) I have a talking house transmitter on the 2nd floor of a house, with the wire hanging out the window and going down I get about 1/4 mile in the car. I wouldn`t be surprised to see Radio MV on 1710 kHz using a 30 watt or 60 Watt LPB, Inc TIS type transmitter. If they're running from one location, I'm betting on a 30 Watt transmitter (Paul B. Walker, Jr., June 18, ibid.) 1710 Russian very poor lately, no audio heard this morning just the het on the same 1709.987 as before. I've only ever heard audio on that frequency, not others, if there are supposed several transmitters (Steve Ratzlaff, NE Oregon, June 19, ibid.) Last night had the 1710 Russian at solid weak-medium level for over an hour, little fading, 11-12 p.m. [0600-0700 UT June 20], one of the best times I've heard it (Steve Ratzlaff, NE Oregon, June 20, R75, longwires, ibid.) 1710 Russian good again last night. Heard this morning too, not as well (Steve NE Oregon, 1230 UT June 21, ibid.) 1710 Russian still being heard, 1243 UT (Steve NE Oregon, June 23, ibid.) UNIDENTIFIED. 2305, 1010-1020 UT, harmonic, 10 June [Wilkner]. Pompano Beach, Cedar Key, Clewiston, and Embu SP Brasil. [Florida/Brasil DX] 73s (Bob Wilkner, Pompano Beach, Florida US, June 11, NRD 535D ~ Drake R8, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Not a likely MW harmonic; would have to be split fundamental. What language, at least? (gh) UNIDENTIFIED. 2380.7, 1010 UT, harmonic 10 June [Wilkner] Pompano Beach, Cedar Key, Clewiston, and Embu SP Brasil. [Florida/Brasil DX] 73s (Bob Wilkner, Pompano Beach, Florida US, June 11, NRD 535D ~ Drake R8, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. 4412.31, UnID carrier. Harmonic? 1020 9 June. Pompano Beach, Cedar Key, Palm Beach, Clewiston, Coral Springs and Embu SP Brasil. [Florida/Brasil DX] 73s (Bob Wilkner, Pompano Beach, Southeast Florida, 10 June, NRD 535D ~ Drake R8, DX LISTENING DIGEST) So it`s being heard in all these locations? Can only assume so as excerpted from multi-item report, not otherwise specified. For a harmonic, the fundamental would have to be 2206.155, 1470.77, 1103.0775, 882.462, 735.385, 630.33 or 551.53875. Two of them do come close to real MW frequencies, 1470 and 630 which might have varied, but why not the Bolivian on 4411v? (gh, DXLD) UNIDENTIFIED. 4600.1, Harmonic, 1000, widely received in Florida for last week. Pompano Beach, Cedar Key, Clewiston, and Embu SP Brasil. [Florida/Brasil DX] 73s (Bob Wilkner, Pompano Beach, Florida US, June 11, NRD 535D ~ Drake R8, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. Re 9-048, PERU: 5560.00. Chuck, What is your basis for suggesting this is Radio El Sol? I can`t find any listing for it on 5560 or any nearby frequency. Checked DBS, WRTH, LA-DX, Eibi, Aoki, even PWBR. Exact .00 suggests it might be a US harmonic from 1390. 73, (Glenn Hauser to Chuck Bolland, via DXLD) I have a listing for that station from 11/23/2000. The town where it is transmitted from is Pucará. This is from my database which doesn't give anymore information. Unfortunately, the station stayed on the air for only 2 minutes after I tuned in, so I could not get further details. That is why I made it a tentative which in my book is very doubtful. Had it been a harmonic as you suggested, it may have stayed on the air longer I would suspect, especially since it was early still. Anyway, I made a choice but give it a Tentative which seems appropriate. I will stay on it each evening (Chuck Bolland, FL, DX LISTENING DIGEST) OK, we must remember that you define tentative as ``very doubtful``. To me it means something more positive, that there is a considerable possibility. I don`t see how even a `tentative` was called for as El Sol has been off the air for many years. Dropping off the air at 0013 could also point to a US station harmonic, making sunset antenna/power change nominally at quarter past, or daytimer only. Should look for Spanish stations in the 0015 UT June sunset band on 1390. By all means report it, as even if not El Sol could be something equally interesting. Could also be mixing product SW minus MW, or leapfrog SW over SW frequencies (Glenn Hauser, ibid.) What do you think, Chuck? Really a chance was R. El Sol? Thanks (Ron Howard, June 9 to Chuck, via DXLD) Ron, Glenn is asking me to confirm also. I checked the freq out last evening, but it was silent. If I had to do it over again, I would not have reported that station. However, it seemed okay with a tentative tag at the time. I have a listing in my database from 2000 for that station located in a town called Pucará, Perú and the freq listed is exactly where I heard it. You noticed that it was on the air for only about 2 minutes? (Chuck Bolland, FL, June 9, ibid.) Friends, Please cancel this bogus logging of Radio El Sol on 5560 kHz. Subsequent listening on 5560 for two days failed to produce any results. I must have heard a spur or harmonic? Sorry, (Chuck Bolland, 0002 UT June 10, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. A so far unidentified/unrecognised English speaking (mechanical sounding) number station appeared on 15690 using SSB-USB on the 19th at around 0645 (Noel R. Green (NW England), June 19, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. SS 3 help pls - pix --- Can anyone help with this unID on 3 ?? Anyone recognize this? http://home.cogeco.ca/~ospc/Pix/3u.JPG Tks! -- [later:] Now that I look closer, that yellow thingy in the corner looks kind of like the CubaVision logo. So looks like Santa Clara ??? (William R Hepburn, Grimsby ON CAN, June 22, WTFDA via DXLD) Whatever it is, I'm seeing something very faint but similar in appearance on channel 4. s (Scott Fybush, Rochester NY, 1749 UT 22 June, ibid.) Yes I believe you had Cuba. It was in here with ant. at Miami. With ant. at 150 and even at 120 degrees Venezuela coming in and with Icom excellent audio at times in wide filter mode. 3 Ven. out around 1:35 PM. But now piano music and woman singing in Spanish, so maybe back (Roy Barstow, MA, 1801 UT, ibid.) That's exactly who was on ch 4, teleSUR (Jim Pizzi, ibid.) I.e.: Channel 4: News in SS upper right a tilted square with half circles? in it--under that "tele SUR" anyone--who?? (Jim Pizzi, 1741 UT 22 June, WTFDA via DXLD) UNIDENTIFIED, Channel 4: OK. The ch 4 o/o Cuba is Univisión (// to Dish Network feed) Strong at time with a lot of phase shifting, with smeared distorted audio. Video pops in and out and shifting all the time -- sometimes stable for a few seconds. Wonder who, where?? (Jim Pizzi, NY? 1825 UT 22 June, WTFDA via DXLD) Florida LPTV UNIDENTIFIED. 87.75 MYSTERY --- What channel 6 station is running an intentional, continuous, long "how-to" loop on digital TV transition? It includes a female "... 87.7... We will always be here on 6..." First noted at 11:05 a.m. ET, still there after 3 p.m., generally poor (consistent with either the Tallahassee 6 -- which is more often the dominant here -- or Orlando). Something Spanish noted briefly on the 11 a.m. log, maybe bilingual loop, maybe something else down south popping in briefly. Can an old analog TV transmitter run the audio portion only? If so, is this legal after the DTV switch? Legal only for channel 6 if so? (Terry L Krueger, Clearwater, Florida, USA, 27.55.83 N, 82.46.08 W, June 14, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Confirmed it's the Orlando channel 6, and it's still there this morning with the long loop, including a short Spanish segment. Craig Cook, Oviedo, FL confirms the analog video is still on air. Surely this isn't legal? (Terry L Krueger, Clearwater, Florida, June 15, ibid.) Hi Terry, Surely this is the regular `nightlight` service which FCC has encouraged in as many markets as possible from at least one station. Both A & V analog with this DTV primer. Lasts a week or few depending on the station. Can only be done of course on channels which are not going to be permanent DTV channels already activated. But ``always there``?? 73, (Glenn to Terry, June 21, via DXLD) Still there at least of yesterday (Terry Krueger, June 21, ibid.) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ UNSOLICITED TESTIMONIALS ++++++++++++++++++++++++ Solsticial greetings to Enid`s most famous citizen, a man for all seasons (Gerald T Pollard, NC, with a check to P O Box 1684, Enid OK 73702, WORLD OF RADIO 1466) Check out http://www.tedrandall.com Home of "QSO" the ham radio interview and talk show! QSO is heard on WRMI on 9955, Sunday 1-3 AM EDT, 0500-0700 UT Targeted to the Caribbean and South America WBCQ Tuesday & Thursday 5-7 PM EDT, 2100-2300 UT on 7415 Podcasts, what's happening in ham radio, and links to Glen[n] Hauser's World of Radio which is always interesting listening. Good stuff!! (Brian Crow, K3VR, DX LISTENIG DIGEST) PUBLICATIONS ++++++++++++ MONITORING TIMES ON CD-ROM All MT articles and columns for an entire year on 1 searchable CD-ROM. Frequency lists, shortwave program guides, equipment reviews, construction tips, antenna projects, scanner and shortwave topics, even ads! To order or to subscribe, go to http://www.grove-ent.com/MT.html or call 1-800-438-8155 (via DXLD) UTILITY FREQUENCY LISTS Ciao a tutti, vi segnalo questo interessante sito utility che offre le ultime frequenze segnalate sulle mailing list "Ute" piu' attive ordinate per frequenza: http://www.shortwavemonitor.com/ 73 (Andrea Borgnino IW0HK - HB9EMK, bclnews.it yg via DXLD) USCG MARINE CHANNEL INFORMATION This section provides information on middle and high frequency marine radiotelephone channels. The links provide tables which show the various channels and their assigned frequencies. Para os amigos um site com as frequencias maritimas em HF. http://www.navcen.uscg.gov/marcomms/high_frequency/default.htm (Ricardo Froes, June 21, radioescutas yg via DXLD) HOBBY-RADIO Amigos del DX: Somos un grupo de radioescuchas de los viejos tiempos del diexismo, que intentamos reunirnos en una agrupaciòn. Estamos en la provincia de Tucumàn, Repùblica Argentina. Invitamos a nuestra pàgina WEB: http://www.palimpalem.com/5/HOBBY-RADIO Si ustedes cuenta con pâgina en Internet; solicitamos nos incluyan en vuestros links. De esta manera podremos crecer y mejorar el contenido. Saludos y 73s (HOBBY-RADIO, June 10, DX LISTENING DIGEST) accents sic BACK ISSUES OF LISTENING IN MAGAZINE NOW ON LINE Issues of the ODXA's Listening In magazine, back to June 2005, are now on line at http://www.odxa.on.ca (Harold Sellers, VA3DXO, Newmarket, Ontario, Canada, Managing Editor, "Listening In", Ontario DX Association, June 23, odxa yg via DXLD) RADIO EQUIPMENT FORUM +++++++++++++++++++++ OVER THE HORIZON RADAR WIPES OUT 31 METERS, AND MORE Glenn, I’ve made comments in the past here about wideband pulse OTH (over-the-horizon) radar type signals in various magazines but very little response. Too much local generated electronic hash from all the electronic junk would now mask the signals which have decreased very much since they started over three years ago, ‘S6’ equivalent then down to an annoyance on weaker signals now. Still there, now ca 6.8 to 25+ MHz with a few gaps. But in the last few days, the daddy-of-all interferers wiped out the WHOLE 31m band here and was a classical radar signal with a whopping peak >100 kHz wide and strong sidebands out to 400/500 kHz either side! The ONLY signal I could hear was the usual S9 R Nederland on 9895 around 1030 UT. This was Thu June 11. Radar signal had the usual peaks and troughs ca 10 dB difference at right-on 20 kHz apart, PRF hard to judge, ca 30 Hz. With the wide spread of the signal and the S9++ of the main lobe, it must have been many 10s of Megawatt ERP, if not hundreds. I cannot visualise just what sort of transmission technology can handle such immense pulse power. Signal was on again Fri 12th from ca. 0930 UT till sudden off at 1145. I am gobsmacked at such a signal wiping out a complete band at one time, who, why, where from. Steady signals make it likely from SE/E Europe or near middle East. Not heard Sat 13th or today SUn 14th. This is a very ominous spectre from the military spooks, much worse than the old Russian Woodpecker. Centre frequency of radar transmitter was 9800 kHz, spreading 500 kHz either side. I'll be listening again in the morning to see if they were on a 9 to 5 Mon to Fri shift ( or off on the Sabbath?). I could hear it on a cheap nasty multiband portable with the rod un-extended, lighting the tuning LED. I’ll keep you posted. HF conditions UP in the last few days. I hear 8 to 10 BC stations in the 21 MHz band most days, massive signals from REE Spain and RTP Lisbon, 26.0 R Maria (AM) [Italy] up to clear S6 the odd day, CBers all over 25/26/27 and into 10m ham band too. By the way, there’s audio recordings of interference on http://www.AA5TB.com --- the 049.mp3 wideband is just like the OTH I’ve been hearing the last few years. Hainan Is., China more than likely. Hope the above is of interest to you. Regards, (Des WALSH (EI5CD), Ireland, June 13-14, WORLD OF RADIO 1465, DX LISTENING DIGEST) I've heard the same QRM here in Australia, also on 31-meters. Here though, it's centered around 9500 kHz and causes interference 500 kHz +/- the main frequency. Thank goodness it's not every day. Let's go ahead and blame China, until someone proves different, hi. Chinese stations (and associated jammers) are the biggest DX roadblock in this part of the world. (David Sharp, NSW, FT-950, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Here`s something we can do with that and all the other spare RF! === PROTOTYPE NOKIA PHONE RECHARGES WITHOUT WIRES --- By Christopher Null http://ca.tech.yahoo.com/blogs/the_working_guy/rss/article/3638 Pardon the cliché, but it's one of the holiest of Holy Grails of technology: Wireless power. And while early lab experiments have been able to "beam" electricity a few feet to power a light bulb, the day when our laptops and cell phones can charge without having to plug them in to a wall socket still seems decades in the future. Nokia, however, has taken another baby step in that direction with the invention of a cell phone that recharges itself using a unique system: It harvests ambient radio waves from the air, and turns that energy into usable power. Enough, at least, to keep a cell phone from running out of juice. While "traditional" (if there is such a thing) wireless power systems are specifically designed with a transmitter and receiver in mind, Nokia's system isn't finicky about where it gets its wireless waves. TV, radio, other mobile phone systems -- all of this stuff just bounces around the air and most of it is wasted, absorbed into the environment or scattered into the ether. Nokia picks up all the bits and pieces of these waves and uses the collected electromagnetic energy to create electrical current, then uses that to recharge the phone's battery. A huge range of frequencies can be utilized by the system (there's no other way, really, as the energy in any given wave is infinitesimal). It's the same idea that Tesla was exploring 100 years ago, just on a tiny scale. Mind you, harvesting ambient electromagnetic energy is never going to offer enough electricity to power your whole house or office, but it just might be enough to keep a cell phone alive and kicking. Currently Nokia is able to harvest all of 5 milliwatts from the air; the goal is to increase that to 20 milliwatts in the short term and 50 milliwatts down the line. That wouldn't be enough to keep the phone alive during an active call, but would be enough to slowly recharge the cell phone battery while it's in standby mode, theoretically offering infinite power -- provided you're not stuck deep underground where radio waves can't penetrate. Nokia says it hopes to commercialize the technology in three to five years (via Ricky Leong, DXLD) Now you can read this: GRADE A OFF TOPIC MATERIAL --- ``MAGNETIC POWER GENERATOR`` o Free electric power, or so it is claimed. If you buy their set of do-it-yourself plans for this perpetual motion gizmo, we have a bridge to sell you: http://rdr.to/0Mp (CGC Communicator June 22 via Kevin Redding, ABDX via DXLD) Re 9-048, WHERE`S ALL THE ACTION ON E-BAY? May be an issue of reduced supply. This ICF-2010 just sold for $465 ! http://cgi.ebay.com/Sony-ICF-2010-World-Band-Radio-Receiver-short-wave_W0QQitemZ260421303102 http://herculodge.typepad.com/ Above blog links to hot ebay auctions, tho emphasis is on Panasonic / Sony portables and "Manly" MW/FM toys (Carmen, HCDX via DXLD) Actually, my monitoring of EBay availabilities over time has shown a strong market in receivers, with the NRD-535/D leading the pack, along with 525s, and 545s as well (Dan Robinson, June 9, HCDX via DXLD) PERSEUS SDR DOES THE DXING FOR YOU Bill Carney: Bjarne Mjelde in Norway used a Perseus Software Defined Receiver to record just 34 seconds of 200-1800 kHz. After reviewing the file, he logged 209 beacons. Here is a PDF file with all the details: http://www.ndb.demon.nl/PERSEUSKongsfjord/A%20KONGSFJORD%20VIRTUAL%20NON%20DIRECTIONAL%20BEACON%20DXx.pdf What a slick thing that device is. Imagine going on vacation, recording the entire LW and MW band overnight, or perhaps a tropical SW band, and then reviewing the file at home at your convenience? Damn, I wish I had a spare $1200. I wonder how much of my soul I'd have to sell in exchange for one. Rig lust must be one of the 7 deadly sins (MARE Tipsheet June 11 via DXLD) GLOBAL TUNERS, WEBSDR Just had a listener send a reception report saying they listen from Global Tuners. Has anyone else here logged on before? (Keith Perron, Taiwan, June 18, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Yes, I have a password, too, and log in now & then under the name 'Erik'(!). http://www.globaltuners.com 73, (Erik in Copenhagen, ibid.) I have a Global Tuners account, very easy to register and the receivers generally work well, my screen name is MikeBr. However I wouldn't rely on it for example to listen to the full edition Happy Station via WRMI or example, the etiquette there includes: When there are other members using the receiver, you have to ask before you tune! (if there is no reply from other users within 2 minutes, you can just start tuning). Which is perfectly fair. Perhaps at some point in the future we will have a WebSDR for broadcast bands allowing multiple users; the only ones I'm aware of are these: http://www.websdr.org/ (Mike Barraclough, UK, ibid.) I'm very, very seldom on Global Tuners. Username is df5sx. But I miss the GOOD OLD ICOM rx at Phuket Thailand, and also a rx in Kenya, Uganda Africa or like 73 wb (Wolfgang Büschel, ibid.) AM FM MP3 RECORDER My wife got me a CC Witness AM FM radio mp3 recorder for Father's day and I have been playing with it for the past few days. I love it! The ability to record mp3 files AM and FM stations on a small hand-held device is fantastic. It sure beats the heck out of fiddling with cassettes and this one does mp3s and not WAVs like previous devices. A more complete review will be forthcoming in the next couple of weeks (Bill Harms, MD, June 24, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) VIRTUES AND VICES When I worked with the headquarters staff in Milwaukee of the WTFDA in the '70s, I was impressed that almost no DXers smoked. This was confirmed in conversations with Ferdie S. Dombrowski. I believe this trend continues; however, I am trying to mentor a fellow Minnesota DXer who I understand is a heavy smoker. I'd like to see the WTFDA become smoke-free, and for all the DXers to be around for a long time. If any member is having this struggle, I stand ready to help, having helped 17 people kick the habit at a "breathe free" seminar. Or they can check out resources at hospitals, through their state health departments and at churches. Another idea is to form small support groups with friends to call whenever a person feels the urge to light up. 73, and good health to all, (Bruce Elving, MN, June 12, amfmtvdx at qth.net via DXLD) I would like to think that DXers are smarter than the average and don`t smoke, but I would need to see more proof of this. How is the poison gas level at Kulpsville? Or just outside the doors now. How many attendees request smoking rooms and how many not? Good work, Brucey, which I suspect is 7DA-motivated (gh, DXLD) MUSEA +++++ SARNOFF HOMELESS Wanted – new homes for the David Sarnoff museum and library, with priceless artifacts from broadcasting history. The collection is losing its decades-old facility at the former RCA Labs (now Sarnoff Corp.) in Princeton, NJ. Its parent/ landlord is increasingly occupied with defense-related research, and the strain between its security needs and a museum that hosts tours by school kids and academics is growing. I visited there Friday with executive director Alex Magoun and was struck by the pristine quality of the exhibits – David Sarnoff’s telegraph, which he used to transmit news of the Titanic sinking to an anxious world. Historic models of radios, TVs, color TVs, home computers (Sarnoff saw that coming, too) and LCDs (liquid crystal displays). You get a feel for it in the Times of Trenton story that ran yesterday, titled “Sarnoff museum must go.” Dr. Magoun continues conversations with third parties who might rescue the museum and its collection, and the massive archives that cover all the interests of David Sarnoff and RCA Labs. And what vision he had - General Sarnoff (he preferred that title) laid out the idea of radio broadcasting in 1915. He built the Radio Corporation of America, and then NBC, and installed it in Manhattan’s still-wondrous Radio City complex. He showed off RCA’s black-and-white TV system at the 1939 World’s Fair, even as his lab-geniuses were working on color. (And as he was frustrating FM radio advocate Col. Edwin Armstrong). (radioinfo.com June 15 via Brock Whaley, Oahu, DX Listening Digest) I wish I had room. Why not donate the items to the big B'cast museum in NYC? Or, sell them on ebay with the profits going to any remaining ancestors (Great grand kids?) of Major Armstrong (Brock Whaley, HI, DX LISTENING DIGEST) OAK FOREST RADIO COLLECTOR OPENS HIS 'MUSEUM' TO VISITORS Oak Forest collector has accumulated antique radios with enough frequency that he has opened his 'museum' to visitors By Joel Hood, Tribune reporter, June 17 2009 You can keep your iPod and your satellite radio. MP3s? Jack LaVelle has no use for them. The complete article can be viewed at: http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chicago/chi-radio-collectors-sw-zone-jun17,0,490218.story (via Dale Park, HI, DXLD) RADIO ROMANIA RADIO MUSEUM Excellent article about the radio museum in the lobby of Radio Romania, with many pictures of vintage sets: http://www.rri.ro/art.shtml?lang=1&sec=7&art=630 (Peter Lanting, ODXA yg via DXLD) RETRO WORLD --- GRADE A QUASI OFF TOPIC MATERIAL Wonderful photos from the 1950 era. Included are genuine analog TVs, Radion Rabbit Ears, a Sony Video Rover "portable" TV camera and recorder, and of course a Swanson TV Dinner -- they're all here and much more (URL courtesy of Red Blanchard): http://www.billsretroworld.com/RETROLIFE.HTM (via CGC Communicator June 15 via Kevin Redding, ABDX via DXLD) A BRIEF HISTORY OF TELEVISION Time, By Laura Fitzpatrick (Article is dated June 22, 2009) http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1904156,00.html The panic was palpable as the June 12 switch to digital television loomed. With the nation's over-the-air analog stations about to go offline, 3 million Americans were reportedly unprepared. Fast action was necessary, said President Obama, so that no one missed news or emergency information. Fear of going tubeless would have been hard to imagine in the 19th century, when inventors first dreamed up devices to let people "see by electricity." Some thought the idea foolhardy. An 1881 article in Nature speculated that transmitting images over distance was possible--but questioned whether the idea warranted "further expense and trouble." That skepticism seemed fair based on early attempts. In 1884, a German inventor created crude moving images by filtering light through a spinning disk punched with holes. In the early 1920s, engineers in the U.S. and U.K. sent still pictures and moving silhouettes using radio waves. In 1928, General Electric broadcast the first TV drama: a modified small spinning disk and bright lamp produced off-center, blurry pictures of cigarette-toting actors gallivanting around what was supposed to be Europe (but was actually Schenectady, N.Y.). It was one of the best offerings at the time. Other must-see TV included such scintillating subjects as smoke rising from a chimney. Steadily, however, the picture quality improved--and the audience grew. Regular nationwide television broadcasts began in 1939. From 1945 to '48, sales of television sets increased 500%. The first widespread broadcast in color went out in 1954, and today there are televisions in some 110 million U.S. households. Revenues from TV broadcasting, cable, advertising and TV-set sales totaled nearly $182 billion in 2006. Talk about worth the trouble (via Mike Terry, dxldyg via DXLD) ``Regular nationwide television broadcasts`` implies live networking. That did not come along until the early 50s and there were still a lot of gaps (Glenn Hauser, ibid.) If you want a history of the first analog television station look up KYW-TV on Wikipedia. In the the 1930's Philo T. Farnsworth was experimenting with Television in its infancy as an experimental station W3XE. In 1939, The station was licensed as WPTZ-TV. In the 1950's Westinghouse bought WPTZ-TV from Philco. In the 50's NBC bought it and renamed it WRCV-TV. In the 60's it was sold back to Westinghouse after a protracted court fight and renamed KYW-TV. And the rest was history. In the reference section, there is an article By the Broadcast Pioneers of Philadelphia on the era from 1939 to the 1950's about when Philco owned WPTZ-TV. By the way when analog was discontinued, KYW-TV put up a W3XE test pattern on an old TV on the analog transmission and let that play for a few minutes before they turned off the analog transmission and went to digital TV. They taped it and put it on You Tube at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bTUDSG8L5Jw (Lewisruth, ibid.) The TIME story is very interesting, but it seems to only have the American side of the story. No where is there any mention that the BBC was the first to start regular TV transmissions and also the Germans in the late 30s. There was also no mention of the Marconi/EMI Camera that the BBC finally decided would be better than the Baird TV system Has anyone here seen a series produced by Granada TV in the 80s called Television? I just found the opening on youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IZt3OT9dcNk I have the full series on tape which I recored off CFCF 12 in Montreal back in the mid 80s (Keith Perron, Taiwan, ibid.) Formally, the USSR began regular TV broadcasting in October of 1931 (from Moscow). I believe TV transmissions were off during the war, though (Sergei S., ibid.) THE INTERNATIONAL MUSEUMS WEEKEND THIS SATURDAY AND SUNDAY The date of this amateur radio event has now been extended from its usual single weekend, to take in two full weekends [June 20-21, 27-28] This change is to enable those unable to operate on the first weekend, to make use of the second weekend. The intention of the event is to set up amateur radio special event stations at as many of the museums as possible throughout the whole of the world. During the first 'International Museums Event 2002' over 80 museums from all over the world took part. The museums varied from tiny local village museums manned by a single lone operator, to some of the worlds most prestigious ones. These were accompanied by a great number of military museum sites, such as HMS Belfast in London, the Battleship New Jersey in the US, RAF museums as well as very many non- military type. Full details at http://www.ukradioamateur.co.uk/imw/ (via Mike Terry, dxldyg via DXLD) ART TEMPLETON: A MAN WITH A NEW RADIO Blind Welsh pianist Art Templeton's piece on tuning around on the radio in 1941: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WMNMJiJHdKM (Mike Barraclough, June 20, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) TOWER, TRANSMITTER SITE AND STUDIO PHOTOS I finally got off my duff and put up a bunch of my tower, transmitter site and studio photos. Click on a photo to enlarge it. http://www.flickr.com/photos/dcgibson55/sets/72157619807294788/detail/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/dcgibson55/sets/72157619924577149/detail/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/dcgibson55/sets/72157619933890683/detail/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/dcgibson55/sets/72157620023208906/detail/ (Dennis Gibson, CA, June 20, IRCA via DXLD) Includes CA, AK, OR, UT … As long as I'm thinking of it, KRKO's website has photos of the KIRO- 710 KVI-570 KVRI-1600 and KAST-1370 towers & xr sites, as well as a couple shots of their old 5 kW site. http://www.krko.com/engineering/typicalamradiosites/ It's kind of unusual for a station's website to have pictures of competitors' towers (Bruce Portzer, ibid.) “THEY’RE JUST ... WORTHLESS PIECES OF PAPER.” Commentary by Paul Ormandy In the good old days, most stations used to enjoy and even encourage DXers requesting QSL cards, and also sent pennants, programs and all sorts of goodies. Many DXers have shoe boxes full and have left them mostly unattended since they were first received and added to the QSL stats. Some, particularly pennants, took pride of place on the walls of the shack, many a card from a hard-earned catch joined them, present for a gloat session with any visiting DXers. Many DXers particularly those who left the hobby, shifted house or simply had a spring clean, threw their once highly-prized cards (well, for maybe 30 seconds) in the tip. Many relatives cleaning up estates have done similar. So, are they worthless pieces of paper and what should you do with them??? One option is to deposit them with a good-intentioned archives like the Hocken Archive in Dunedin (who, sadly have very little room for any additional cards), give them away to a keen collector or an ardent preserver of history (like the Radio Heritage Foundation), or sell them --- yes, sell them. More and more, DXers are turning to eBay and discovering those “worthless pieces of paper” are eagerly sought after by collectors, and not just the type of collector you’d think. QSL cards are hunted down by fellow DXers, those interested in radio history, stamp collectors, postmark collectors, postcard collectors and autograph hunters. Some of the prices paid would astound you. Would you believe US$700+ for a Radio Lebanon card? WXLE US$250+, Radio Hong Kong US$250+, Radio Atlantico del Sur US$200+. They are the exceptions, though cards with some historical overtone, particularly those linked to the military, some geographical oddity like an extinct country (e.g. Bechuanaland, Tanganyika) regularly go for more then US$50 --- http://www.ebay.com/ Cards from international broadcasters often barely pass the $2 mark unless they’re something special. Such cards are best sold in lots of 10 or more at a time. Then there are pennants. Generally speaking, only those from Latin America command attention and would average US$25 though some will go well past US$50. Pennants from international broadcasters seldom sell for more than US$5 and from outside Latin America, pennants from a DX station will attract bidders, e.g. one from Kampuchea sold recently for US$38. There are other sought after items, e.g. early editions of the World Radio Handbook and its supplements. So, before you consign those “worthless pieces of paper” to the local recycling depot, give them another thought (June NZ DX Times via DXLD) DIGITAL BROADCASTING --- DRM See also ALASKA; CANADA; INDIA; IRAN; ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ ITALY; LUXEMBOURG; NETHERLANDS ANTILLES; NEW ZEALAND; SOLOMON ISLANDS UniWave DiWave DRM Receiver In response to an e-mail I sent to the French company behind this product on May 1, I received this reply today (June 10). The bad news: the date keeps getting moved back. The good news: the reply and the fact that it still appears to be in the pipeline. John Figliozzi -------- Dear Sir, Thanks for your interest in our product. Yes , it will be sold in US as soon as we will get FCC approval (expected in August / September 2009). We are now finalizing performances, prices and distribution network in your country. We will come back to you very soon on that subject. Best regards, UNIWAVE Marketing division http://www.uniwave.fr/ There is further information posted to this website, including a pdf of the instruction manual. http://uniwave.fr/?lang=en (John Figliozzi, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1465, DX LISTENING DIGEST) I am still a bit skeptical that this radio requires FCC approval. SW communications receivers are not normally among the devices that require such approval. I think it may be more likely that the radio requires something called Verification or a similar procedure called Declaration of Conformity (FCC Part 2 rules, Subpart J). These don't require submitting the product or test data to the FCC. They are not the same as Certification which is required of transmitters and does require more FCC involvement (Benn Kobb, NASWA yg via DXLD) But every receiver is also a transmitter, and local oscillator must not radiate beyond a certain range; part 15 covers this (gh, DXLD) Review of Uniwave Di-wave 100 DRM Rx in RNZI Mailbox program RNZI Frequency Manager Adrian Sainsbury reviews Uniwave Di-wave 100 DRM receiver in the 1st June edition of Mailbox program. Program is available for download from here: http://www.rnzi.com/audio/mailbox.mp3 (Alokesh Gupta, New Delhi, June 12, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) But I believe that URL became the June 15 edition, with the previous one linked separately for another fortnite (gh, DXLD) UNIWAVE DRM RADIO EXPECTED THIS SUMMER by Leslie Stimson and T. Carter Ross, 06.22.2009 http://www.radioworld.com/article/82756 (via Alokesh Gupta, New Delhi, India, June 23, dxldyg via DXLD) STILL MISSING, THE LONG AWAITED AT LEAST MEDIUM PRICED DRM RECEIVER! So far not a single manufacturer of short wave receivers has brought to the marketplace a radio capable of picking up Digital Radio Mondiale broadcast standard signal. A recent exchange with a senior Cuban University Professor that happens to be not only very well prepared from a theoretical point of view, but that also has lots of practical experience in both telecommunications and broadcasting, led to a clear picture about the future of DRM receivers. The Cuban expert stated that he thought it was possible that in the near future a complex integrated circuit designed to process the different options of DRM broadcasts could lower the production cost of the radios so that they will be competitive with present day short wave analog receivers. Professor Amador also told me about how he and several of his students are receiving several daily DRM short wave broadcasts using a software defined receiver or SDR. According to their monitoring, and as expected, powerful short wave DRM signals provide near FM quality reception, but weaker signals suffer from very annoying sudden cuts, that are very different in nature from the slow fade out and fade in typical of short wave analog broadcasts. By the way, amateur radio operators are using also a form of digital voice transmission that fits into the 3 kiloHertz bandwidth allowed for ham radio voice signals. No doubts amigos, no doubts at all, as soon as not one but several radio manufacturers bring out to the marketplace a medium priced DRM capable receiver , things will take a turn for the better finally rewarding the efforts of all who have contributed for a long time to create and establish a digital mode for short wave radio broadcasting (Arnie Coro, CO2KK, RHC DXers Unlimited June 23, Arnie Coro blog via Yimber Gaviría, Colombia, DXLD) DRM+ SUCCESSFULLY TRIALLED IN PARIS DRM PRESS RELEASE Date: 12.06.2009 Paris, 12th June 2009: The Digital Radio Mondiale (DRM) technology for broadcast at higher frequencies was successfully trialled in Paris on Thursday. The DRM+ signal was broadcast on 64.5 MHz from Tour Pleyel, North of Paris, and was received at the office of Conseil Supérieur de l'Audiovisuel (CSA) which regulates the various electronic media in France. The CSA is located 10 km away from the transmitter but the signal strength was good with only 400 watts of radiating power. This positions DRM+ as a perfect solution for stations not able to join multiplexes, even in places where the FM band is full. DRM+ extends the DRM standard which is the open, universal, digital radio standard for broadcast bands, to frequencies up to 174MHz including the FM spectrum from 87.5MHz to 108 MHz. DRM+ offers a range of features and benefits for radio stations’ around the world and can lead to a cost-effective migration to digital. It was first successfully tested on the FM Band in Kaiserslautern, Germany last year, but this is the first time DRM+ has been used in Band 1. DRM+ has distinct advantages over conventional FM, it needs lower transmission power for same coverage, opens up new audio possibilities like 5.1 surround sound, increases spectrum efficiency and offers electronic data services such as programme guide and supporting information. David Blanc, SNRL (Syndicat National des Radios Libres) says: “Professor Dr Andreas Steil and his team (Mr. Schad and Mr. Köhler) from the University of Applied Sciences, Kaiserslautern, was able to put together a complete DRM+ broadcast system on Band 1 and agreed to test it in Paris. SNRL, which gathers over 300 local stations in France, has been trying to find a technical solution for the many stations which cannot join multiplexes for various reasons, including coverage area, cost and desire to remain in control of their broadcast operations. “ “DRM+ seems to be an excellent choice, offering over 100 kbps of usable bit rate, enabling CD audio quality, slideshow and other data to be broadcast from a simple privately-owned transmitter. We now recommend integrating DRM+ in all digital radio receivers, from 60 to 108 Mhz.”, he added. This test was performed by the help of University of Applied Sciences, Kaiserslautern and Fraunhofer IIS, Erlangen. Ruxandra Obreja, Chairman, DRM Consortium says: “Through this trial in France, we have yet another proof that the DRM standard can offer a most versatile, economical range of options for big and small operators for the benefit of audiences that want good quality radio. We hope that the trial in France will be positively noted and actioned by the French radio authorities. It is an excellent extra step that will preface the expected all- band extension of the DRM global standard.” About DRM and DRM+ DRM+ uses the same audio coding, data services, multiplexing and signaling schemes as the established part of the DRM standard for short, medium and long wave up to 30 MHz, but operates in higher frequencies between 30 and 174 MHz (including the broadcasting bands Band I and Band II). The DRM Consortium has completed the technical development of DRM+. The technology enhancement to the DRM system specification is currently in the ETSI standardization process. Digital Radio MondialeTM (DRM) is the digital broadcasting system for the broadcasting bands below 30 MHz (long, medium and short wave). DRM has near-FM sound quality plus the ease-of-use that comes from digital transmissions, combined with long range and low power consumption. For more information and DRM updates please visit http://www.drm.org or subscribe to DRM news by writing to pressoffice @ drm.org (via Fanny Podworny, DRM, at BBC, June 12, DXLD) How is `trialled` any different than `tried`?? Is it a neologism, or just a Britishism which still sounds odd to us trans-Atlanticans? (gh) DIGITAL BROADCASTING --- DTV +++++++++++++++++++++++++++ NIGHTLIGHT SPREADSHEET The Nightlight spreadsheet is now available for download at www.DXFM.COM. It's an Excel XLS file. Enjoy (Girard Westerberg, www.DXFM.com Lexington, KY, June 12, WTFDA via WORLD OF RADIO 1465, DXLD) Viz.: http://www.dxfm.com/Database/TV%20NIGHTLIGHT.xls "Analog nightlight information may be aired using a "slate" with text and audio of the text or by airing a video loop with audio, or broadcast live action with audio format, or any combination thereof." The list of stations who probably participate: (Adobe Reader) http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-09-1303A2.pdf Anchorage Channel 2? Hmmmmmm! (Bill Frahm, ID, June 13, amfmtvdx via DXLD) Turning Back the Clock In terms of VHF TV, I'm guessing that the number of stations, and the concentration is probably about equal to where we were in, say 1948 or 1949. Here's a list from 1950, which is probably about equal in station totals by channel to the remaining nightlight stations on VHF. http://jeff560.tripod.com/1950tv.html Interesting to think that we'll now experience the same conditions DX'ers had sixty years ago (Curtis Sadowski, IL, June 13, WTFDA via DXLD) DTV CONVERTER BOX, ANTENNAS FOR DTV Re 9-048: That "good electrified rabbit ear antenna" is probably a very bad rabbit ear antenna. At 15 miles over the flat terrain of Florida, amplification is overkill. A sensitive tuner like the Insignia doesn't like getting too MUCH signal, and the cheap amplifiers in those indoor antennas just add even more noise to the signal and make it harder for the tuner to do its job. There's almost no situation I've found in which an amplified indoor antenna is the right solution for DTV. If you're close enough to be able to get away with an indoor antenna, you don't need or want the amplification; if you're far enough away to need amplification, you probably also need an outdoor antenna (and, if really called for, a low-noise mast-mounted preamp). s (Scott Fybush, ABDX via DXLD) Scott is right on the mark. Actually NO rabbit ears were good antennas. Yeah you could get a shaky, often ghosty analog signal, but that doesn't cut it with digital (Powell E. Way, III, ibid.) (words of wisdom and from experience in the field) DTV is definitely a different animal, but when you get to the nuts and bolts of DTV, you are still dealing with an analog signal, except now you have a data stream on that analog signal. The key to best reception is to have the desired signal to overcome as much noise as possible. Today's HDTV's and DTV converters aren't perfect and can not decode and give you a perfect picture/sound yet as receivers still can not deal with over coming noise where the signals are the weakest. Some key points to take note in your receiving system... 1) with older antenna installations, replace all twin lead with 75 ohm coaxial cable. 2) be sure that the antenna is in tip top shape and can receive stations on both VHF and UHF. If you are not able to receive your local analog UHF stations, you will definitely not be able to receive the digital UHF stations. 3) Digital TV station reception is not like analog reception where pointing the antenna almost any direction goes, reception of and more so with UHF channel assigned DTV stations require you to point the antenna at each station that you want to watch; so a working and direction calibrated rotator for your antenna will be a must. 4) Until receivers and converters improve and can handle the increased noise in a weaker signal, you will need a way to overcome the noise and improve the signal to noise ratio so that the receiver can decode the data stream on that analog signal. A signal preamp with a low noise figure will make the difference in watching or not watching a station of interest. 5) Rabbit ear antennas won't work very well and amplified indoor, top of the set type antennas do not work that much better. Again it is about the signal to noise ratio that messes up the decoding of the data stream. If you have an older rabbit ear antenna and you are trying to receive a UHF DTV station, shorten or collapse the length of the antenna rods to approx 4 inches. This will make the antenna more resonate at UHF frequencies, but do not expect grand results unless you are near the transmitter site, within 15 miles max of the stations transmitter site. 6) http://antennaweb.org is a great site to use to determine what type of antenna you will need and what direction to point your antenna. http://TVFool.com is another useful site. Locate the station(s) of interest and find their coverage maps. This will help you determine what effect terrain has on the signal of interest and how strong of a signal you will get at your location. 7) From a personal observation and direct experimentation: RV panel antennas (the horizontal circular antennas) work very well coupled with a 10 db low noise preamp. These antennas have the ability to rotate and aim at a station of interest; all moving parts are enclosed in a weather tight housing. Areas that are hilly/mountainous will play havoc on DTV signals, more so than analog. If you are 50 miles out and you have a hill between you and the transmitter and you are at the bottom of the hill, you will have great difficulty, there is no getting past that. Leaves on trees make a huge difference. I set up a set here at home on rabbit ears and set it up so reception was just barely locked in during the winter months. Now that the trees are full and heavy with leaves, reception is about 30%; so yes it makes -that- much difference. Getting antennas as high as possible works in most cases, but I have seen where antennas and reception is better with antenna closer to the ground as well, especially in areas that experienced ghosting in the analog world. So experiment when and where possible. As for converter boxes, areas that experienced ghosting on analog signals, the Magnavox converters were thumbs down. However Insigna, RCA, Dish Pal and Digital Stream converter boxes worked the best. Magnavox just isn't able to handle the multi path signal and they cannot handle signals that tend to vary in strength to a get degree. So in the end, don't give up on DTV --- and keep pushing receiver manufactures to improve the HDTV's and converter boxes. Why do I mention UHF so much? A majority of DTV stations are now on UHF with some on channels 7 - 13 VHF. In the end, having a top performing UHF receiving setup will be the key to watching most if not all of your old analog TV stations. UHF signals are more line of site than VHF signals and UHF signals will be absorbed by objects and refracted be buildings and other terrain. The less signal loss you can have in your antenna system the better. The more splitters you have and the longer the run of coax cable you have, the more signal loss you will have. If you can overcome those obstacles with a bit of an investment in your antenna system, it will pay for itself in the long run, a one time investment that won't be going month after to month to the "Crime Warner" cable systems across the country and the satellite TV providers that offer compressed fussy video (Bob Carter - KC4QLP - WQJK414, Mid-Atlantic-Engineering-Service of Utica NY, http://www.midatlanticengineeringservice.com/_ WKVU-FM 100.7 Utica/Rome NY, WKVJ-FM 89.7 Dannemora/Plattsburgh NY, WKYJ-FM 88.7 Rouses Point NY,WRCK 107.3 Utica NY, WVVC-LPTV-40 Utica NY, WKTV-DT 2 Utica NY, ABDX via DXLD) The amplified rabbit ears/loop that I have been using is a new one, fairly expensive, purchased from Radio Shack. Thanks for great information, Bob (Dick W., ibid.) The circle antenna is worse, and there is one with "a" bowtie connected to some coax or twinlead that attaches to the rabbit ears. Those are even worse than a rabbit ear set up. Some places now have a combination of VHF and UHF digital signals. Think UHF DTV is bad, VHF is worse as the FCC gave them "flea" power allocations, a lot less than 50,000 watts when their analog was 316,000 watts. The claim that digital doesn't need that much power is a load of warm cow paddies. For VHF they should have had 500,000 watts available, especially in the south to overcome impulse noise from all these thunderstorms we get down here. WOLO in Columbia put their digital on 8 and has been fraught with poor or no reception IN Columbia. Their analog was on 25. WIS 10 is making the same mistake, and will be on low power for awhile after the transition. Yeah? WHO will get it ? That transmitter site is 20 miles NE of Columbia. And it was built to 1400 feet to prevent interference with another 10 in Georgia. Yeah, right. I can't get the analog at all well on band openings here in Silverstreet. I get 19's digital far more reliably in those band openings (Powell E Way III, SC, June 9, ABDX via DXLD) The Reality of Digital Television Doesn't Meet the Hype -- Whose Fault Is That? On the eve of the eve of the digital cutover... See BROADCAST TV NEVER CONVERTED ITS DIGITAL DREAM http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/06/09/AR2009060903144.html?wpisrc=newsletter&wpisrc=newsletter or http://snipurl.com/ju2o6 (via Richard Cuff / Allentown, PA, Swprograms mailing list, June 10, via DXLD) Three words came to mind as I read this article: snake oil salesmen (John Figliozzi, NY, ibid.) Interesting that the US view of digital TV is disappointment. In the UK digital terrestrial television is standard definition, not high definition but it offers extensive text services and some degree of interactivity. It obviously doesn't compare well to the Internet as an information source in terms of breadth but it would meet most of the promises in that article. It also includes some 10's of radio channels (including World Service - a nod towards the topic here !) Correct me if I'm wrong but I thought North America had used digital TV to introduce High(er) Definition TV so there was less capacity for additional services. The UK is perhaps a quarter of the way through a phased digital switch over and there seems to be surprisingly little complaint here (Mark Hawkins, ibid.) UK TV while being standard definition is in the 16x10 not 16x9 US format. It already is superior to US's SD TV since it is a modification of the analog PAL format but without the 50 Hz flicker. You can see shortcomings when final productions are shown as HD, like "Primeval" (Series 2 is currently running), as it is seen here on the Sci-Fi channel. In addition, some US cable outfits, like Animal Planet, are carrying UK programming or shows made of UK footage. The studio quality of the master tapes look just as good as HD as long as they are shown in lettterbox format. US HDTV's cannot properly "stretch" the 16x10 letterbox to full screen format; they wind up overscanning the picture and it looks like the above mentioned Sci-Fi. While we're talking about anomalies in a TV picture, most older shows sent by way of analog tape or bird wind up getting mpeg distortion in the images` outlines when sent digitally, the live as you [go?] conversion just doesn`t make it. While we still have analog, you can see that those shows look better on the analog channel Teletext has never worked in the US. CBS affiliates used to carry it, but I haven't heard any promotion for it in decades. It may still be sent in the vertical blanking signal for all I know. My DVR's time syncs against the CBS channel instead of the PBS channel like the instructions say. The Blackberry, I-Phone and PDA have more or less killed that method anyway. Interactive over the air is kind of dumb when you think about it. If you need a cable box, telephone line, or internet connection to return data, then why not get your input data via those same connections? Now I turn to New York City DTV. Multiple TV channels on a physical channel is in some cases inferior. With the bright idea of rerunning all local newscasts, public affairs and infomercials, WABC-DT2 tried a format of Eyewitness News Now. It cost them money so they killed it and leased DT2 to the LiveWell Channel so they could turn a profit. WABC-DT1, and the entire ABC network, use 720p instead of 1080i HD, (so does Fox). LiveWell runs in HD as well, but trying to squeeze in two 720p and one 480i signals isn't working very well. The DT1 is the network; it has to look good. LiveWell gets a crappy sample rate and pixel distorts during fast movements, dissolves and fades. They've tweaked this a few times since the station went on in mid May; the loser is the DT3 480i, a 24 hour weather channel that is mostly graphics. Ironically, ION just converted WPXN-DT1 to 720p, DT2, DT3 and DT4 which are 480i and still all look the same. WNET-DT had been in 1080i since its inception and has two 480i stations in their DTV package. A 4th was tried but was moved to WLIW-DT, a suburban PBS station they operate. John Said: ``While cable television systems here offer specialized digital music packages, neither broadcast nor cable nor satellite television uses their spectrum to deliver radio services.`` As for radio on DTV stations, there are a pitiful few in NYC. Family Radio operates WFME-TV channel 66 (DTV on 29). They have 10 DTV subchannels, 1 main WFME-TV video, 8 audio, and 1 audio in reserve. The audio services are their two on-air radio stations, WFME and KEAR, also the leased feeds to WFME-FM's two FM subcarriers, WYFR international relays, and NOAA weather radio. Mark Said: ``It also includes some 10's of radio channels (including World Service - a nod towards the topic here !)`` Does WYFR qualify? God, I hope not! NJ public station, WNJM, has the New Jersey Network (Public TV) in High Def on DT1, a second NJN service on DT2 (480i) and In Touch Radio, an all volunteer radio service for the blind on DT3, audio only. John Said: ``The complaint with this transition comes from subscribers who up to now have been able to just plug the cable into the back of their sets and watch analog television without need for a converter. The switch to digital renders their older, perfectly well functioning analog televisions unable to display digital television without the rental of a converter at roughly $8 a set per month. Many people have two, three, even four or five sets in their homes.`` Rural subscribers mostly, I take it? Try to plug in a cable without a box in an urban area. The interference to broadcast stations from over the air signal leak-in is highly disrupting. Try to plug in a cable without a box now and while you'll still get most of your local over the air signals, (with ghosting from leak-in), the few public access channels, and a handful of free cable channels like TV Guide, The Weather Channel and Galavisión. Almost everything else that was free is now digitized (Steve Coletti, NYC, Swprograms mailing list via DXLD) Two observations: The article was spot on when it was pointed out that it was the broadcast TV stations, more than any other entity that delayed the transition to digital. Only when finally forced to do so by the FCC and Congress, did things move forward. In the end, the broadcast industry has been their own worst enemy. I also found it curious that in discussing the local (Washington DC) market, the author failed to note one of the most innovative uses of secondary channels, that being performed by MHz Networks. Via their two DC area public broadcasting signals, they carry 10 different feeds; none of them shopping channels, old reruns, or repeats of other programming. Most MHz programming is international in flavor. The author seems to have totally missed this. Sadly, they are the rare exception nationally. MHz provides a national feed available to other public television outlets in the US for their secondary channels. At last count, only about 20 or so have picked up MHz Network for one of their channels. Instead, most are offering yet more alternate feeds of the existing PBS driven programming. I've personally met with the programming staff at several television stations in my area. I came away with the feeling that across the board you could characterize their view of the secondary channels as: a) Where's the revenue? b) Corporate says we have to air (_________) so that's what we are doing and c) We don't know what we are going to do. The complete lack of imagination seemed to be worse than that of the programming for the alternate HD Radio channels (and that is hard). -- (Rob de Santos, Columbus, OH, June 11, ibid.) WRTV-6, Indianapolis Shut Down Glen Hale just sent an update on WRTV-6, Indianapolis, Indiana's first TV station (1949). The analog will shut down at 8 a.m. EDT Friday with this five minute video, which includes some scenes and shots over the past 60 years and a test pattern at the end. http://www.theindychannel.com/video/19726948/index.html No nightlight service from this station. WRTV-DT remains on ch. 25. Thanks, Glen (Steve Rich, Indianapolis, IN, June 11, WTFDA via DXLD) One of my personal pet peeves about the transition besides remapping ;) Stations that have operated a digital signal for many years announce... "On June 12th, we are switching to digital!" NO, y'all are turning OFF ANALOG!!! The only stations I know of switching TO digital are those flash cut stations that never had companion DTV channels and have yet to switch. (Fritze H Prentice Jr, KC5KBV, Star City, AR, June 12, WTFDA via DXLD) Good Morning, Glenn, It's a whole new game this morning. I'm trying to figure out how to DX in the digital age. It is strange to have the analogs gone for the most part. KMBC-9 is still there with nightlight and KETV-7 is present this morning with theirs. Weak DTV signals on channels 4 and 8. I think they must be Superior and Lincoln, Nebraska. I think nightlight stations can still air emergency messages as well as DTV transition information. I guess I will use the strength meter to try to find tropo and need a new indicator for DTV skip. I used to look for signs of analog before trying digital. KPTS-8 in now, but there is a signal to the north as well. I wonder if Columbia, MO has anything to offer this morning? Both KQTV-2 and KSNT-27 and KSNT-DT 28 went off at midnight. All just shut down analog in the middle of a program. Not even IDs. Are station personnel too young to remember sign offs? Happy new world of TV DX (Dave Pomeroy, Topeka KS, June 13, DX LISTENING DIGEST) KNOXVILLE ANALOG GOES DARK --- As of Friday, June 12,2009, most analog stations in my area ceased their analog broadcasts, while only one signal, WVLT TV Channel 8, is running an NAB sponsored message about Digital Television and steps needed to be DTV-ready. On 87.7 FM, that audio was also silent as the analog was turned off. ABC 6, WATE, which was East Tennessee's first analog station to sign on the air back on October 25, 1953 as WROL TV Channel 6, only showed a message and voice-over announcing the termination of the signal at 12:01 the next morning. Please share this with our group. 73's, (Noble West, TN, June 21, DX LISTENING DIGEST) NPR's All Things Considered ran a segment about the cable digital transition and its incredibly poor timing. As of right now it's the most popular article on their site. Try explaining 'you need a converter box, but not THAT converter box' to the average person. http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=104822934 NPR's coverage has been just as bad as everyone else's otherwise. Today they said, 'viewers with rabbit ears will need to replace them with a converter box.' Have fun tuning channels with no antenna. It's probably good for your health not to read any more DTV articles, if you have the option (Claudio Leite, AB3IU, Washington, DC (FM18mv), WTFDA via DXLD) DTV article- Get the Picture! http://www.nwtntoday.com/news.php?viewStoryPrinter=28048 Summary of article: Welcome to the future! It doesn't work as well as the past did (Northwest Tennessee Today via Curtis Sadowski, IL, WTFDA via DXLD) FUN WITH DTV PILOT CARRIERS I've programmed the Icom R8500 to detect DTV pilots on channels 2-6. It is amazingly sensitive. Even with fairly poor conditions I can easily hear what has to be the pilot for WBRA-DT (ch 3), Roanoke at 242 miles (Of course I won't log it until I actually get a PSIP or video decode.) It also makes a great MS detector. With the antenna pointed west and the receiver set to hear the DTV pilot for channel 2, I'm getting frequent faint pings and the occasional big ping. This will indeed make for easy detection of low-band DTV Es (Girard Westerberg, http://www.DXFM.com Lexington, KY, June 14, WTFDA via DXLD) PSIP: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Program_and_System_Information_Protocol (via gh, DXLD) For unattended logging of PSIP's while you're not watching --- tune manually in the SetUp - Manual Tuning. Any ID that gets caught stays there until you're ready to check it. wrh (Bill Hepburn, WTFDA via DXLD) Insignia/Zenith STBs NYC DTV Results June 12, 2009 was a historic day in the world of television. After years of preparation and several delays analog television became history. Instead of robust amplitude modulated NTSC video and FM audio, we reverted to the world of ones and zeros. Television broadcasting will never be the same! The first move came at 12:30 pm with WABC-TV making the switch from analog to digital on Channel 7. Their midday newscast ended with engineer Bill Beam, on camera in the control room, ready to click a mouse. Bill switched off the Channel 7 analog transmitter turning off anchor Ken Rosato mid-sentence. The new Channel 7 digital transmitter came on and the future began. ABC`s temporary Channel 45 digital transmitter went off permanently shortly thereafter. Other channels went off the air with little notice. WCBS-TV Channel 2 announced their transition would be at 2 pm. As The World Turns began as scheduled. Checking in at 2:30 pm, the soap opera was still on the air suffering from some nice e-skip co-channel interference. Around 2:45 pm, the CBS engineers decided the time had come and jumped into a rendition of The Star Spangled Banner. The analog transmitter went off briefly. Moments later, WCBS analog Channel 2 returned with a test pattern and then the national anthem again. Finally, an endless loop of a tutorial video produced by The National Association of Broadcasters began. Both CBS analog Channel 2 and NBC analog channel 4 will be airing this video for an entire month! By the end of the afternoon, Channels 7, 11 and 13 had all reverted to their new digital transmitters. Listening on a TV sound radio, all that could now be heard was a distinctive whoosh of digital noise. The move to high VHF channels proved troublesome at my QTH (about 50 miles north of NYC.) I had always received high VHF analog TV from New York City without any trouble in full quieting. My pictures looked beautiful. All three stations` new digital transmissions could not be resolved. Not until I switched to my outdoor 8-bay UHF array with a pre-amplifier did I manage to bring in WABC, WPIX and WNET in digital. I`m quite lucky that my Channel Master 4228 is broadband enough to cover down to Channel 7! Similar results were seen with another TV I had fitted with a UHF-only 2 bay bowtie set-top antenna. To see the high VHF stations, I had to switch to a set of rabbit ears. Only when I trimmed the rabbit ears to the exact length to match the wavelength of each channel did I manage to lock my converter box to their signals. When everyone was on UHF, I had no trouble at all! My best guess is that I am suffering from high carrier-to-noise levels when using the rabbit ears on high VHF. I`ll have to design a new plan for this set! As evening fell, Channel 2 WCBS-TV and Channel 4 WNBC-TV were in `nightlight` mode broadcasting the NAB`s DTV video. Fox Channel 5 WNYW-TV and MyTV WWOR-TV Channel 9 continued with regular analog programming right up until midnight. Both WNYW and WWOR were already broadcasting on their permanent UHF DTV frequencies. When the clock struck 11:59 pm, all they had to do was turn off their analog signals and they did with no ceremony at all. Channel 5 pulled the plug right at the end of the credits for The Simpsons. Channel 9 dumped their transmitter about a minute later mid-commercial. Educational WNYE Channel 25 waited until the last moments of the day, as well. The end was now complete. All that remains are a handful of stations broadcasting in `nightlight` mode for the next four weeks. Most all of them are airing the now classic NAB tutorial video. This is a nightmare for TV DXers! Stations are only rarely broadcasting identifications so it appears as a nationwide simulcast of sorts. (I understand WGBH 2 in Boston is running a similar PBS-produced tutorial.) No matter what `nightlight` station you log, they are all airing the same program! How can you tell one from another? If each station had produced their own show or simply left their logo up full-time, this could have been a wonderful once-in-a-lifetime chance to see all sorts of stations. Instead, it became an anonymous monotonous mess! [some of them have scrolls or permanent IDs supered, albethey in fine print, e.g. KOCO, see OKLAHOMA --- gh] Besides the nightlighters on the analog side, all that is left in NYC is a public-access-like simulcast of bizarre programming on low powered Channels 32 and 35 and a LPTV shopping channel, W60AI. The meek have inherited the Earth! Two immediate repercussions should be noted: Analog TV sound radios and analog portable televisions no longer work. Hopefully, digital versions of these handy portables will become practical, affordable and commonplace in the future. Hindsight is always 20/20, but I have to ask why the FCC and the broadcasting community did not use this unique opportunity to consolidate all TV to UHF frequencies. My first impression of digital VHF television is not impressive: A thin scattering of transmitters nationwide producing inferior results. It seems like such a waste of spectrum. Is there any hope for the eventual allocation of a 4 meter (70 to 70.5 MHz) amateur radio band? A friend of mine noted one immediate response to the June 12th cutover: Qualcomm has launched an over-the-air to cell phone TV service on 719 MHz (old TV channel 55) with robust signals serving Eastern Connecticut. Time marches on! (Karl Zuk, N2KZ, Grid: Fn31eh, June 15, WTFDA via DXLD) ``Why was the move back to VHF necessary? In the NYC market, UHF actually worked pretty well.`` To relieve crowding, for one thing. As far out as Memphis and St. Louis, we had out-of-core UHF assignments for some stations. Their interim operations simply couldn't be accommodated in 14-51. In other cases, stations' power (and coverage) was severely limited on those channels -- take WHYY [Philadelphia] for example. I suppose they were willing to accept it temporarily (having little choice) but if moving to 12 would give them back more of their pre-transition coverage, one would expect them to do so. That, and the lower power requirements. WSMV [Nashville] is retaining at least theoretical coverage (and hence, must-carry status) in our entire analog coverage area at a transmitter output of about 6 kilowatts (ERP is 42 kw). WKRN requires an ERP of 1000 kw - transmitter output on the order of 50 to 100 kw - to achieve the same theoretical coverage. It is difficult enough to justify that extra power expense for 10% of the audience here in TVA territory where electricity is relatively cheap. It has to be a LOT harder in the northeast where electricity *isn't* cheap (Doug Smith W9WI, Pleasant View, TN EM66, ibid.) I was just thinking: once after all analogs are off the air, well none should have regular programming anymore. With most complaints from distant transmitters, I wouldn't be surprised if the FCC decides to increase maximum ERP for DTVs transmitting in the UHF band. Currently the maximum UHF DTV I believe is 1000 kW. Do you think maybe to up to 5000 kW again? (John L. Muskego WI, ibid.) The maximum is indeed 1000 kW UHF. That is however average power, not peak (analog power is peak). The peak-to-average ratio for ATSC digital is roughly 6 dB. That means the maximum peak power for an ATSC digital station is already roughly 4000 kW. It will be difficult to impossible to increase powers much beyond this figure (the difference between 4000 and 5000 kW is negligible) (Doug Smith W9WI, Pleasant View, TN EM66, ibid.) VHF-HI TV POWER - WHAT WERE THEY THINKING I used to get WICU-12 Erie analog 24/7 at a distance of 83 miles. A bit of snow, but watchable as long as 100 mile CHEX-12 in the opposite direction wasn't getting lake-enhanced. So --- I see the DTV signal bar bouncing up & down on channel 12 for 6 days now and no decode. I just checked and found out WICU replaced 316,000 watts of analog by 5,000 watts of digital! So my question.. what were they thinking? No wonder I can't get them anymore (William R Hepburn, Grimsby ON CAN, June 18, ibid.) They're thinking that 85% or greater of their viewership is via cable and/or satellite. And that dropping the power to only 5,000 watts saves them a lot of money on their power bill. Much as I enjoy TV DXing, "over the air" broadcasting is all but dead and buried (Les Rayburn, ibid.) Yeah, you're probably right. That's what the Toronto stations are thinking to. Just enough power to be legally classified as "broadcast" stations rather than "cable" to get must-carry (Bill Hepburn, ibid.) CAPTIONING ON DTV, CC1 AND SERVICE 1 I would imagine *most* DTV stations still carry the Line 21 captions - and if there's an XDS encoder in the path, since that's also on Line 21 it'll get transmitted too. DTV still encodes lines of video, and it does carry *some* of the vertical interval. If your DTV or STB has both "CC1" and "Service 1" as caption options.. the former is Line 21 (analog standard) captions, the latter is "DTVCC" carried as part of the datastream (Doug Smith, June 21, WTFDA via DXLD) WHEN WORDS ARE WORTH A THOUSAND PICTURES AT BALLPARK AND ON TV Barton Silverman/The New York Times Cory Macchiarola in the control room at the Mets’ Citi Field, where he writes captions that appear on the scoreboard. [caption!] He has been employed by the Yankees and the Mets, but Cory Macchiarola has never thrown a pitch for either team or swung a bat. But if you have watched a Yankees game in a bar or on a treadmill the past seven years, have been to Citi Field or are a hearing-impaired Yankees fan, you have probably seen his work. It runs across the bottom of television screens, transmitting the text of the words spoken by the broadcasters, or streams over the scoreboard at Citi Field, showing every word the public-address announcer says in real time. . . http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/21/sports/baseball/21caption.html?ref=baseball (via Eric Flodén, Vancouver, swprograms via DXLD) PS: I have been struck with laughter over the two additional home plate umps in Washington. The Jays have beeen there of late and watching the games, there have been 2 guys in full ump regallia sitting right behind the real ump (but in the stands) . . . their ump- like reactions have been (to me anyway) hilarious, as they leap up after a strike call and issue their very own strike call, in a mini- Busby Berkeley synchronized ump-action (Eric Flodén, ibid.) OFFSET DTV FREQUENCIES? The large issue looming for southern California is summertime temperature inversion layer ducting where signals from Tijuana, San Diego and Los Ángeles will invade each others` markets. CGC is already suggesting that co-channel DTV stations institute precision frequency offsets to counter this well known problem. Our office has already started to work with those clients who are most likely to be affected (CGC Communicator June 19 via Kevin Redding, ABDX via DXLD) ?? Has the offset idea not been considered in the FCC`s DTV planning for channel allocations? It was a pervasive feature of analog TV, little known to the general public, but of great use to DXers in IDing stations, as well as lessening interference. Is this something stations could arrange among themselves without FCC permission or coördination, as implied in the above item? So how would offset DTV frequencies work and what effect would they have in real- world DX and local reception? (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) I posted this on four lists; zero replies. I guess no one knows the answer. But it seems to me offsetting DTV 10 kHz or even more would have little effect, unlike with analog. O, here`s one: (gh) That's certainly what I would have thought. However, from paragraph 5.1.6.1 of the ATSC A64B standard: "5.1.6.1 Co-channel DTV-to-DTV Offset --- In the DTV co-channel interference condition, it has been found that a DTV pilot frequency offset that is an odd multiple of half the DTV segment rate provides improved interference rejection. There are several choices that meet this requirement. An offset of 1.5 times the segment frequency (i.e., 19,403 Hz) appears to provide the best performance. The frequency tolerance of the DTV transmitters should be ±10 Hz." And actually, this seems to be more or less the same reason that analog transmitters were offset. I can't find the FCC frequency tolerance standard for DTV but I highly doubt a signal 19.403 kHz "off frequency" would be legal. IOW stations will need FCC permission to adopt this offset (Doug Smith W9WI, Pleasant View, TN EM66, June 24, DX LISTENING DIGEST) That raises another question. Would existing STBs or DTV sets have a problem tuning in an offset frequency channel? Seems to me they are all programmed to tune to exact center frequencies. Would need modification? Or is `AFC` applicable here as in analog? (Glenn Hauser, to Doug, ibid.) No, they shouldn't have any trouble with a 19 kHz offset. See http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/cfr_2008/octqtr/47cfr73.622.htm FCC regulation 73.622. This is the table of allocations for DTV. Paragraph (g), located between the pre-Transition table and the post-Transition table, says that stations operating on a channel marked with "c" in the pre-Transition table must operate 5.082138 MHz (+/-3 Hz) above the visual carrier of the analog station on the lower adjacent channel. For example, in Tulsa pre-Transition channel 42 is marked with "c". The DTV station operating on channel 42 (KMYT-TV) must operate 5.082138 MHz above the visual carrier of the analog station on channel 41. (which is, as you may guess, KMYT's own analog signal) KMYT analog was on positive offset, so their visual carrier was on 633.26 MHz. 5.082138 MHz above this is 638.342138 MHz. Nominal DTV carrier for channel 42 is 638.31 MHz. So, KMYT-DT was *required* to operate roughly 32 kHz high in frequency. I have not heard of any reception issues unique to these "c" stations; (and had no trouble with reception of the "c" station on channel 51 in the Nashville area nor those on 25 and 31 in Memphis) I think we can reasonably assume available STBs and DTVs are able to deal with a 32 kHz offset. 19 kHz would of course be even easier. If you scroll down to the post-Transition table, you note the "c" is gone from KMYT's channel 42. Since their analog is gone, there's no need for precise offset from its frequency. Whether KMYT has actually moved to its nominal 638.31MHz frequency I have no idea (I wouldn't be surprised if they haven't) (Doug Smith W9WI, Pleasant View, TN EM66, DX LISTENING DIGEST) FAIR WEATHER TV Some San Diego viewers accustomed to watching Los Angeles over-the-air analog TV are finding the new digital-only signals intermittent or not receivable. The problem involves variations in temperature inversion layer ducting, a profound problem in southern California. The affected viewers seem to instantly understand when DTV is explained as "Fair Weather TV," but their disappointment is evident nevertheless. A FLOOD OF LETTERS ON DTV, AND A CAUTIONARY NOTE FOR HD RADIO One of the most intriguing lessons emerging from the DTV transition is that VHF is apparently not as good as UHF for building penetration -- something land-mobile radio engineers have long known. Why early DTV tests failed to pick up this important point -- or at least run it high up the flagpole -- is a mystery. The bottom line is that this shortcoming should send a strong cautionary note to the FCC to proceed slowly and carefully before authorizing any FM HD Radio power increase. There is no need to jeopardize analog listeners before NPR's detailed interference studies are complete. We invite our readers to express this point in their formal written comments to the Commission. o More evidence suggesting that VHF is not the place to broadcast DTV when indoor receiving antennas are used: http://tinyurl.com/vhfDTVnogo o Further perspective on the VHF-DTV building penetration problem. FCC spokesman says agency "definitely not" in panic mode: http://tinyurl.com/VHFdtv TRANSITION DISCOVERIES AT WLIO, DTV CHANNEL 8 We're finding a couple of interesting things. First, rabbit ear antennas just do not work [for VHF DTV reception]! Of all the complaints, 95% of the people who have rabbit ears are not getting all or [any] of the stations in their DMA. This also includes these "pancake antennas" that are typically used on motor homes. For people with actual outside DTV antennas, I'm finding that antenna aiming is becoming more and more crucial. In some cases, while a 40-80 degree window off the front of the antenna was sufficient for analog, the antenna must be placed within 20 degrees on most DTV stations. Finally, I'm finding that antennas with higher front-to-back ratios and reductions on the sides are better than smaller antennas offering non-directional reception --- Fred Vobbe, w8hdu (at) wlio.com June 17, 2009, Lima, Ohio [Editor's note: WLIO-TV was analog on CH-35 and digital on CH-8 before the June 12 switch, and is now digital on CH-8 exclusively, so viewers no longer have an analog fallback.] (CGC Communicator June 22 via Kevin Redding, ABDX via DXLD) DIGITAL TO ANALOG CONVERSION In the future, when everyone has forgotten about the analog to digital conversion (based on most people's attention span, this will not take long), when digital TVs are inexpensive (will take longer than the first item) and when anyone wanting a digital TV will own at least 5 (we are Americans conditioned to spend, spend, spend) business executives realize they are not selling enough TVs. They devise a plan. The business leaders will convince Congress and the Senate to switch from digital TV broadcasting to analog TV broadcasting. The proponents will extol how the Government will auction off the digital TV frequencies and reap the benefits of a huge amount of cash. Analog TV proponents will point out the virtues, reliability and distance of analog TV signal reception. They will mention reception of analog TV signals of up to 100 miles contrasting digital TV reception as digital TV reception is measured in blocks away from the transmitter tower. Analog TV proponents will admit analog is a single station on a single channel. They acknowledge digital TV's have multiple channels per frequency and point out there is, unfortunately, nothing worth watching on all these digital channels. They will prove a maximum of 2 analog TV channels per town is sufficient for most people as, with digital, there really isn't anything on TV worth watching. Analog TV proponents will also admit the analog picture is not as beautiful as a digital picture. They will counter with the same rebuttal that there really isn't anything on TV worth watching. The business leaders argued a strong suit, convinced Congress and convinced the Senate. The countdown to the digital to analog switch begins. The Government pledges to help by offering a direct deposit into everyone's bank account an amount sufficient to purchase 2 virtual converter boxes. Unfortunately, the Government quickly runs out of money before everyone receives their direct deposit. The Government has also had reports of people using the money for beer and holographic cigarettes instead of the virtual converter boxes as intended. The business leaders are ecstatic! They can sell over priced TVs to suckers --- I mean the public. Since this is in the future, my son's son, in other words my grandson, while visiting Grandpa (that is me) discovers I have an old TV in my radio lab in the basement. I have not used the TV in years. My grandson plugs in the TV and to his amazement it is receiving 2 different TV stations from Washington DC. Everyone is happy and there is peace in the World. 73, (Kraig, KG4LAC, Krist, Manassas VA, June 12, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) USA DTV TRANSITION – THE WORST POSSIBLE SCENARIO Now here is item five of this weekend edition. Intense sporadic events are happening now all across the Northern Hemisphere, with European stations reaching North America and the Caribbean on the 6 meters or 50 megaHertz amateur band. I am receiving some very interesting TV DX reports from TV DX fans telling me that they are picking up using the analog TV sets, signals from Mexican, Central American and Caribbean stations via sporadic E layer propagation, as well as the first catches of the ATSC digital standard signals. The comments include comparisons between the characteristics of the NTSC analog standard and the ATSC digital standard right at the peak of the summer sporadic E season. To say it in a few words, all the observations coincide as regards to how fragile the digital TV broadcasts are --- something that we all expected to happen --- frequent pixellation, images frozen and vanishing happen because of the inherent characteristics of the digital standard. For those TV DXers used to watch even complete programs via sporadic E propagation, I must say that this will no longer be possible. You may be lucky and catch the ID of the digital stations, but chances of enjoying long duration events to watch programs are next to zero. Item six: ASK ARNIE, confirmed as the most popular section of this program will today be answering a question sent by several listeners who are having lots of trouble picking up not DX, but their regular local TV stations after it has switched to the digital ATSC standards, a move that in many cases was complicated by the shift from one channel to another one. The worst possible scenario for regular TV viewers in the United States of America has happened in those cities and rural areas where one of several of the stations that normally served that region has not only phased out the analog TV broadcasts but has also moved from a UHF or a VHF hi band to a low band. So, those who bought the so called Digital TV antennas, that are designed for receiving the UHF TV signals ended up by seeing nothing at all. Digital TV broadcasts on the VHF LOW band, channels 2 to 6 require a large size antenna to pick them up; as a matter of fact the TV channel frequencies were kept unchanged, so, just to give you an example, a half wave dipole antenna for TV channel 2 that spans from 54 to 60 megaHertz, approximately 5 meters wavelength needs to be two and half meters or eight feet long. Then you must add at least a reflector and a director to the antenna, and just figure out the size of what has to be installed in order to pick up a good signal from a digital ATSC standard TV station operating on channel 2 !!! The analog blackout, done in the USA on June 12 has demonstrated to other nations many of the “how not to do it” most relevant mistakes, that will serve to improve the future switchovers by other nations from analog to digital TV. For TV Dxers the rule of the game is to install the best possible antennas, and in the case of the UHF band, to use a masthead preamplifier and a very low loss and obviously expensive coaxial cable downlead!!! If you study the characteristics of the ATSC digital TV transmission standard in detail you will soon learn that it is a much bigger challenge for the broadcasters to deliver a high quality signal. The old analog standard has many drawbacks, especially its low definition and the lack of color reproducing reliability that gave way for the funny description by engineers that said it was not National Television Standards Committee what standed for NTSC, but Never Twice the Same Color --- but, a TV transmitter broadcasting an NTSC standard M or N signal provides much better coverage than a digital one (Arnie Coro, CO2KK, RHC DXers Unlimited June 20 via Yimber Gaviría, Colombia, DXLD) DOES CHINA HAVE THE BEST DTV STANDARD ON THE PLANET? There has always been concern that our DTV system isn't the best; now comes CHINA: Check out this link, read story ( gets technical but it looks like China's waiting may have given them a pretty good system ) http://spectrum.ieee.org/consumer-electronics/standards/does-china-have-the-best-digital-television-standard-on-the-planet (Al Tobia via Mike Bugaj, CT, WTFDA via DXLD) ALIENS LOSE IN SWITCH TO DIGITAL TV http://www.space.com/searchforlife/090618-seti-aliens.html Summary of article: E.T. has a problem- his DTV coupon hasn't arrived (Curtis Sadowski, IL, WTFDA via DXLD) A PRESENT TO THE UNITED STATES VHF AND UHF HAM COMMUNITY Amateur Radio NewslineT Report 1662 - June 19 2009 This from both the broadcasters and the FCC as many of the nations VHF television stations vacate many of the low VHF channels, go digital and lower the overall noise floor on 6 meters. The big digital television change out began at 00:01 EST on Friday, June 12th. Stations across the nation chose their own time to turn off their analog transmitters and move their operations to their permanent digital channels. Many of the low-band stations opted to move to the UHF band. A lot of them operated on Channel 2 just above the 6 meter ham band. And when those analog channel 2 transmitters went QRT, the noise level on 6 meters dropped in many locations. Places like Chicago, where Keith Morehouse, W9RM, reported over the VHF Reflector that this is a big plus in Chicago where the long known Channel 2 audio spur is gone. That spur used to trash the WSJT meteor scatter calling frequency 50.260 MHz. In Milwaukee Ray Greiner, K9KHW, reports on the analog shutdown on VHF channels 4, 6 and 12. He reports that he found most of the VHF and UHF ham bands so quiet that he actually checked and see if his antennas were connected. He says that on 6 meters where the normal noise level was S-3 to S-4, it`s now zero. But 6 meters is not the only band seeing a noise floor improvement. Steve Rutledge, N4JQQ, is in Memphis Tennessee/ He says that when VHF channel 3 went to UHF and channels 5 and 13 went digital on their current assignments, that the noise he heard on the 222 MHz ham band when pointing his beam East is now completely gone. He says that in the past, that the noise level was so high that it wiped out any signal from the east, even with a bandpass filter before his tower mounted preamp. Even some of those living North of the United States and Canadian border are happy about the change. Jordan Arndt, VE6ZT, in Calgary, Ontario says that he can hear the difference up in Grid Square DO-21. This is especially true when the band is open. It`s going to take a few weeks to really assess the impact that the digital television conversion will have on most of the VHF and UHF ham bands, but so far the results seem very good indeed (ARNewslineT, VHF Reflector via MIke Terry, dxldyg via DXLD) With fewer VHF TV channels in use, mostly with `new` DTV transmitters of lower power than analog, there is bound to be a change in spurious output and overall noise floor in the VHF area --- but I would not be too quick to assume the DTVs don`t produce noise and spurs of their own, on different frequencies than before, mainly in the UHF area (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) STATION COUNTING, ANALOG AND DIGITAL With this new proposed rule, a station that goes dark for 5 years, and then has a new owner that starts up the station with different calls but the same transmitter and tower wouldn't count as a new station like it would with the old WTFDA rules. If transmitter co-ords are to be deemed the most important factor, then why doesn't a station changing transmitter sites become a new station? Especially ones that move many miles --- or even across statelines and provincial borders (like some Ottawa stations)? Maybe we're making the rules too complicated and too picky. Sometimes I think every time a station changes calls or channels we should just call it new to keep things simple, otherwise there will be too many stations in limbo-land. Add to that the fact that we don't even know the transmitter co-ords for most of our 1970's and 1980's loggings (Wm R Hepburn, Grimsby Ont., WTFDA via DXLD) I think we're in brand-new territory here, since the concepts of "station" and "transmitter" and even "channel number" are suddenly much more fluid than they were in the analog era. I understand the principle behind wanting to count KTVT-DT 19 and KTXA-DT 19 [DFW] as the same station: it's one of several situations around the country where the very same transmitter that served one station on June 11 was repurposed to serve another on June 13. (Other examples include Baltimore, where the former WJZ-DT 38 equipment was repurposed as WMAR-DT 38 at the transition, and Philadelphia, where WYBE-DT 34 handed off its channel to WCAU-DT 34; I'm sure Doug or Trip can think of still more.) Here's my take: this is a once-in-a-lifetime disruption to the norm, so much so that in my personal loggings, I'll probably end up keeping a completely separate set of post-6/12/09 totals. The spectrum as we knew it on June 11 is utterly unlike the spectrum we're dealing with now, and many of us - well, me, anyway - are still trying to understand what our "new normal" conditions will even look like. Here's one way of thinking about it: KTVT-DT, when it was on 19, would have been a challenging DX catch for someone down around Tyler as long as KYTX was on the air on analog 19. After the transition, the "new" KTXA-DT 19 is probably a relatively easy catch whenever the trop is up. Which is to say, while I'm generally conservative about what should count as a "new" logging (you should hear me grumbling to myself when I think about DXers counting every call change on radio as a "new" station), I'm inclined to err on the side of over-inclusion when it comes to stations going through their digital transitions. Yes, that means I now have two Rochester stations logged on 10 and 13 (WHEC-TV and WHAM-TV in analog and digital, respectively), but at least as far as my personal loggings go, they count toward two separate totals. But during this time of massive upheaval, there's just too much shuffling going on for the average DXer to try to make sense of "is it the same channel from the same transmitter/antenna as before, or is it at a different location nearby." It can be awfully confusing even for me and Doug and Trip and Bill Hale, who are supposed to be keeping track of all of this as it moves around. I think we've all agreed to count most of the other permutations of the transition (station moves from analog to digital on its old analog channel; station moves from one DTV channel to another formerly occupied by a different co-located analog station; etc.) as "new", haven't we? And in the end, I don't think there are so many of these KTVT/KTXA situations as to massively pad anyone's totals, anyway --- especially since we all seem to be raking in the new loggings at the moment with a suddenly-emptier-than-usual dial. One more note on Bill's question - at least on the US side of the border, there's no question what happens when a station goes dark for 5 years and then a new owner starts up on that channel: the FCC automatically cancels any license that's dark for more than a year, so the new station would truly be a new station. s (Scott Fybush, ibid.) I would like to suggest that the WTFDA Board of Directors bash this one around amongst themselves and come up with official revised WTFDA guidelines for both the transition and post-transition eras that all the club members can follow for official club stats & record purposes. Personal stats, as always, could always suit each DXer using their own criteria (I, for one, once being of the anti-counting call changes as new, switched to counting calls 2 years ago to make it easier to keep track of my loggings - too many "ex: WABC, WXXX " type entries - I just added a new log entry for each call. But of course I use WTFDA guidelines when sending stats in to Fred and when sending in DX reports). wrh (Bill Hepburn, ibid.) I agree completely with Scott. Our own local WDKY presents an interesting example of a potentially confusing situation. Let's start with the analog. I originally logged them from their old site 18 miles southwest of me. A few years ago they moved to a new site 11 miles southeast of me. I did NOT count this as a new log for WDKY. They are a local, so receiving them from either location presented no special challenges. Enter WDKY-DT. Their first DTV attempt on channel 4 was from the site 18 miles southwest of me. It used a low power transmitter with a directional antenna pointed away from me. It radiated something like 70 watts in my direction as I recall. With the Nashville analog and other regional analogs on channel 4, the original WDKY-DT was a very tough log, probably worthy of calling it DX. Then WDKY-DT moved to their current location just 11 miles away and increased power. It was a new transmitter, new location, and new antenna for them, but I did NOT count it as a new log. Then comes transition day. WDKY-DT shut down both the analog 56 and DTV 4 transmitters, quickly converted the analog transmitter to channel 31 DTV, and did a retune of the channel 56 antenna to channel 31. I logged the reception of WDKY-DT on channel 31 as a new log. So, between their various physical and channel moves I suppose I could have claimed 5 different loggings for WDKY analog and digital over the past few years, but for this situation I felt it proper to log them only 3 times -- once for the analog on channel 56, once for the digital on channel 4, and once for the new digital on channel 31. To me, that's what is "right" for this particular situation. My point is, I agree with Scott when he says this is a very fluid period for DXing TV. I think we have to apply some honest common sense when it comes to logging. I will continue to log what I think is fair and reasonable using the kind of logic I used for WDKY (Girard Westerberg, http://www.DXFM.com Lexington, KY, ibid.) First of all I had no idea KTXA was using the same transmitter/tower as the ex KTVT-DT. I'm still counting it as a separate log for now. If the issue of tower locations were the a defining issue, then KATV- DT on 22 would be separate logs from pre January 2008 and from February 2009 onward. However despite the tower move from Redfield to Shinall Mountain, I count that as a 1 station. Same for KTVE-DT which was logged several times as a low power station in El Dorado and then from their normal tower at Bolding near Crossett AR. I did count WXVT-DT 17 and WXVT-DT 15 as separate logs because they not only operated from different RF channels but from different locations. I normally count mode changes and channel changes as separate logs (i.e. DTV's WMC from 52 to 5, KOLR from 52 to 10, and KETS from 5 to 7). I didn't count KATV being a separate log when it leased space from KWBF's subchannel in 2008-09--it was KWBF. Also callsign changes on the same channel when its the same station (such as KWBF to KARZ) are not grounds to count KWBF and KARZ separate logs. Scott, I have to say this about radio stations. There is a radio station in metro Little Rock (KOKY 102.1 FM) that claims itself a direct successor to the old KOKY-AM 1440 of the 1950's-1970's. I will never recognize it as such. There was a period of several years where there was no KOKY (the last AM version on 1250 in 1988 changed calls and formats) and the FM version only hit the airwaves late in 1997. (Fritze H Prentice Jr, KC5KBV, Star City, AR, ibid.) Thanks for everybody's replies. Scott, Bill, and Fritze bring up many good points. Let me set the record straight on what I think. I don't consider call changes as new logs. I don't count transmitter/tower moves as new. I don't count transmitter/tower swaps as new logs (WTVJ- 6/WFOR-4 Miami a few years back). However, due to the unusual situation created by the DTV conversion, we do need a rule for reporting logs to Fred. Maybe a special rule should be considered for station changes that occurred between February 17 and June 13. I don't know how that would work any better than anything else. On the other hand, I agree with Bill about the difficulty in keeping up with changes. Computers, however, have made that easier than in the past. I don't know the answer. All I'm sure of is that DTV and DTV DXing are not the same as analog, and DXers in North America have never faced a situation like this. This is different than HD radio. I'll go along with whatever the club decides, even if it means *not* counting the type of logs in question. Although I said Pat and I decided to count the stations based on coordinates, I didn't intend to imply that this is the only method the club should consider. In reality, I just don't feel good about counting those stations that I know are using the same tower on the same channel as the previous DTV occupant. In fact, I'm not too thrilled about counting stations like WFAA-DT9 and KFWD-DT9 as *two* logs, even though they are on different towers (Danny Oglethorpe, Shreveport, LA, ibid.) An even more complicated example is up here in Boston: WHDH:7. On Transition Day, WHDH:7-42 switched to its old analog channel, becoming WHDH:-7. BUT, it quickly became apparent that the weaker VHF RF-7 disenfranchised a lot of viewers, so WHDH got temporary FCC permission to operate DTV on both RF-7 and RF-42, so there was WHDH-7 and now there is WHDH:-7 and WHDH:7-42! So, since they are both operating at the same time, do they count as (one, "WHDH") two (WHDH- 7, WHDH-DT) or three (WHDH-7, WHDH:-7, WHDH:7-42) distinct stations?!? P=) (~Kaimbridge~ M GoldChild, ibid.) FCC BOOSTS POWER FOR PHILADELPHIA STATION The Federal Communications Commission has granted a six-month power boost to ABC-owned WPVI-TV in Philadelphia to help the station solve its DTV reception issues. The power boost, which already has helped improve reception for some viewers, could be extended permanently, according to this article. WJZ in Baltimore also is being allowed to boost transmission power. . . http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/295493-WPVI_Gets_Power_Boost_From_FCC.php?rssid=20068 (via DXLD) CHANNEL 6 QUADRUPLES SIGNAL TO IMPROVE RECEPTION [WPVI ex-WFIL] By Bob Fernández INQUIRER STAFF WRITER http://www.philly.com/philly/business/homepage/20090622_Channel_6_quadruples__signal_to_improve_reception.html 6ABC, which faced withering criticism when thousands of over-the-air television viewers lost reception on June 12, quadrupled its TV signal over the weekend. The emergency signal boost was granted under temporary authority by the Federal Communications Commission and will last six months. A 6ABC official said the station will seek FCC permission to make it permanent. On June 12, the nation's TV stations ended their use of analog signals in favor of digital signals. The switch improved picture quality, but for viewers using traditional over-the-air sets and rabbit ears, it also led to problems receiving 6ABC. Viewers should rescan for the station on their digital-converter boxes. Some people still may not receive the station because of malfunctioning converters or poorly functioning antennas, said David Dombrowski, an FCC electronics engineer in Philadelphia. The weekend's action confirmed that the FCC underestimated the necessary digital-signal strength in engineering models. Those models, experts have said, were based on outdoor antennas, which many homeowners in the Philadelphia area lack. Experts also warned for years that low VHF frequencies, which 6ABC uses, could be problematic because of interference from FM radio stations and electric-power lines. 6ABC has the top-rated local news show, Action News, and carries Oprah Winfrey's show and several popular afternoon soaps. 6ABC viewers who prepared for the digital transition felt misled when they lost TV reception June 12. During the testing phase before June 12, the station used a temporary UHF frequency, which requires a different antenna, so many viewers anticipated no trouble when the digital switch occurred. When 6ABC shifted back to its usual VHF signal during the final transition, the reception problems became all too apparent. (VHF stations in Boston, Chicago and New York, in addition to Philadelphia, have had some of the biggest problems in the over-the-air digital transition.) All over the region - Drexel Hill, Center City, Frankford, Media, South Philadelphia, the Northeast, Perkasie, Haddonfield, Camden and Little Egg Harbor - people reported losing 6ABC reception and said the problems could force them to cable TV. 6ABC's Web site was flooded with complaints, and thousands called an FCC hotline. Some said 6ABC kept its old frequency to save on electricity costs. Hank Volpe, director of engineering at 6ABC, said today that saving money on electricity had nothing to do with its digital-channel position. "Everybody is looking for a villain, and there is no villain," Volpe said. 6ABC would have liked another frequency to broadcast in digital, but it "reluctantly" accepted the position it had, Volpe said. Taking another frequency would have forced four TV stations in other markets to accept new frequencies, as well, he said. With the power boost over the weekend, 6ABC will broadcast at about the same signal level in digital as it did in analog, Volpe said. He added that he did not believe the power boost would interfere with FM radio stations or TV stations on the same frequency in New Haven, Conn., and Schenectady, N.Y. (via Brock Whaley, Oahu, June 23, DXLD) The story mentioned possible interference issues with New Haven and Schenectady. True when all three markets had NTSC on channel 6, but no longer true with all the stations involved on new DTV assignments. Bw (Brock Whaley, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Schenectady also chose to stay on RF 6; New Haven's WEDY went from analog 65 to digital 6, at very low power. s (Scott Fybush, ibid.) Scott, Thanks. So if it wasn't a problem with all three markets on NTSC 6, why would there be a DTV problem? At least New York, Schenectady, and Lancaster didn't move to 4. Or, Wilmington, DC, and NYC on 7. Regards, (Brock Whaley, ibid.) There won't be, most likely, but because WPVI's power on channel 6 exceeds the current FCC maximum for stations in zone I (which will probably be raised at some point soon!), the concurrence of the other stations was still needed. s (Scott Fybush, NY, ibid.) A PICTORIAL HISTORY OF THE TRANSITION TO DIGITAL TELEVISION IN THE SF BAY AREA, June 12-13, 2009. Stateside with Rosalea Barker: Thar She Blows! http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0906/S00152.htm (via Kim Elliott, June 15, DXLD) DIGITAL BROADCASTING --- IBOC +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ PROPAGATION - Tempe AZ, 1580 KMIK comes through pretty clear on peaks that on my Sony XDR-F1HD, it keeps the HD logo flashing away :) My next goal is to get the tuner to read the PSIP data to display the station name. That would be cool. I find the XDR's performance very good on MW. Of course, we already know its a legend on FM performance :) 15 June 09 1100 UT - 100m longwire (Geoff Wolfe - Numeralla NSW Australia, June 15, DX LISTENING DIGEST) This 50 kW station has a strong nitetime lobe toward the SW, per NRC pattern book (gh, DXLD) PSIP: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Program_and_System_Information_Protocol (via gh, DXLD) FM IBOC POWER The FCC's docket on increasing maximum power for HD RADIO stations from the present 1% of analog power to 10% of analog power has been published in the FEDERAL REGISTER, which sets the due date for comments as JULY 6th. Reply comments are due on or before JULY 17th in the docket, which is MM Docket No. 99-325 (allaccess.com via Brock Whaley, Oahu, June 17, DX Listening Digest) IBOC MAKES INROADS ABROAD [Romania, Brazil tests] by Dan Mansergh, 06.19.2009 IBOC is beginning to make inroads into Eastern Europe, as broadcasters and regulators learn more about the technology and explore the possibilities of multicasting to expand the number of available radio services for their multiethnic and diverse populations. . . http://www.rwonline.com/article/82654 (via Kevin Redding, ABDX via DXLD) see also ALASKA: DRM WORTH IT? STATIC FREE RADIO --- By LAUREN GOODE | THE WALL STREET JOURNAL ONLINE JUNE 21, 2009, 11:10 P.M. ET When I recently decided to test a tabletop HD radio receiver, I had two initial questions: Do people still listen to tabletop radios? Turns out tabletop radios aren't as archaic as I thought. Unit sales of tabletop devices that combine MP3 docks with clock radios actually rose in 2009, according to an NPD Group report. In times of a recession, we nest. And what better way to nest than sharing the audible soundtrack of our lives with friends and family. That requires something a little bigger than white ear buds. So what exactly is HD radio? . . . http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124544407761732319.html#mod=djemTECH (via Rich Cuff, swprograms via DXLD) Not a bad review (Cuff, ibid.) DIGITAL BROADCASTING --- DAB See AUSTRALIA; U K ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ POWERLINE COMMUNICATIONS ++++++++++++++++++++++++ ALAN ROE in Teddington emails (via UKQRM) with some good news about his interference problem: "Well, it seems that finally next door's Comtrend adapters are no more!! I now once again have the chance to listen to Shortwave!! I first reported the problem to Ofcom last August. I had discussions with my neighbour and after they contacted BT for assistance, they tried a wireless solution which did not work (the BT Vision system would keep resetting). They were unwilling to run a hardwire ethernet from the router to the BT Vision box, and BT were unwilling to assist any further. I discussed this again via e-mail with Ofcom who contacted BT. Eventually, it was agreed that BT would re-route the telephone line outside the house to enter at the rear of the house (i.e. where the BT Vision box) is to connect directly with the BT Vision box. This action was delayed whilst building work took place involving the wall where the re-routed telephone cable was to go. Now, finally, the telephone line is routed round the house to the back, and the Comtrends are gone. It may have taken some time - it seems that I can now resume shortwave listening. I have to say - I still don't really understand how the suppliers are getting away with this, and why Ofcom can't get the PLA's withdrawn. However Ofcom do respond to the complaint, and from my experience do seem to apply pressure on BT to find another solution. So anyone who hasn't made that complaint yet to Ofcom - do so without further delay! Many, many, thanks to the UKQRM group, and especially Mike. Without you all, I would still be suffering from the interference." And good news too from another club member, STEVEN OVERALL who lives in London SE1 and has also had his shortwave reception restored following a complaint to Ofcom. Once again it turned out to be a BT Vision installation in a neighbouring property. The offending Comtrend adaptor was promptly removed by BT within a week of Ofcom's visit. It took about three months and a follow-up phone call from Steven before Ofcom were able to visit, but with all the pirate radio activity in London this is perhaps understandable and its encouraging to know that even in Central London where they have so many other issues to deal with, Ofcom are still able to help shortwave listeners who are suffering interference from the dreaded power line adaptors. We know of a number of other members who are suffering from this interference but have not yet reported the problem to Ofcom and hope that these examples will encourage them to make the phone call. Ofcom's numbers are 0300 123 3333 or 020 7981 3040. Or you can fill in an online form - follow the link from the BDXC web site http://www.bdxc.org.uk (Open to Discussion, with David Morris, June BDXC-UK Communication via DXLD) LANGUAGE LESSONS see also SAUDI ARABIA; TAIWAN; TURKEY ++++++++++++++++ WORLD LOSING A LANGUAGE EVERY TWO WEEKS, LINGUISTS TELL VOA --- Half of today's 7,000 languages projected to disappear by the year 2100 Washington, D.C., June 10, 2009 – Linguists told a Voice of America (VOA) audience the world is losing a language approximately every two weeks, with half of today’s 7,000 languages projected to disappear by the year 2100. “The loss of a single language is really a loss for all of us. It’s not just a loss for the speakers,” said Susan Penfield, program director for the National Science Foundation’s Documenting Endangered Language Program. Penfield, who has worked extensively on the preservation of Native American languages, stressed the importance of language diversity and its legacy to all of humankind. “You don’t know how much you’ll miss a language until it’s gone,” she said. Besides Penfield, the VOA panel, Endangered Languages: Saving Voices Before They Are Lost http://www.voanews.com/english/About/2009-06-05-Lost-Voices-Event.cfm featured linguistics experts G. Tucker Childs of Portland, Ore., State University and Hayib N. Sosseh of Northern Virginia Community College. VOA broadcaster Bart Childs also participated in the presentation. G. Tucker Childs discussed his life’s work documenting dying languages in Western Africa, including Krim and Bom. The key to maintaining any linguistic heritage is to make sure that young people speak the language regularly, he said. Bart Childs recently travelled to Sierra Leone and Guinea to file video reports featuring the endangered languages Krim, Bom, and Mani, whose deaths appear imminent. See his reports at http://www.VOANews.com/English/LostVoices.cfm Sosseh, who has written courses in endangered languages such as Mandinka and his native language, Wolof, discussed the many distinct dialects that have evolved from the major languages of Africa (VOA press release June 10 via DXLD) In October 2008 during Canada's Federal election, the Conservatives were cruising to a majority government and the polls indicated a huge breakthrough in Quebec. Near the end of the campaign, the Prime Minister made some disparaging remarks about the arts community, when they complained about the cancellation of a program which subsidized Canadian performers' tours abroad. The Bloc Quebecois (seperatistes) pounced on this. One of the results of this flap was a video that became rather viral, especially in Quebec. Its about a musician who applies for funding to perform in France. The trouble starts when he sings a song about a lonely little seal. In French a seal is une phoque. Sounds like something else in English. This version has subtitles. It`s really pretty funny. And many feel this little parody cost the Conservatives 10 seats in Parliament in Quebec. It was run on tv in Quebec too, language standards are a bit looser there. For what its worth, have a look if you are interested. And as a warning, you will hear what "sounds" like 2 of the words George Carlin reminded us you can`t say on the air, or listen without sounds; it`s subtitled in English. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uhgv85m852Q Cheers (Fred Waterer, Ont., DX LISTENING DIGEST) GOOGLE LAUNCHES ENGLISH-PERSIAN-ENGLISH TRANSLATION TOOL Google Inc has released a tool that translates Internet blogs, news articles and text messages from English to Persian, and vice-versa, in a move the firm said will “improve access to information” amid the turmoil and media restrictions following Iran’s disputed election. The move is the latest example of the growing role that consumer Internet technology is playing in the wake of Iran’s most serious political unrest since the Islamic revolution 30 years ago. Google announced in a blog post that Persian, or Farsi, as Iran’s most commonly-spoken language is sometimes called, is now the 42nd language available in its online translation service. The service automatically translates text from Web sites, blogs and email messages from English to Persian, and from Persian to English. Google Principal Scientist Franz Och, who heads Google’s translation group, said in an interview with Reuters that given the recent events in Iran it was a “natural idea” to help people get access to information and to communicate. “This tool will improve access to information for people inside and outside”, Iran, said Mr Och. Google was already working internally on adding Persian to Google Translate, but the team accelerated the product roll-out in light of the current situation. With foreign journalists barred from leaving their offices to cover the street demonstrations, Internet technology like Facebook, YouTube and Twitter have become vital tools for keeping people informed inside and outside of Iran. Mousavi supporters have organized rallies by posting messages on microblogging service Twitter, and videos alleging to show on-the-ground scenes of violence and protests in Iran have found their way to video website YouTube despite the Iranian government’s efforts to quash such online activity. Earlier this week, the US State Department contacted microblogging service Twitter and urged the company to delay a planned upgrade that would have cut daytime service to Iranians. The State Department stressed to Twitter officials the service’s importance as a communication tool, a State Department official said (Source: Reuters) About the Persian Language http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2009/6/18/744039/-About-the-Persian-language (June 19, 2009 1050 UT by Andy Sennitt, Media Network blog via DXLD) 5 comments so far 1 SRG June 19th, 2009 - 14:00 UTC Long overdue! Persian is listed on Google Translator as ALPHA. What does that mean? Now Google should consider adding Tajik. 2 Andy Sennitt June 19th, 2009 - 14:16 UTC ALPHA is the first release stage before BETA, which is the version that is normally put on general release. Usually ALPHA releases are only available to a limited number of users. Obviously they have rushed this out, but it sounds as if it isn’t quite ready for prime time. But under the present circumstances it’s undoubtedly better than nothing. 3 SRG June 19th, 2009 - 15:50 UTC Thanks, Andy. I didn’t know that. Google Translator has provided Arabic, Hebrew and Turkish service for quite some time now. 4 Andy Sennitt June 19th, 2009 - 16:04 UTC Google are often very slow to update the status of their tools. I’ve seen some that have been marked Beta for several years already. Beta versions are usually fairly stable. Microsoft often releases what it calles “public beta” versions of new software which are fully functional but have a kill date after which they won’t work. This is really like the shareware ‘try before you buy’ concept. But Alpha versions of software often have some features missing or not fully working. In the case of Google Translator I bet it means that they still haven’t completed the dictionary component, or maybe not checked it as thoroughly as they normally would (comments, ibid.) PROPAGATION +++++++++++ HIGH BAND E-SKIP VIDEOS FROM 7/6/2004 It's been nearly five years since the MUF hit at least 215 MHz, but I finally got around to posting my high band E-Skip videos from 7/6/04 on YouTube. I know they were shown at the WTFDA convention in '04, but here they are for all to enjoy. All things considered, the quality is pretty good, especially for WDAM and WJTV. I still have to wonder what the signals would have looked like had I used a real TV antenna rather than my FM-6 pointed SSW on a balcony. Rochester and Binghamton could easily have been nulled. I posted videos for: 7 WDAM Laurel, MS (2 clips) 8 WVUE New Orleans, LA 8 WAKA Montgomery, AL t9 WTVA Tupelo, MS (audio) 11 WTOK Meridian, MS 12 WJTV Jackson, MS (3 clips) 13 WLOX Biloxi, MS Forum: http://wtfda.info/showthread.php?t=3126 YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/tkat0609 Enjoy! (Tim Katlic, Beverly Hills, CA, June 9, WTFDA via DXLD) :Product: Weekly Highlights and Forecasts :Issued: 2009 Jun 09 2251 UTC # Prepared by the US Dept. of Commerce, NOAA, Space Weather Prediction Center # Product description and SWPC contact on the Web # http://www.swpc.noaa.gov/weekly.html # # Weekly Highlights and Forecasts # HIGHLIGHTS OF SOLAR AND GEOMAGNETIC ACTIVITY 01 - 07 JUNE 2009 Solar activity was very low. Isolated low-level B-class flares were observed during the period. The likely source for the flares was Region 1019 (N28, L=297, class/area Cro/080 on 01 June). Region 1019 began to gradually decay on 03 June and was downgraded to a spotless plage region on 06 June. No proton events were observed at geosynchronous orbit. The greater than 2 MeV electron flux at geosynchronous orbit was at normal levels during the period. Geomagnetic field activity was at predominantly quiet levels at all latitudes during the period. FORECAST OF SOLAR AND GEOMAGNETIC ACTIVITY 10 JUNE - 06 JULY 2009 Solar activity is expected to be very low. No proton events are expected at geosynchronous orbit. The greater than 2 MeV electron flux at geosynchronous orbit is expected to be at normal flux levels. Geomagnetic field activity is expected to be at quiet conditions, with isolated unsettled levels possible on 10 June. Predominantly quiet conditions are expected during 11 - 29 June. Activity is expected to increase to quiet to unsettled levels on 30 June - 1 July. Predominantly quiet conditions are expected on 02 - 06 July. :Product: 27-day Space Weather Outlook Table 27DO.txt :Issued: 2009 Jun 09 2251 UTC # Prepared by the US Dept. of Commerce, NOAA, Space Weather Prediction Center # Product description and SWPC contact on the Web # http://www.swpc.noaa.gov/wwire.html # # 27-day Space Weather Outlook Table # Issued 2009 Jun 09 # # UTC Radio Flux Planetary Largest # Date 10.7 cm A Index Kp Index 2009 Jun 10 68 7 3 2009 Jun 11 68 5 2 2009 Jun 12 68 5 2 2009 Jun 13 68 5 2 2009 Jun 14 68 5 2 2009 Jun 15 68 5 2 2009 Jun 16 68 5 2 2009 Jun 17 68 5 2 2009 Jun 18 68 5 2 2009 Jun 19 68 5 2 2009 Jun 20 68 5 2 2009 Jun 21 68 5 2 2009 Jun 22 68 5 2 2009 Jun 23 68 5 2 2009 Jun 24 70 5 2 2009 Jun 25 72 5 2 2009 Jun 26 72 5 2 2009 Jun 27 72 5 2 2009 Jun 28 72 5 2 2009 Jun 29 72 5 2 2009 Jun 30 72 8 3 2009 Jul 01 72 8 3 2009 Jul 02 70 5 2 2009 Jul 03 69 5 2 2009 Jul 04 69 5 2 2009 Jul 05 69 5 2 2009 Jul 06 69 5 2 (SWPC via WORLD OF RADIO 1464, DXLD) Geomagnetic field activity was at predominantly quiet levels at all latitudes during the period. ACE solar wind measurements indicated minor changes during the period. Solar wind velocities ranged from 255 to 387 km/sec. Forecast of Solar and Geomagnetic Activity 17 June - 13 July 2009 Solar activity is expected to be very low. No proton events are expected at geosynchronous orbit. The greater than 2 MeV electron flux at geosynchronous orbit is expected to be at normal flux levels. Geomagnetic field activity is expected to be at quiet levels during most of the period. However, there will be a chance for unsettled conditions during 30 June - 01 July. :Product: 27-day Space Weather Outlook Table 27DO.txt :Issued: 2009 Jun 16 2051 UTC # Prepared by the US Dept. of Commerce, NOAA, Space Weather Prediction Center # Product description and SWPC contact on the Web # http://www.swpc.noaa.gov/wwire.html # # 27-day Space Weather Outlook Table # Issued 2009 Jun 16 # # UTC Radio Flux Planetary Largest # Date 10.7 cm A Index Kp Index 2009 Jun 17 68 5 2 2009 Jun 18 68 5 2 2009 Jun 19 68 5 2 2009 Jun 20 68 5 2 2009 Jun 21 68 5 2 2009 Jun 22 68 5 2 2009 Jun 23 68 5 2 2009 Jun 24 68 5 2 2009 Jun 25 68 5 2 2009 Jun 26 70 5 2 2009 Jun 27 70 5 2 2009 Jun 28 70 5 2 2009 Jun 29 70 5 2 2009 Jun 30 70 8 3 2009 Jul 01 70 8 3 2009 Jul 02 70 5 2 2009 Jul 03 70 5 2 2009 Jul 04 70 5 2 2009 Jul 05 70 5 2 2009 Jul 06 70 5 2 2009 Jul 07 70 5 2 2009 Jul 08 70 5 2 2009 Jul 09 70 5 2 2009 Jul 10 68 5 2 2009 Jul 11 68 5 2 2009 Jul 12 68 5 2 2009 Jul 13 68 5 2 (SWPC via DXLD) MYSTERY OF THE MISSING SUNSPOTS, SOLVED? NASA Science News for June 17, 2009 Where have all the sunspots gone? Scientists studying a jet stream deep inside the sun may have found the answer. Full story at: http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2009/17jun_jetstream.htm?list1066436 (via Mike Terry, dxldyg via DXLD) CYCLE 24 PREDICTIONS If you dig through the technical literature, you'll discover that there are more than 50 predictions for Cycle 24. They range from a low smoothed sunspot number of 40 to a high of 185. Why are there so many predictions? That's a simple question to answer - solar scientists do not fully understand the process that generates sunspots, and thus many different methods have been used to make a prediction. Does this mean they're guessing and should be admonished for not being correct? I personally don't think so. What we're seeing is the scientific process being used. A prediction is made using a certain method, and Cycle 24's progress (or lack of progress) allows scientists a means to test their theory. That's how science works when we don't understand something. Will we ever figure this out? I can't answer that question, but I recently read an interesting NASA Headline News story [as above] saying scientists announced that ''a jet stream deep inside the Sun is migrating slower than usual through the star's interior, giving rise to the lack of sunspots.'' Perhaps this will be an important clue to help our understanding of the sunspot process. For more information concerning radio propagation, see the ARRL Technical Information Service at http://www.arrl.org/tis/info/propagation.html For a detailed explanation of the numbers used in this bulletin, see http://www.arrl.org/tis/info/k9la-prop.html An archive of past propagation bulletins is at http://www.arrl.org/w1aw/prop/ Monthly propagation charts between four USA regions and twelve overseas locations are at http://www.arrl.org/qst/propcharts/ (QST de W1AW, Propagation Forecast Bulletin 25 ARLP025, From Tad Cook, K7RA, Seattle, WA June 19, 2009, To all radio amateurs, via Dave Raycroft, ODXA yg via DXLD) NEW SOLAR CYCLE 24 SUNSPOT GROUP Posted Monday June 22, 2009 at http://www.kn4lf.com/kn4lf5.htm and http://www.kn4lf.com/kn4lf72.htm Today a new solar cycle 24 sunspot group emerged in the SW quadrant of the Sun near S22E41. Later today NOAA/SWPC should assign it #11023, with a beta magnetic signature. We have seen four solar cycle 24 sunspot groups this month and six in the past 30 days. It appears that solar cycle 24 has finally come alive. 73 & GUD DX, (Thomas F. Giella, NZ4O, Lakeland, FL, nz4o @ arrl.net June 22, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) BDXC PROPAGATION REPORTS Hi Glen[n], I now have a blog featuring my propagation reports for the British DX Club. The address is: http://bdxcpropagation.blogspot.com/ Links to articles featured can be found at: http://www.jameswelsh.org.uk Regards (James Welsh, June 19, DX LISTENING DIGEST) CUBA VERSUS "SPANISH" Great about Venevisión into Western Mass! A suggestion now we are on a long-single or double hop roll here. It being - do NOT assume something in Spanish "in direction of Cuba" is in fact Cuba - suggest any such reception you have be recorded for later analysis. Further, when channels as high as 5 show up on double hop from northern South America, I would be prepared with a list of Venezuela-Colombia FMs as well - frequencies to check and record if something is there - anything. Welcome to the 50s all over again! (Bob Cooper in NZ, June 17, WTFDA via DXLD) Geomagnetic field activity was at mostly quiet levels during the period. ACE solar wind measurements indicated nominal conditions with solar wind velocities ranging from approximately 280 to 370 km/sec during the period. FORECAST OF SOLAR AND GEOMAGNETIC ACTIVITY 24 JUNE - 20 JULY 2009 Solar activity is expected to be very low. No proton events are expected at geosynchronous orbit. The greater than 2 MeV electron flux at geosynchronous orbit is expected to be at normal flux levels. Geomagnetic field activity is expected to be at quiet levels during most of the period. However, there will be a chance for unsettled conditions on 01 July. :Product: 27-day Space Weather Outlook Table 27DO.txt :Issued: 2009 Jun 23 1921 UTC # Prepared by the US Dept. of Commerce, NOAA, Space Weather Prediction Center # Product description and SWPC contact on the Web # http://www.swpc.noaa.gov/wwire.html # # 27-day Space Weather Outlook Table # Issued 2009 Jun 23 # # UTC Radio Flux Planetary Largest # Date 10.7 cm A Index Kp Index 2009 Jun 24 68 8 3 2009 Jun 25 68 5 2 2009 Jun 26 68 5 2 2009 Jun 27 68 5 2 2009 Jun 28 70 5 2 2009 Jun 29 70 5 2 2009 Jun 30 70 5 2 2009 Jul 01 70 8 3 2009 Jul 02 70 5 2 2009 Jul 03 70 5 2 2009 Jul 04 70 5 2 2009 Jul 05 70 5 2 2009 Jul 06 70 5 2 2009 Jul 07 70 5 2 2009 Jul 08 70 5 2 2009 Jul 09 70 5 2 2009 Jul 10 68 5 2 2009 Jul 11 68 5 2 2009 Jul 12 68 5 2 2009 Jul 13 68 5 2 2009 Jul 14 68 5 2 2009 Jul 15 68 5 2 2009 Jul 16 68 5 2 2009 Jul 17 68 5 2 2009 Jul 18 68 5 2 2009 Jul 19 68 5 2 2009 Jul 20 68 5 2 (SWPC via WORLD OF RADIO 1466, DXLD) TIPS FOR RATIONAL LIVING ++++++++++++++++++++++++ Glenn, a few weeks ago you helped me with frequencies for Voice Of Korea. I gave you a mention on my blog. Thought you'd be interested in seeing it. I can't tell you it is my favorite station. It makes for interesting listening and always great to catch up on the amazing things done daily by Dear Leader. Alan Furst WHERE WAR IS PEACE The propagation for shortwave signals was very good during my morning walk this week. At times it is difficult to pull out stations from Australia, Korea and Japan during the early morning hours here. The Voice Of Korea was loud and clear on 11710 KHZ on the small hand radio I to use while walking. Most days I opt for a little news from China, or the Voice Of America. Recent activity on the Korean Peninsula had me trying for the sometimes elusive signal of The Voice Of Korea. Glenn Hauser is the world’s leading authority on shortwave radio and gave me some tips via email as to the best frequencies to try. Glenn’s World Of Radio is heard world wide and available on the Internet. It is loaded with great information about programming and frequency changes. Shortwave stations change frequency often. It is difficult to keep up with the best place to hear a particular station. Glenn knows more shortwave than any human alive. He’s helped me more than he knows during the past twenty five years or so. The Voice Of Korea is really only the voice of North Korea. They tend to forget there is another country that also calls itself Korea. The programming is textbook Communist and sounds like the stuff from propaganda films of the 1950s. That is what is so frightening. This week North Korea launched a couple of test missiles and two underground nuclear explosions. Those were bigger than the blast that leveled Hiroshima and Nagasaki during World War II. The programming from North Korea gives you get the idea how isolated their population is. Language of revolution, American Imperialists, and the Great Leader is enough to make you take pause. Their scripts read like pages of George Orwell’s 1984. The book that included great lines like ‘War Is Peace’, and ‘Big Brother’s Watching’. Listen to the radio in the United States and you find our population is isolated too. The big stories on local radio that day had little to do with the nuclear threat. Instead the concerns were a wreck on the interstate, overfilled pet shelters and the death of Mike Tyson’s daughter. Something about the American Idol winner was included, too. All legitimate stories, but like the Voice Of North Korean’s copy it was missing important details. Nothing that I heard locally came close to mentioning the tensions between North Korea and the rest of the world. There was nothing about the UN Security Council Meeting later that day. We have many more resources to get our news than in North Korea. But do we leave ourselves vulnerable by choosing only the stories we want to hear, that might research well rather than what we might need to know? Which group is more prepared for the future? The one where the government gives them the news, or the one that ignores it altogether? (Alan Furst, TX, June 16, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ###