DX LISTENING DIGEST 9-062, August 23, 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 1474, August 20-26, 2009 Thu 0530 WRMI 9955 Thu 1900 WBCQ 7415 Fri 0000 WBCQ 5110-CUSB Area 51 Fri 0100 WRMI 9955 Fri 1130 WRMI 9955 Fri 1430 WRMI 9955 Fri 1900 WBCQ 7415 Fri 2028 WWCR1 15825 [15820 experimental] 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 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 1475 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 ** ABKHAZIA. Re 9-061, GEORGIA: Abkhaz Radio currently only on 9495.6 kHz; 9535 not heard for several months (Robert Foerster, Germany, DX LISTENING DIGEST) GEORGIA [Abkhazien] 9494.75 / 9495.54, Heute springt der ehemalige Stoersender in Sukhumi mal wieder wie ein Bockspringer hin und her, der Steuersender spinnt, - bei der Sommerhitze? Um 1530 UT auf 9494.75 kHz in AM zugange, danach um 1540 UT ein Wobble Geraeusch ohne Programmmodulation, danach off. Um 1550 UT dann Sprung nach 9495.48 kHz. Moeglicherweise "sehen" die Perseusionisten noch mehr begleitende Spitzen (wb, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Aug 20) Auf 9495.540 steht bei mir der Traeger umrahmt von +/- 100 Hz, 200 Hz, 300 Hz Brummtoenen (wohl Oberwellen der 50 Hz Netzfrequenz). (Clemens Paul-D DL4RAJ, A-DX Aug 20, all BC-DX Aug 22 via DXLD) ** ALBANIA. An interesting link from Erik Køie: http://www.dxhamradio.com/public/albania2008/index_69.html A picture show from Radio Tirana and transmitter Shijak (Aug DSWCI SW News via DXLD) #1021-1038, mostly antenna views. Start slideshow and there are 1,176 including a LOT of other Albanian scenes, none individually captioned but grouply captioned (gh) ** ANDORRA. For [those] interested in QSLing Andorra, check amateur station C31PP currently on 14243 USB, with HUGE signal here in Northern Portugal. 2204 UT. Greetings from Portugal (Pedro Turner, CT2KET, 2205 UT Aug 21, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ANGOLA. (presumed) 7216.75, R Nacional, Mulenvos, Aug 22-23 - looking for any signs of Angola, I found a very weak carrier on 7216.75 on 8/22 from 2320 tune-in until off at 0149. Weak carrier on same frequency back on at 0552 UT 8/23, although well after 0513 UT transmitter sunrise. No audio noted, but it appears Angola is not on 24h (Brandon Jordan, Memphis, TN USA, Microtelecom Perseus SDR, Wellbrook ALA100 4m x 8m delta loop, Aug 23, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ANGUILLA. 1610, The Caribbean Beacon, The Valley. 0619-0625 August 23, 2009. Dr. "Defunct" Gene Scott psychogospelbabble, parallel hummy 6090. Fair and under Tampa International Airport's TIS (Terry L Krueger, Clearwater, Florida USA, 27.55.83 N, 82.46.08 W, Aug 23, DX LISTENING DIGEST) See CUBA for disclaimer ** ANTARCTICA [and non]. Africa #1 has just been heard on 15475 with news (in French of course) until sudden off at 1908 UT. Positive ID heard, so is it a recent return to air for this transmitter? The signal was very strong and well modulated. Will need to try 17630 tomorrow [earlier]. Interestingly, there was a het on the high side, and now I hear what must be R. Nacional Arcángel San Gabriel on 15476.0. The signal is weak, and with some splatter from a religious transmission in French on 15465. ATA is only occasionally moving the S meter, but I hear a lady in Spanish and occasional music. A long time since I heard this one (Noel R. Green (NW England), Aug 21, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Yes, ANO must have just been reactivated 15475, so with Greenville DRM after 2000, that leaves only 19-20 UT when LRA36 is possible in the clear. See also GABON (gh, ibid.) ANTARTIDA, 15476, LRA36, Radio Nacional Arcángel San Gabriel, Base Esperanza, 1820-1910, 20-08, canciones argentinas, tangos, otras canciones latinoamericanas, comentario, locutora, identificación, locutor: "Desde Base Esperanza, transmite LRA 36 Radio Nacional Arcángel San Gabriel, en español, de lunes a viernes por la frecuencia de 15476 kHz. A las 1900 comentario por locutora sobre tratamiento de fertilidad en mujeres. 25322 (Manuel Méndez, Lugo, España, Grundig Satellit 500 y Sony ICF SW7600G, Antena de cable, 8 metros, Escuchas realizadas en casco urbano de Lugo, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** AUSTRALIA. RA is regular on 15240, 15160, but not often heard on 15415, as it was Aug 21 at 0517 with song, in English? Not // the others. 15415 is 329 degrees from Shep, alternating English and Indonesian and this was during a semi-hour in the latter service (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** AUSTRALIA. 13635 and 13660 with similar-sounding country gospel YL at 1336 Aug 21, but not //. No wonder: both are CVC Darwin, in English and Chinese services respectively. Signals about the same too tho not on same azimuths, 303 and 340 degrees. At 1336, 13635 briefly inserted an English announcement; at 1341, 13660 interrupted for brief YL announcement in Chinese (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BANGLADESH. Bangladesh 4750 kHz is off again --- After logging local quality signals with Bangla news on 19th August '09, Radio Bangladesh 4750 kHz is lost again (Supratik Sanatani, Kolkata, India, via Alokesh Gupta, 0319 UT Aug 23, Cumbredx mailing list via DXLD) ** BENIN. And BURKINA FASO, CHAD, MAURITANIA: All missing on their usual frequencies in the evenings during all my observations in the past three weeks or so. 73 (Thorsten Hallmann, Münster, Germany, http://africalist.de.ms Aug 20, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BIAFRA [non]. Sometime during the 19-20 UT Friday Aug 21 hour I tuned to 15665 for about four sesquiseconds to reconfirm VOBI still there via WHRI, and it was. BTW, James MacDonell in NW Nigeria tells me that as of Aug 23, R. Nigeria Enugu is gone again from 6025 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BOLIVIA. 4451.2, Radio Santa Ana, Santa Ana de Yacuma on at 1040, first time heard in the morning in Florida. 73s (Bob Wilkner, Pómpano Beach, Florida, 1102 UT Aug 23, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BRAZIL. 5775, sinal espuria de R Tupi --- Na freqüência de 5775 escuto uma forte espuria de R. Tupi ("Deus e Amor" programa com predicador delirando). Eu imagino e forte tambem no Brasil. 73 (Horacio A. Nigro, Montevideo, Uruguay, 1341 UT Aug 21, dxclubepr yg via DXLD) Horácio e colegas, Acabo de sintonizar a frequência de 5775 kHz e também estou captando esse espúrio da IPDA, que está chegando forte aqui por Araçatuba. Estranho, não? RX Sony ICF SW 7600 GR apenas com a telescópica (Arthur Antonio Raimundo, Araçatuba SP Brasil, Latitude - 21 13' 04'' Longitude 50 25' 55'', 1349 UT, ibid.) ** BRAZIL. 5990, Radio Senado, *0921-1000, Aug 23, sign on with lite Brazilian instrumental music. Portuguese talk at 0925. Very good (Brian Alexander, PA, DX Listening Digest) ** BRAZIL. 6185.02, R Nac do Amazonia, Brasilia, 0850, Aug 19 - good signal, multiple Radio Nacional ID's, talk (Brandon Jordan - Memphis, TN, USA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BRAZIL. Observatório Nacional, 10000: see CHINA [and non] ** BURKINA FASO. And CHAD, MAURITANIA, BENIN: All missing on their usual frequencies in the evenings during all my observations in the past three weeks or so. 73 (Thorsten Hallmann, Münster, Germany, http://africalist.de.ms Aug 20, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CANADA. CKZN off frequency: see NEWFOUNDLAND ** CANADA. CHU 7850 still has buzzing with time pips unlike other frequencies. Heard on 22 August at 0035 (73/Liz Cameron, MI, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) CHU is rarely strong enough here to tell, but as Liz Cameron, MI, has been noting, there is some buzz mixing with the 7850 signal, Aug 22 at 1221. It`s more obvious with BFO on, and the transmitter seems slightly unstable (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CANADA. Sackville spurs on 5745 & 6390? At 0240 UT, August 19 2009, on 6390 I found an AM signal under the digital ute. Scanning around some more, it turned out to be the same programming as on 5960 kHz, NHK in Japanese via Sackville. Of course, there's a Sackville signal right in-between the two at 6175 kHz, Voice of Vietnam in English. Subtracting 215 kHz (6175 - 5960) from 5960 is 5745 kHz. Lo and behold, I heard the Voice of Vietnam program on 5745 kHz, under WWRB. To reduce the chance of this being a signal generated inside my radio (an Icom R75), I asked in #swl on irc.starchat.net and 'mas' was friendly enough to check with his DX440. He also heard Voice of Vietnam on 5745 kHz (Rik van Riel, NH, harmonics yg via DXLD) ** CANADA. "Radio hosts are like hockey coaches; they’re hired to be fired." --- Former CJAD nighttime host Peter Anthony Holder MONTREAL – Last Wednesday nighttime radio host Peter Anthony Holder was called into CJAD for a daytime meeting with the bosses. “I walked in and said, ‘So who’s handing out the grape Kool-Aid?’ ” Holder said with a laugh yesterday. His premonition that his 20-year stint as host of the late-night Holder Tonight show was about to die, was correct. Holder and seven other on-air personalities were let go that day. Holder’s fans are not happy. His Facebook page is swamped with well wishes and angry anti- CJAD sentiments. And since the story ran in Friday’s Gazette and online at montrealgazette.com, there have been close to 350 comments posted, a significant number voicing anger at Holder’s dismissal. . . http://www.montrealgazette.com/entertainment/Peter+Anthony+Holder+speaks+about+CJAD+split/1882453/story.html (via DXLD) And consequently off CFRX if it ever come back (gh) Some of the other threads about CJAD firing Holder, et al.: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/radioinmontreal/messages/14852?threaded=1&m=e&var=1&tidx=1 http://groups.yahoo.com/group/radioinmontreal/messages/14904?threaded=1&m=e&var=1&tidx=1 http://groups.yahoo.com/group/radioinmontreal/messages/14919?threaded=1&m=e&var=1&tidx=1 (via gh, DXLD) ** CANADA. The application of CFGT-1270, Alma, Quebec to move to FM (97.7 MHz, 50 kW, 77.6 metres) has been approved by the CRTC. This was that last station in this part of Quebec still operating on AM. http://www.crtc.gc.ca/eng/archive/2009/2009-507.htm The Commission approves applications by Groupe Radio Antenne 6 inc. for a broadcasting licence to operate a French-language commercial FM radio station in Alma to replace the AM station CFGT The licensee is authorized, by condition of licence, to simulcast the programming of the new FM station on CFGT for a transition period of three months following the commencement of operations of the FM station. In accordance with sections 9(1)(e) and 24(1) of the Broadcasting Act and at the licensee’s request, the Commission will revoke the broadcasting licence for CFGT at the end of the simulcast period. The station will operate at 97.7 MHz (channel 249B) with an effective radiated power (ERP) of 50,000 watts (maximum ERP of 50,000 watts with an effective height of antenna above average terrain of 77.6 metres). 73, (via Deane McIntyre, VE6BPO, Aug 20, DXLD) See also QUEBEC ** CANADA. 790, CIGM leaving the air this weekend? Tuning through the band, I caught the end of a spot on 790 CIGM tonight around 9:17 pm Eastern [0117 UT Aug 22] thanking their loyal country fans... "the road ends Sunday night at midnight" so I assume this is their last weekend (Brett Saylor, Central PA, Perseus SDR w/ 100' sloper, Aug 21, NRC-AM via DXLD) Yup. CIGM-FM is now testing at 93.5, stunting for the moment as "Classic Chinese Hits, Kung Pao 93.5," complete with a website at kungpaoradio935.com. (It's the exact same stunt that WXMM 100.5 in Norfolk, VA did earlier this year, for whatever it's worth - same website and everything.) s (Scott Fybush, NY, ibid.) Where`s CIGM? Sudbury Ont., 50 kW day and night on a `regional` channel. Per NRC Pattern Book, nominal shape was an oval due north at night, with Sudbury tangent at south tip, so nothing southward; a squashed kidney-bean shape daytime again tangent to transmitter, favoring WNW and ESE, nothing southward, and NNE slightly pulled in, so hearing them in PA at any time should have been difficult. Another Canadian far out of spex? And I believe ground conductivity is pitiful around there (Glenn Hauser, DXLD) ** CHAD. And MAURITANIA, BENIN, BURKINA FASO: All missing on their usual frequencies in the evenings during all my observations in the past three weeks or so. 73 (Thorsten Hallmann, Münster, Germany, http://africalist.de.ms Aug 20, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CHINA. Re: WOR 1474: Yunnan ID as “The Voice of Shangri-La”: Glenn wondered why Shangri-La has appeared in Yunnan? We might have expected it more likely to be closer to Bhutan. Hi Glenn, Seems China sees this name as a marketing tool for tourism. Also there seems to be some historical basis for Yunnan using the term. Found the following items on the web: “When Marco Polo first visited Yunnan in the 13th century, the Venetian explorer thought he had found earthly paradise (indeed, the southwestern Chinese province would later serve as one of the inspirations for Shangri-La in James Hilton's 1933 novel LOST HORIZON).” http://www.cduniverse.com/productinfo.asp?pid=7248037 “Another Day in Paradise. Tourism is booming in Yunnan as marketeers sell the idea of Shangri-la . . . Vienna-born Joseph F. Rock made a remote village north of Lijiang, Yunnan, his research base for 27 years from the 1920s to the 1940s. Rock, an explorer and academic, roamed southwest China and the inland Chinese provinces in large caravans, becoming an authority on the cultures and botany of China’s hinterland. A contributing writer for National Geographic in the 1920s and 1930s . . . . English writer James Hilton coined the word ‘Shangri-La’ in his 1933 novel LOST HORIZON to describe the Himalayan lamasery that serves as the setting of his story. The idyllic surroundings Hilton describes share many characteristics with the Yunnan region featured in Rock’s travel writing. For example, a peak named Karakal dominates the landscape of Hilton’s Shangri-La much like the peaks Rock climbed and wrote about. . . . ‘The branding of eco-tourism is not too different from the branding of Shangri-La,’ Hildebrant said, ‘a positive image and they don’t have to do anything for it—a very low cost marketing scheme.’” http://www.uschina.usc.edu/ShowFeature.aspx?articleID=1510 A retreat in Yunnan Province, Shangri-La, China: http://www.hotelscombined.com/Hotel/Songstam_Retreat_At_Shangri_La.htm (Ron Howard, Asilomar Beach, CA, Aug 20, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Very interesting. Perhaps further research would uncover whether the name has any significance or just made up by Hilton to sound exotic. It appears that Lijiang is barely in the Himalayan foothills (gh) ** CHINA [and non]. 7385, now the collision between RTI and ChiCom jamming is here, ex-7185, and sounds about the same, with a SAH between them, Aug 21 at 1325. So the mess in the hamband on 7185 is finally gone. However, that`s bad news for previous occupants of 7385, notably Tibet! The Aug 21 edition of Aoki now has nothing on 7185, but in this time period on 7385 includes: 1000-1700 RTI Kouhu and *jamming since Aug 16 1500-1700 BBCWS via South Africa in English and African languages 0930-1700+ PBS Xizang 0700-1300 WHRI-6 M-F Firedrake search Aug 21 found only one stand-alone between 8 and 19 MHz: 13500, fluttery at 1334. Also barely audible // on 12040 where it mixes with CNR1 jamming and VOA. Searching every kHz between 8 and 19 MHz for Firedrake, Aug 22 between 1200 and 1300, only found one, and it is new, 10210, poor with flutter at 1230. Next check at 1310, inaudible, altho next2 check at 1359 there it was again, but carrier cut off at 1400:30. A few months ago FD was showing up in the 10.2+ MHz range, no doubt prompted by Sound of Hope using such frequencies. By golly, today`s edition of Aoki already has 10210 as a [possibly] 24 hour 1 kW Xi Wang Zhi Sheng SOH outlet, from Taiwan, 119-55 E. 26-10 N, and *jammed of course. As for the absence otherwise of far out-of-band FD, this happened about the same time as Typhoon Morakot, so I theorize that many of the SOH low-power ham-type transmitters on Taiwan were blown off the air (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CHINA [non]. 7280, SOUND OF HOPE (via Taiwan) at 1235 Aug 22. Chinese, Program with what sounded like children's voices. F signal (Richard Bianchino, Las Vegas, NV USA, Kaito KA1103, 32' longwire antenna, indoor, ABDX via DXLD) Altho Aoki says this is a 300 kW Tanshui, Taiwan transmitter, I would still be wary of assuming I was hearing SOH rather than ChiCom jamming. Only one signal audible? See if it`s // numerous other CNR1 frequencies (Glenn Hauser, DXLD) ** CHINA. On 60 meters, times in UT, 22 AUG 2009: 4800 CHINA CNR-1 CPBS Geermu; 1159z M&W in CH, time pips, M in CH w/anmts talking over Instrumental music, then M in CH with news, 1204 PSA's or anmts by M&W in CH. Fair-Good, signal becoming more clear everyday as Summer comes to a close! 4950, Voice of Pujiang, Shanghai; 1139z Chinese soap opera/radio play with excited talk by M&W in Chinese. 1155 light instrumental music. 5050, Guangxi FBS Nanning; 1153z pop/rock vocal music, 1205 discussion program with two women in Vietnamese. 73's de (Steven C. Wiseblood, AB5GP, Brownsville TX (2 miles from Boca Chica Beach, GULF of MEXICO), Radio Shack DX-399, 150' center fed LW, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) And more under TIBET ** CHINA [and non]. 10000, 14.8 1930, BPM, Kinshan, Kina med tidsbudskap på olika språk. Kl 1950 hördes bara den station jag letade efter, brassen Observatorio Nacional. Tidsangivelser på portugisiska. S 2-3 (Björn Fransson, Sweden, SW Bulletin Aug 23 via DXLD) ** COLOMBIA. The Colombian harmonic on 2980 kHz (Radio Vida Nueva, 1490 x 2) is even coming through now at 0530 UT on Sunday August 23 2009. Not a bad night here in New Hampshire (Rik van Riel, Aug 23, harmonics yg via DXLD) More at UNIDENTIFIED [and non] ** COLOMBIA. Marfil Estéreo definitely absent from 5910, Aug 21 at 0509 check. It`s quite easily heard when active. Missing the night before, Marfil Estéreo back on 5910 air Aug 22 at 0538 with typical music (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 5910, Marfil Estereo, Puerto Lleras, 0701-0720, 22-08, canciones latinoamericanas, identificación: "Marfil Estereo", "Ondas de Paz". 24322 (Manuel Méndez, Lugo, España, Grundig Satellit 500 y Sony ICF SW7600G, Antena de cable, 8 metros, Escuchas realizadas en casco urbano de Lugo, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 5910.06, Marfil Estéreo, 0723-0735, Aug 23, local pop music. Spanish announcements. ID. Very good signal (Brian Alexander, PA, DX Listening Digest) ** COLOMBIA. 5910.05, Marfil Estereo, Lomalinda, Aug 23, 0130 - variety music program, romántica and US pop, TC, canned ID. Fair with occasional strong ute on upper side (Brandon Jordan, Memphis, TN USA, Microtelecom Perseus SDR, Wellbrook ALA100 4m x 8m delta loop, Aug 23, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** COLOMBIA [and non]. COLOMBIA/CUBA, Prayer Alert from Russ Stendal. Colombia Para Cristo. [6010 Voz de tu Conciencia 0000-2400 Sp 5 kW non-dir Puerto Lleras CLM HJDH -- wb] We are having a major interference problem on our main short wave radio frequency on 6010 kHz; which transmits "The Voice Of Your Conscience". For several weeks now Radio Havana Cuba has been jamming our radio transmissions with communist broadcasts in English from about 12:00 PM to 6:00 AM EST [0500-1100 UT] (a key time slot when many people tune in and the signal goes a long ways). There are 80,000 Galcom solar radios fix tuned to our two short wave frequencies that have been distributed to men and women on all sides of this conflict. Last year we had the opposite problem when an anti Castro group started up powerful anti communist broadcasts on our other short wave frequency, 5910 kHz. After a lot of prayer we were able to obtain international help which solved the problem. We have already filed a complaint about this new problem but the help and decision of the international agency is nonbinding and each country is autonomous. Another thing that we can do is to up the power on our transmitters so that our signal will dominate in Colombia. We have a new transmitter which just arrived in the container from Canada which is twice as powerful as the one we presently use. However it will require antennas, some additional parts, labor and modifications in order to tune it to our frequency and an adequate transmitter shack for the installation. All told it will take about US$ 32,000 to get this new system up and running properly. Last week we also received the sad news that HCJB will be terminating their short wave broadcasts from Quito, Ecuador for a variety of reasons. This means that we may soon be the only remaining Christian short wave radio on the air in Latin America at this most critical time. I was informed yesterday that one of our high mountain FM radio sites was destroyed in the midst of intense fighting. Guerrillas overran the ridge we were on and heavily mined the area. The army counterattacked and our house was destroyed along with some of our equipment. This site is very strategic for us because it enables us to penetrate the vast Colombia Ecuador border region which is mostly under communist control. We have another, safer and even higher site where we can continue to transmit from but it will cost over US$ 50,000 to replace this loss. We praise the Lord that all of our people were spared and that only material things were destroyed. We estimate that there is a potential listening audience of well over 100 million people in Colombia, Ecuador, Brazil, Peru, Panama and Venezuela who live within optimum range of our broadcasts. Our actual listening audience is estimated to average well over 300,000 people who are tuned in at any given time, many of them live in vast areas where church buildings and meetings are strictly prohibited. The world wide recession which has really started to take hold here in Colombia has affected us and we are in the midst of a very tight financial situation in addition to all of the above. Pray that the Lord will continue to provide whatever is necessary to keep this vital radio network on the air in the midst of all the strife and turmoil of this volatile region which is open now as never before to the Gospel (via Jerry Berg-USA, DXplorer Aug 20 via BC-DX via DXLD) What will it take for the gospel huxters to figure out that the very concept of fixed-tuned radios is a risk not worth taking in the volatile SWBC frequency world? They seek a captive audience, then are captured by the forces of evil! Yet GALCOM seems to be greatly respected (Glenn Hauser, DXLD) ** CONGO? 6115 is very tough in the evenings. Belarus is dominating (// 6010), but their audio level is very variable. It seems to me that bits and pieces of French talk come through now and then. 73 (Thorsten Hallmann, Münster, Germany, http://africalist.de.ms Aug 20, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CONGO DR. 6210, R Kahusi, Bukavu, 1900-1930, Jul 27, 28 and 30, French religious programme, talks and ID’s. At this time this frequency is “free” from splatters by Iran on 6205. There are only a few splatters from R Mystery [sic] on 6220 when they are on the air. 24332 (Roland Schulze, Stuttgart, Germany, DSWCI DX Window Aug 19 via DXLD) ** COSTA RICA. 3350, Radio Exterior de España, Cariari, 0545-0600*, 21-08, programa "Paisajes y Sabores", locutor, comentarios, a las 0555 anuncio de programas "Hispanorama", canción, a las 0600 despedida y cierre: "Radio Exterior de España, nos despedimos de nuestros oyentes en Centro América y sur de Norte América hasta las 12 Tiempo Universal, 6 de la mañana en Centro América, que volveremos por las frecuencias de 5970 y 15170 kHz. Radio Exterior de España". 25322. También 0515-0527, 22-08, programa "Amigos de la Onda Corta", con Antonio Buitrago, comentarios sobre el mundo de la Radio, identificación: "Amigos de la Onda Corta, un programa que trata del apasionante mundo de la radio y las telecomunicaciones. Pueden escribirnos a la siguiente dirección: Radio Exterior de España, Amigos de la Onda Corta, Apartado de Correos 156202, Código Postal 28080, Madrid, España, dirección de correo electrónico: amigosdx @ rtve.es" 25322 (Manuel Méndez, Lugo, España, Grundig Satellit 500 y Sony ICF SW7600G, Antena de cable, 8 metros, Escuchas realizadas en casco urbano de Lugo, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CUBA. DISCLAIMER FOR ALL LW/MW ITEMS, INCLUDING ALL TIS/MIS/PIRATE/LPFM ENTRIES: No portion of the below may be reproduced in any format or redistributed by the National Radio Club or their editors without my expressed written permission, which will then be swiftly -- and we do mean swiftly -- denied. Editors receiving this directly from me are excluded, provided this entire disclaimer is included once where any of the aforementioned items are first reproduced. 950, Radio Reloj, Pastora, Ciudad de la Habana, 0625-0628 August 23, 2009. Oh, come on! After a week or probably way more, the Reloj network is still running 15 seconds slow. Arnie should go to a steaming Isla de la Juventud jail cell for this and; 1020 Radio Guamá (see) and; and 1180 / 5025 Rebelde (see); based on crimes against the state. There should be no access to wires, capacitors or old valves to play with. 1020, Radio Guamá, Bahía Honda, Pinar del Río. Not! August 23, 2009. The huge signal, noted two weeks ago even in downtown Tampa mid- morning to the day is no more (coincidentally, I was in downtown Tampa again). Something there at the Clearwater QTH, but I didn't spend time to see if it's Guamá or the formerly dominant and only mediocre level Radio Cadena Habana. I guess that new transmitter or fix blew up already. 1050, Radio Victoria, Las Tunas, 0634-0636 August 23, traditional Cuban vocals, canned ID by man and woman at 0636. Clear and good. 1180 / 5025, Radio Rebelde 1759-1815 August 22, 2009. What are the odds of hearing the USA's otherwise horrible national anthem -- The Star Spangled Banner -- via Cuba? Well, it happened at 1759, a live orchestral version. Apparently Rebelde was picking up a German bird feed of the Athletics World Championship held in Berlin, with a Rebelde announcer voicing over the events back at home. Jahmeyka, Allemania, la [las?] Bahamas and la Florida were mentioned (we are pleased that someone just maybe recognized Florida as an independent nation), then a fast sporting session (a minute or so), maybe marathon sprinting or similar. Looking at Cuba URL sports links, the Championship is heavy on running, jumping and hurdling, all fast events. But the big question is: how could Arnie possibly allow The Star Spangled Banner to air over such a huge domestic network? Shame, shame (Terry L Krueger, Clearwater, Florida USA, 27.55.83 N, 82.46.08 W, Aug 23, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CUBA. ¡Libertad para Dr. Darsi Ferrer Ramírez y todos los presos políticos en Cuba! Nunca nos cancaremos a luchar por la libertad y democracia en Cuba. ¡Viva Cuba Libre! (UNION POR CUBA LIBRE, Ejecutivo Central, Uwe Rusch, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNION POR CUBA LIBRE, Boletín No. 2009.1708.B112. P.O.B. 650007, Miami, FL33265, USA, info@uncli.org (via Uwe Rusch, DXLD) Since you will hear nothing about this on RHC, I am obliged to bring this to your attention. Unión por Cuba Libre attached a 39-page pdf in Spanish about terrible conditions in Cuban prisons and hospitals, titled ``Dr. Darsi Ferrer - llevarlo al olvido`` and naming several other PPs. If there were a weblink to it I would gladly include it. Perhaps you can find something by searching, or contact them directly if interested (gh, DXLD) ** CUBA. Latest anomaly from RHC: Aug 20 at 0540 found 13790 still on the air in English, starting UT Thu mailbag show with `Ed Newman`. Checking other channels, 6010 was missing so probably same transmitter, but why? Forgot to change frequency at 0500? Unable to change for some reason? Propagation experiment? 11 MHz from Cuba will not always propagate in the nightmiddle, let alone 13. At this time also heard in English on 6060, while 6140 and 11760 were in Spanish. Also missing, 6120 normally in Spanish, and did not hear 6000 either at first, but it was there in Spanish at 0558, as was 6120, an echo apart while Arnie was talking about the electrical grid. [several subsequent chex did not find 13790 on after 0500] Check of RHC Aug 20 at 2010: Spanish on 11760, 11770, distorted 11800, barely on 13760 eclipsed by Portugal 13755. Per RHC`s own schedule 11770 is supposed to be in Portuguese at 2000-2030, another victim of the Honduran oligarchy, or rather RHC`s obsession with Zelaya`s plight. At 0508 Aug 21, unlike 24 hours earlier, RHC English was back on 6010, and not audible on 13790, // 6060, while Spanish on 6000, 6120, 6140. At 0514 I could also detect very weak signal on 11760 with Spanish an echo apart from other site on 6120. 13880 with remarkably strong S9+12 signal for a leapfrog spur (13680 over 13780), Aug 21 at 1337 with RHC béisbol report, and as usual much weaker on the other mix 13580. DentroCuban Jamming Command goes bonkers, blasting away against nothing: at least two heavy pulse transmitters, at different rates and fading independently on 9545 at 0513 Aug 21, long after Radio República quits at 0400. At 0515 heard same type of jamming on 11930, but not synchronized with 9545. 11930 is of course the R. Martí frequency in use only at 14-24! Standard remark about better expenditure would be for feeding undernourished DentroCubans, if not merely conserving precious electrical fluid. My thorough morning bandscan Aug 22 encountered DentroCuban Jamming Command pulses in some odd spots, probably spurs from nearby intentional jamming frequencies, or one of the innumerable transmitters on each victim channel mistuned. 1220 on 7378, covering 7375-7380, from 7405? Sometimes there is jamming against nothing on 7365 when not in use by Martí, not now. 1229 on 9930, lite pulses, no sign of scheduled T8WH Palau, vs very heavy jamming against inaudible WRMI 9955, which itself is totally uncalled-for as WRMI is now broadcasting R. Prague 7 days a week during this entire sesquihour. Commies vs ex-Commies? How many poor DentroCubans are starving because of this waste? 1246 on 9775, more weak but unmistakable pulsing, probably related to the heavy jamming on 9805 Martí. Collateral victims in this case would be Fu Hsing, Taiwan, and/or CNR-2 Beijing, unheard, in their own radio war. Notice that these Cuban jamming spurs(?) are typically 25-30 kHz on the lo side, not the hi side of the primary frequency (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) see also VENEZUELA [non] ** CUBA. 11690, R.H.C. Aug 22 at 2300+ with tasty music program of salsa and Latin pop I couldn't tune out. Really outstanding signals today, heard with the roofmount CB antenna. Heard to 2359 and RHC ID (Rick Barton, Arizona, 02 GMC Sonoma dashboard rig (MW), Sangean ATS- 803A (SW), NewTronics 1C-100(S) antenna (SW), 73 and good DXing to ALL ! :D, ABDX via DXLD) Yet another instance, if you go by RHC`s own transmission schedule at http://www.radiohc.cu/espanol/c_frecuencia/frecuencias.htm where you would not know this frequency is on the air before 0000 (gh, DXLD) ** CUBA [non]. 5980, R. Martí, Aug 22 at 1159:30 cut off the air just as SW QSY announcement was starting, before any of the next batch of frequencies could be mentioned, leaving listeners stranded. How about a bit closer coördination between Miami and Greenville if not Washington? (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** DJIBOUTI. 4780, Radio Djibouti, *0300-0325, Aug 21, sign on with National Anthem. Qur`an at 0301. Arabic talk at 0311. Horn of Africa music at 0322. Weak, poor with some utility QRM (Brian Alexander, PA, DX Listening Digest) ** DOMINICAN REPUBLIC. Re 9-061: No sign of Radio Discovery this evening during the 2200-0230 UT period. 73, (Brandon Jordan, Memphis, TN USA, UT Aug 20, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 4730.5v, Radio Discovery, Punta Cana, Aug 21 - tried off and on since 0000 UT, but have caught nothing. The usual ute QRM on the upper side just left at 0525 and still no discovery (Brandon Jordan - Memphis, TN, USA, http://www.bcdx.org Perseus + Wellbrook ALA330S, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 4730, Radio Discovery --- Glenn: We're on tonight in SSB. Maybe I can get George McClintock to switch it to AM later on tonight and leave it on overnight (Jeff White, Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, 0056 UT August 21, DX LISTENING DIGEST) So I turned off and/or unplugged most household noise sources, computers and TVs and tried at 0335 UT --- Yes, can detect SSB talking around 4730.5, but too high atmospheric noise level plus weak (but plenty) RTTY QRM make copying any details impossible. While weather is finally clear here, there are storms as close as southern Oklahoma. Tried again at 0506, but nothing heard. What I did hear earlier was broadcast-type speech, not two-way contacts, and since Brandon Jordan in TN, previously measured R. Discovery on the same off-frequency, I am quite sure I had it; altho on this UT date he could not hear it, nor later, so maybe not on all-night. On the FRG-7 it`s easy to zero- beat WYFR on 7730.0 and then find that RD is definitely not centered on 4730.0. Presumably about done with this test as HFCC is wrapping up, but then moving transmitter to Santo Domingo for eventual regular service. If R. Descubrimiento is licensed, what is its HI- callsign? (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) More or less the same story in greater Chicagoland. I can hear something but the station's signal is too weak and the atmospheric noise it too high for me to make out a single word. Well, the announced power is only 100 Watts, and who knows how well adjusted is their antenna. Running this special station was a good idea but I'm not sure if execution was adequate enough. Personally, I give up on trying to tune-in to R. Discovery. Cheers, (Sergei S., IL, ex-Russia, Aug. 21, ibid.) I expect its main purpose is to demonstrate WinDRM at the HFCC, for which 100 watts should be plenty locally (Glenn, ibid.) Hi Jeff, Will 4730.5 be on the air again Friday or Saturday night? (Glenn to Jeff White, Aug 21, via DXLD) Glenn: Not on Fri or Sat night. Next will be Santo Domingo, eventually. More later (Jeff White, R. Discovery, DR, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Jeff, wonder if you got any verifiable DX reports for the 2 or 3 nights of activity, and if so from where? (Glenn to Jeff, via DXLD) 4730, Radio Discovery. Not! Many spot checks during the period they were to be active (my time checks were spastically between 2215-1130, usually) but nothing heard here on coastal west central Florida, surprisingly. The most dominant thing on the approximate channel was a fast RTTY-like ute, local mid evenings plus, though usually off after 0800. Sorry I couldn't hear you, Jeff! I fondly recall my visit(s) when you briefly occupied the little office on Corey Avenue in St. Pete(rsburg) Beach a million years ago (Terry L Krueger, Clearwater, Florida USA, 27.55.83 N, 82.46.08 W, Aug 23, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** EGYPT. ERTU General Service - 6290 - Abis, Egypt - 0048z 22 Aug. Horribly overmodulated. Unintelligible talk with music bits. http://www.mediafire.com/?5mzmiz5tj2z Radio Cairo - 7540 - Abu Zaabal, - 0053z 22 Aug, Kor`an, with somewhat weak modulation. http://www.mediafire.com/?05jjdgmhonm (Terry Wilson, MI, Aug 22, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) along with several other `audio logs` ** EQUATORIAL GUINEA. RNGE, 6250, Aug 20 at 0608 going from music to liners, Spanish announcement about jóvenes, prosperidad en el futuro: dictatorial government propaganda. About equal level with Polisario 6300, a neat pair, but not always both on and in at same time. As we are getting closer to equinox than solstice, reception should be holding up a bit later (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** EQUATORIAL GUINEA. 6250, R Nacional, Malabo, Aug 23 - no sign of R Nacional this morning. (Jordan-TN) 15190, Radio Africa, Bata, Aug 22, 1930 - fair strength but low audio level at tune in. Much better audio with the Voice of Truth program starting at 1939 UT, but modulation still sounded a bit low (Brandon Jordan, Memphis, TN USA, Microtelecom Perseus SDR, Wellbrook ALA100 4m x 8m delta loop, Aug 23, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ERITREA. 7174.99, VoBME Program 2, Asmara, Aug 23, *0354 - in the clear running OC from 0348, then IS beginning 0354 UT. White noise jamming started up at 0358, covering s/on announcements. Abruptly level channel at 0408:45 switching to 7165. (Jordan-TN) 7165, VoBME, Asmara Program 2, Aug 23, 0408 - popping up here at the exact time it left 7175, presumably to avoid jamming there. It worked for about one minute, fair signal and nice female HoA vocal and then white noise jamming moved down from 7175. Still audible under the jamming, but both slowly fading. (Jordan-TN) 7209.98, VoBME Program 1, Asmara, Aug 23, *0354 - running OC from 0348, then IS beginning 0354 UT and s/on announcements by woman at 0359, instrumental HoA interlude into news by man. No sign of jamming, but audio fading from s/on as the transmitter has been in daylight since 0311 UT sunrise (Brandon Jordan, Memphis, TN USA, Microtelecom Perseus SDR, Wellbrook ALA100 4m x 8m delta loop, Aug 23, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ERITREA/ETHIOPIA. Hi Glenn, I compiled a little report on some stations I tried to listen to systematically during the last few days. Here we go: ETHIOPIA/ERITREA: VoTR: 5950 usually on and heard well until 1900, 6170 is currently // almost every day, otherwise clear frequency 1700-1800, but VoTR may sign on sign on after 1700... [see also UNIDENTIFIED 5985] R. Fana: 6110 is on, but no // heard, there seems to be an East African signal on 7210 also, but not Fana, more likely VoBME. 6890 empty. R. Oromia: 6030 is on Amhara State radio: 6090 is hard to catch, much DRM around. R. Ethiopia Home service: 5989.6 and 9704.2 are on all the time, 7110 is usually off for a few hours in the afternoons/early evenings. Yesterday, Aug. 19, it was on again at 1730 when jamming on 7165 stopped. VoBME: ...was on 7175 yesterday, absolutely clear, unlike other days when it was jammed on 7165. Seems ETH technicians forgot to retune the jamming transmitter to 7175. Usual s/off seems to be 1900 rather than 2000. R. Ethiopia External service: 7165 jammed from 1600 to 1730 yesterday as on many other days, but 9560 was strange: Up to three carriers heard after 1700, approx. on 9560.1, 9560.3, 9560.7 or so, but almost no modulation. R. Bana 5100 unheard, also 8000 or 7100 is not used 73 (Thorsten Hallmann, Münster, Germany, http://africalist.de.ms Aug 20, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ETHIOPIA. 6030, R Oromia. 15 weeks after sending a reception report, I received a verification letter. The letter was signed by the Manager of the station, Mr Abarra Hailu. The letter was sent by registered post. Mr Hailu wondered how I got their address and how I knew it was R Oromia I heard. The station is located in Adama, 100 km from the capital. The radio and TV organization was established one year ago and they are looking for sponsors. The address on the letter: Oromia Radio and TV Organization, P.O. Box 2919, Adama, Ethiopia (Max van Arnhem, Hoenderloo, The Netherlands, DSWCI DX Window Aug 19 via DXLD) ** ETHIOPIA. 6170, V of Tigray Revolution, *0257-0310, Aug 21, sign on with IS. Vernacular talk at 0300. Horn of Africa music at 0303. Poor with strong adjacent channel splatter. // 5950 - weak under Okeechobee. 7165, V of Peace & Democracy, via Radio Ethiopia transmitters. *0356- 0432*, Aug 21, sign on with Horn of Africa music and several IDs. Opening announcements at 0400 and talk in listed Tigrinya. Some Horn of Africa music. Fair to good until 0403 when covered by noise jammer. Constantly drifting on // 9559.85-9560.30, but with a fair to good signal. Mon, Wed, Fri only (Brian Alexander, PA, DX Listening Digest) ** ETHIOPIA. (tentative) 6090, Amhara Regional State Radio, Aug 23, 0315 - under Anguilla and rapidly improving with nice Horn of Africa vocals, talk by woman. Often heard under Anguilla during Ethiopian dawn. (Jordan-TN) 6110, Radio Fana, Addis Ababa, Aug 23, *0256 - IS heard well under Mighty KBC and then in the clear when KBC left the air at 0258. IS continued to 0301, the usual Radio Fana ID and then into news. Various bird calls at 0304, HoA pop vocal into talk by man and woman. (Jordan- TN) 6170, Voice of Tigray Revolution, Aug 23, *0258 - signal rapidly drifted from initial 6169.69 up to 6170.0 by 0305 UT. Very weak with strong splatter, IS, talk and stringed instruments. // 5950 not heard under Okeechobee. (Jordan-TN) 7110, Radio Ethiopia, Aug 23, *0259 - on sans IS with male speaker and top of hour church bells, ID and talk by man. HoA vocals from 0306, then talk by man with brief musical bridges between topics. A few clear mentions of Selassie heard during one segment. Much weaker // 5989.5v also heard, with only heard during 0320-0340 peak. This transmitter was turned on much earlier at 0238 UT on 5989.39, and had drifted up to 5989.67 at 0500 when I lost the carrier in the WYFR 5985 s/on splatter (Brandon Jordan, Memphis, TN USA, Microtelecom Perseus SDR, Wellbrook ALA100 4m x 8m delta loop, Aug 23, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** EUROPE. PIRATE. 6870, Radio Playback International, 2350-0015, Aug 21-22, Presumed. Pop/rock music. Announcements. Poor in T-storm static (Brian Alexander, PA, DX Listening Digest) ** EUROPE. PIRATE. 7550.03, Radio Amica, 0445-0515, Aug 23, lite pop music. A few Italian announcements. Presumed. Heard by European listeners. Weak. Poor in noisy conditions (Brian Alexander, PA, DX Listening Digest) see UNIDENTIFIED 7550 is currently registered for real stations: 0215-0300 Islamabad in Hindi; 1400-1500 VOA Indonesian via Tinang; 1700-1800 Islamabad in ``Irani``. The Paks may be imaginary (gh) ** EUROPE. Re CROATIA, previously: It`s not just me --- (gh, DXLD) EUROPEAN UNION: DON’T CALL US — WE’RE ON VACATION Every August, the entire European Union government shuts down, which means that when international events require attention, the U.S. must lead by default, said the Courrier International. Best Columns - Europe• Friday, August 14, 2009 Editorial, Courrier International (France) The world does not stop producing crises merely because it’s time for summer vacation, said Courrier International. But every August, the entire European Union government shuts down. Its officials go to the beach, and so do most of its member countries’ leaders. That means that when international events require attention, it is the U.S. that must lead by default. In 2007, for example, when the subprime mortgage meltdown hit, “Europe’s political machine was caught napping.” Last year, when war broke out between Georgia and Russia, “the offices of politicians and diplomats were empty in Brussels.” If it weren’t for the zeal of French President Nicolas Sarkozy, who is always eager to take charge, there would have been no European response at all to a conflict right “on our doorstep.” Henry Kissinger used to complain that he couldn’t deal with Europe because it didn’t have “a name and a phone number.” We still don’t have a single leader who could be called—but even if we did, “the phone would likely be ringing during the holiday season.” (The Week, Aug 21, via gh, DXLD) It's called S-A-R-C-A-S-M, Glenn! And I am sure we are all glad to hear that you are not really a stereotypical ugly American. I also suppose that Europeans, like the rest of us, greatly appreciate your flow of suggestions and corrections, showing us how we can improve our misbegotten lives. Thanks! dnj End of thread (Don Jensen, WI, ODXA via DXLD) Aha, now we know where his simmering resentment is directed. Yeah, who cares about accuracy?? (gh, DXLD) ** FINLAND. 5980, Scandinavian Weekend R, Virrat, 1215-1315, Sat Aug 08, Finnish live report and interview from the FDXA Summer Meeting, 25222 // 11720. (Petersen) 11720, Scandinavian Weekend R, Virrat, 0855-1215 and 1620, Sa Aug 08, Finnish live report, interview and talks, when best: 25232 // 5980 (Anker Petersen, Skovlunde, Denmark, DSWCI DX Window Aug 19 via DXLD) ** FRANCE [non]. Re my recent report concerning RFI via MEYERTON, RSA on 11830 - the signal was much better today (22/08) at around 0645, and the language was positively French. My apologies if previous loggings of a much weaker signal were not in Portuguese as I wrote. So either Portuguese is no more, or the effects of the recent strike are still affecting broadcasts, or MEY was taking the wrong feed. Must check again (Noel R. Green (NW England), Aug 22, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GABON [and non]. Africa #1 has just been heard on 15475 with news (in French of course) until sudden off at 1908 UT. Positive ID heard, so is it a recent return to air for this transmitter? The signal was very strong and well modulated. Will need to try 17630 tomorrow [earlier]. Interestingly, there was a het on the high side, and now I hear what must be R. Nacional Arcángel San Gabriel on 15476.0. The signal is weak, and with some splatter from a religious transmission in French on 15465. ATA is only occasionally moving the S meter, but I hear a lady in Spanish and occasional music. A long time since I heard this one (Noel R. Green (NW England), Aug 21, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Yes, ANO 15475 must have just been reactivated, so with Greenville DRM after 2000, that leaves only 19-20 UT when LRA36 is possible in the clear. Also, this just in: (gh) Africa No. 1 on 15475 tonight, Friday 21st August, very good signal at 1800-1900*, nothing on 9580. So still only one transmitter, but at least not only 31m which is not heard so well in Europe. 73 (Thorsten Hallmann, Germany, Aug 21, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 15475, Africa No. 1, Gabon, 1905, 21/08/2009. News in French. 1908 time-check and then transmitter off. Is this the 2nd transmitter reactivated? I think the answer is not. I could not hear Africa No. 1 on 9580 at 1905 (or even after 1958 when Romania has left the channel). Multiple checks on 22/08/2009 found 9580 as the only frequency on air all day and until past 2000 as usual (James MacDonell, NW Nigeria, Aug 23, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Yes, ANO 15475 must have just been reactivated, but not heard on 17630 this morning (Thorsten Hallmann, Germany, Aug 22, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Re Africa #1 - the time is now 0915 UT on Aug. 22 and there is no trace of any signal on 17630, so maybe last night`s transmission on 15475 was a test? I didn't make a mistake with the time it closed - it was 1908. There is a signal currently audible on 9580, but unidentifiable due to strong splatter from Medi #1 9575. There was something earlier - 0630+ - too, but too weak to ID (Noel R. Green (NW England), Aug 22, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) No signal on 17630 also yesterday August 21 at 1215 UT (Roberto Scaglione, Siciliy, Aug 22, ibid.) Back on 15475 last night and also this morning. 73 (Thorsten Hallmann, Aug 23, ibid.) ** GERMANY. THE COLD-WAR ERA RADIO TOWER DISMANTLED IN GERMANY I didn't find any reports of this in the English-language sources so here's a quick translation of what Russia's First TV Channel reported today: Germany destroyed one of the symbols of the Cold War. At one time this 324-meter radio tower was considered the highest construction in FRG. With help of this construction the Western information programs were beamed on the territory of GDR. The radio waves [emitted] from this giant construction covered a territory within 130 kilometers. Now the metal structure lost its purpose. It was decided to transfer the land which it occupies for residential housing. Over three thousand spectators observed the complex operation to collapse the antenna. August 21, 2009 The First Channel, Moscow http://www.1tv.ru/news/world/150167 Anyone knows antenna's QTH? What station or stations used it? Judging by the announced signal coverage it was an FM-operation. Maybe TV, as well? Any videos on YouTube or elsewhere yet? Somehow, the First Channel didn't put its video online this time (Sergei S., IL, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) [Later:] From what I managed to gather, it was a so-called Gartow 1 tranmitting mast in Höhbeck. It came down yesterday. Antenna used to carry ZDF TV, Deutschlandfunk, RBB-Fernsehen and NDR-Fernsehen. The second mast Gartow 2 is still there. Is it slated to go down later? Maerkische Allgemeine quotes a former worker who used to service a tower. He says "digitization was the nail in [Gartow 2's] coffin." As expected, there are quite a few videos on YouTube shot from different directions. Here are just a few of them: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wg5ZO4Jo67I (A 5-min. amateur documentary. I can't believe people were allowed to roam freely by the metal scrap after the mast came down!) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NvJdTNaToI0&NR=1 (Make sure to hit HD button for a more dramatic view.) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8W29RjBnvSg&NR=1 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UoBLzkbGKio http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yBdMF1nMGN0 (Sergei S., IL, ibid.) 324 meters height tower Gartow. Direct phone line radio link to West Berlin, 12.000 telephone line channels, 1963 - 2009. Also TV and FM transmission tower during analogue TV era til 2008, when digital DVB-T started via the newer Gartow II mast of 344 meters height nearby. ``324-meter radio tower was considered the highest construction in FRG.`` No, not really, see list of the Berlin TV tower of 368 meters height. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_tallest_structures_in_Germany http://www.flashearth.com/?lat=53.068438&lon=11.437078&z=16.5&r=0&src=msl 53 04 07.81 N 11 26 22.32 E http://maps.google.de/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=de&geocode=&q=53+04+07.81+N+11+26+22.32+E&sll=51.151786,10.415039&sspn=19.842079,56.90918&ie=UTF8&ll=53.07036,11.4396&spn=0.018514,0.055575&t=h&z=15 1.4 kilometers ditsance from former Communist eastern block GDR border http://www.panoramio.com/photo/12017500 http://www.panoramio.com/photo/11918478 http://www.panoramio.com/photo/2641438 http://www.panoramio.com/photo/2968722 http://static.panoramio.com/photos/original/2968722.jpg http://www.panoramio.com/photo/21377473 http://static.panoramio.com/photos/original/21377473.jpg http://www.panoramio.com/photo/3520181 http://static.panoramio.com/photos/original/3520181.jpg http://www.panoramio.com/photo/5390401 http://static.panoramio.com/photos/original/5390401.jpg http://www.panoramio.com/photo/7628618 http://static.panoramio.com/photos/original/7628618.jpg http://www.panoramio.com/photo/10241839 http://static.panoramio.com/photos/original/10241839.jpg http://www.panoramio.com/photo/2084022 Fernmeldeturm Gartow gesprengt. In Gartow, so in den ARD-Nachrichten am 20.08. gesehen, wurde der 324 m hohe Fernmeldeturm gesprengt, der fuer die Verbindung ueber die DDR hinweg nach West-Berlin wichtig war. http://www.n24.de/news/newsitem_5344172.html (Herbert Meixner-AUT, A-DX Aug 20 via Büschel, dxldyg via DXLD) MDR Fernsehen, hier ein Teil der Berichterstattung als Video: http://www.mdr.de/sachsen-anhalt/6619264.html NDR-Beitrag: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FMkW8_0DnP0 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jPOoHgNHASg&feature=related http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dKayBH69Rak&feature=related http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c3_ZFeWcUq4&feature=related http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NvJdTNaToI0&feature=related http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eAPaP4jqIM8&feature=related http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0aEj2Rp9a1E http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yBdMF1nMGN0 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lQUWVMinqw0 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tjqrVrc5yf0 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dRTY6cqzgB4 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zAuaiMntSTw http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VFvRNBFhOvk http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VIFaFsTiUMk (Wolfgang Büschel, ibid.) Thank you, Wolfgang! This is really helpful - esp., all the links. An NDR TV report in German can be watched here (it's right under the text): http://www.ndr.de/nachrichten/niedersachsen/gartow102.html It seems like for now DW chose not to report on this development in its Russian and English services. Fortunately, the Russian media picked up the story. - It was carried during one of the most popular nightly TV newscast and reported by a major news website Lenta.ru. BTW, according to Lenta.ru, the locals called this antenna the "asparagus." ``324-meter radio tower was considered the highest construction in FRG === no, not really, see list of the Berlin TV tower of 368 meters`` To quote Wikipedia, W.Berlin "was in many ways integrated with, although legally not a part of, West Germany." But maybe other antennas were higher? - I don't know the German geography well enough to immediately figure out which mast was located in W. or E. Germany. 73, (Sergei S., ibid.) > Now the metal structure lost its purpose. It was decided to transfer > the land which it occupies for residential housing. Hardly. The whole area is a nature reserve, which made the demolition of this mast especially difficult. This is the Höhbeck transmitter. Höhbeck is a 75 metres ASL hill on the west bank of the Elbe river. Gartow is an official designator for this site, originating from a small town about ten kilometres away. The now removed mast appears to date back to 1963 and was built especially for UHF TV, in detail ZDF on ch. 21 and N3 from NDR on ch. 45. In the mid-eighties an FM transmitter for Deutschlandfunk (which was until then almost an AM-only station) on 102.2 went on air as well. Here one needs to understand a legal oddity: At some point it had been ruled in the FRG that the distribution (but not, under no circumstances, the production!) of broadcast programming was the task of the state. Thus the postal office as an authority was entitled to operate all further transmitter networks. However, the broadcasting institutions were allowed to keep what they already had. Thus neither VHF TV nor NDR's radio services ever went out via Höhbeck but always stayed at NDR's own Zernien transmitter, about 15 km west of Dannenberg. For some reason also the postal office opted to use this facility (i.e. lease NDR transmitter capacity) for commercial radio services when they launched in the mid-eighties. And do not confuse Zernien with the old 630 kHz transmitter (no longer in use, 630 kHz is co-located with 756 kHz nowadays) near Dannenberg, this is yet another site. Shortly after 1992 the Höhbeck transmitter also started to transmit ORB-Fernsehen from Potsdam on ch. 35. This was necessary because the area from Wittenberge to Wittstock had previously been served with Deutscher Fernsehfunk programming from Schwerin. But now the Schwerin transmitter carried N3 instead and ORB had to bring its programming to this area otherwise. On the FM side first the Dequede transmitter in Sachsen-Anhalt had been used as a make-shift solution (for Antenne Brandenburg programming only, on 91.7), then provisional FM transmitters had been installed on a microwave tower until finally a completely new FM site near Pritzwalk went on air. Indeed for FM radio only, for TV the Höhbeck transmitter was kept instead. Finally all Höhbeck TV transmitters had been shut down between late 2006 and mid-2008. They have been replaced by DVB-T from NDR's Zernien site. No special replacement on the Brandenburg side, however; RBB- Fernsehen (meanwhile ORB merged with SFB, forming RBB now) is included in a DVB-T mux carried by the Schwerin transmitter and that's all, RBB considers it as economically not justifiable to install DVB-T transmission facilities in northwestern Brandenburg. This is what basically made the now removed mast redundant. Only the 102.2 FM transmitter was left, and its antenna must have been moved to the remaining 344 metres mast before the old one had been blown up. This still standing 344 metres mast was the counterpart of the 358 metres mast in Berlin-Frohnau, for the 6 GHz line-of-sight microwave link. The gone mast was only involved in earlier scatter operations in the VHF range. Still any questions left...? (Kai Ludwig, Germany, ibid.) Thank you, Kai, for a detailed response. After watching the vids I did think that the area didn't look residential to build any houses there (Sergei S., ibid.) ** GERMANY? 6005 In approx. 1000-1100 UT slot noted an empty carrier with S=9+15 dB level, but no Radio 700 program from Kall-Krekel site so far. Aug 21 (Wolfgang Büschel, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 6005.00, 1440-1500 21.08, Radio 700, Kall-Krekel, Euskirchen (1 kW) German announcement, German pop songs, ID: "Nachrichten von Radio Sieben Hundert", news about a terror group, 35343 (Anker Petersen, on my AOR AR7030PLUS with 28 metres of longwire in Skovlunde, Denmark, via Dario Monferini, playdx yg via DXLD) ** GERMANY. Radio Gloria International is on this Sunday the 23rd of August 2009 at 0900 to 1000 UT on our normal channel of 6140 kHz. M.V.Baltic. Information: MV Baltic Radio relay service Schedule for summer 2009 1st Sunday - MV Baltic Radio 3rd Sunday - European Music Radio 4th Sunday - Radio Gloria International We wish you good listening and good reception! 73s (Tom Taylor, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Also in advance via Mike Terry on the dxldyg 6140, R. Gloria, 0901 Aug 23 with pop song. Man IDing as R Gloria , ?? UT, The sunrise sound. At 0912 with song from Rainbow. 1217 with full ID including offshore German radios website. Reading a letter from Australia. Fair audio, even with De1102. Good signal S9 (Zacharias Liangas, Litohoron, Greece, Aug 23, using the PL550 radio connected into the mesh window fence, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 6140, 0905-0920 Sunday 23.08, R. Gloria International, via Wertachtal, English announcement, ID and songs, 55555. Best 73, (Anker Petersen, on my AOR AR7030PLUS with 28 metres of longwire in Skovlunde, Denmark, via Dario Monferini, playdx yg via DXLD) ALEMANIA, 6140, Radio Gloria Internacional, 0950-1000*, 23-08, canciones, locutor, inglés, alemán, identificación, "MV Baltic Music Radio, Radio Gloria International". Cierre a las 1000. 35433 (Manuel Méndez, Lugo, España, Grundig Satellit 500 y Sony ICF SW7600G, Antena de cable, 8 metros, Escuchas realizadas en casco urbano de Lugo, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GERMANY [non]. 13860 with YL in French, Aug 22 at 1234. It`s DW via Sines, PORTUGAL during this hour (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GERMANY [non]. 9565, 'R Africa' 1009 with talks in Hausa (?) references to Masimasai, malaria, Frankfurter Algemeine. According to Eibi listing this is DW in Swahili (Zacharias Liangas, Litohoron, Greece, Aug 23, using the PL550 radio connected into the mesh window fence, DX LISTENING DIGEST) via RWANDA ** GUINEA. -Conakry, 1386.16, R. Rurale, Labé, 2143-2159, 17 Aug, vernacular, talks, seemingly information tips; 32441, QRM de ESPAÑA (ex-1071). (Carlos Gonçalves, Portugal, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GUINEA. (presumed) 7125v, R Conakry, Conakry, Aug 23, 0624-0725 - transmitter on at 0624, slowly drifting from 7124.99 to a few hertz above 7125 by 0725 off. Initially weak carrier but rising to good levels by 0645 transmitter sunrise, but the signal never produced any audio (Brandon Jordan, Memphis, TN USA, Microtelecom Perseus SDR, Wellbrook ALA100 4m x 8m delta loop, Aug 23, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** HAWAII. NOTABLE KGMB TOWER WILL BE RAZED by Erika Engle POSTED: 01:30 a.m. HST, Aug 20, 2009 http://www.starbulletin.com/business/20090820_Notable_KGMB_tower_will_be_razed.html The iconic KGMB-TV tower, located with the building at 1534 Kapiolani Blvd., will eventually be torn down, not because of the new shared services agreement with KHNL/KFVE-TV, but because KGMB owner MCG Capital sold the property in January 2008. The tower has been the source of KGMB's broadcast signal since it signed on Dec. 1, 1952, under Pacific Broadcasting Co., led by President Cecil Heftel. For years it displayed huge red neon letters that vertically spelled out "Aku," for "J. Akuhead Pupule" (the late Hal Lewis), the popular morning show host on KGMB-AM 590. The AM station's tower was actually on Ala Wai Boulevard in those days. KHET's original analog signal first emanated from the KGMB tower on Feb. 23, 1966. Heftel's signature is on the contract signed with the then-University of Hawaii-operated ETV station, to which Heftel donated the antenna. Heftel put KGMB-FM 93.1 on the air using the tower on Oct. 1, 1967. The station's signal continued to emanate from the tower after Heftel sold KGMB-FM to put KULA-FM 92.3 on the air, from Waipahu. KGMB-FM became KGMQ-FM and then KQMQ-FM and the transmitter eventually moved to Palehua Ridge. The only stations broadcasting from the tower at present are the digital television signals of KGMB and KHON. ——— Sources: Brock Whaley, broadcast historian; Steve Komori, vice president of content delivery, PBS Hawaii; Mike McCarthy, chief engineer, KGMB-TV (via Brock Whaley himself, DXLD) ** HONDURAS. 3340, La Voz de Misiones Internacionales, Comayagüela, 0542-0556, 21-08, locutor, comentario religioso, canciones. Muy débil. 15321 (Manuel Méndez, Lugo, España, Grundig Satellit 500 y Sony ICF SW7600G, Antena de cable, 8 metros, Escuchas realizadas en casco urbano de Lugo, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 3340.00, HRMI, Radio MI, 0820-0850, Aug 23, contemporary Christian music. Several English ID announcements with mention of frequencies and California address. English IDs as “Radio MI” and “Radio Missions International”. English religious sermon with Spanish translations at 0842. Poor in t-storm static (Brian Alexander, PA, DX Listening Digest) ** INDIA. 23rd Aug 09: 1750 UT - All India Radio Delhi (Kingsway) right now on 3930 kHz instead of 4860 kHz // 6045, 702 kHz. Scheduled till 1930 UT. 3945 kHz - AIR Gorakhpur signed off at 1740 instead of scheduled 1735 UT (Alokesh Gupta, New Delhi, India, 1826 UT Aug 23, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INDONESIA. 4925.02, 2259-2310 18.08, RRI Jambi, Bahasa Indonesia, Song of the Coconut Islands IS, news and reports, 24232, Heterodyne (Anker Petersen, on my AOR AR7030PLUS with 28 metres of longwire in Skovlunde, Denmark, via Dario Monferini, playdx yg via DXLD) ** INDONESIA. 9680 usually a mess of QRM among Taiwan, ChiCom jamming, and/or Indonesia; Aug 20 at 1350 continuous gamelan concert was dominant, mixing with Asian-scale singing. At 1401, clearer M&W conversation in Indonesian, over much weaker something. Aoki shows RRI only until 1300, but WRTH 2009 has it until 1500, so looks like the latter is correct, at least today. Tho 250 kW, as a domestic service relay, it`s not included in the WRTH A-09 update. There is also contradictory info about the azimuth for this. Meanwhile after 1357, VOI 9525v was useless with VOR 9525.0 signal and het. Have not bothered to report VOI lately, but for the record, still going with English hour on 9524.9, Aug 22 at 1316 check reminiscing about the Japanese occupation. Signal rather weak; it was much better an hour earlier in Indonesian (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Tonight in 1700-1857 UT gap VOI Jakarta noted on 9524.87 kHz, Spanish ID at 1800 UT, and S=8 signal here in Europe. 73 (Wolfgang Büschel, Aug 20, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INDONESIA. It began in Aug. 22 in Ramadan. RRI-Makassar on 4750 kHz started early morning broadcast from 1800 UT on Aug. 21. And RRI- Kendari on 3995 kHz started from 1825, too. de A. Ishida (S. Hasegawa, NDXC, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INTERNATIONAL VACUUM. If you are listening to WRN on the Intelsat 10 satellite in Africa, the Middle East, or Asia, then please note we are changing frequency. The new frequency is 3808 MHz, polarisation vertical, symbol rate 10340. Our new signal is available immediately, so retune now to 3808 MHz. You may need to rescan your satellite receiver on that frequency for WRN to show up. The existing signal will be switched off on September 5th (WRN Newsletter Aug 21 via DXLD) ** INTERNATIONAL VACUUM. Re BBCWS in XM, 9-061: XM Radio carries the BBC-WS Americas feed but for some reason XM Online carries the News feed (like Sirius). XM's website isn't exactly clear on programming so it's probably reflecting their web feed rather then their on-air feed. Hope this helps, (Travers, Aug 20, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) It all comes down to who has the rights to what. XM Satellite Radio has exclusive rights in the USA (and maybe Canada) to the Americas program stream. PRI (Public Radio International) has arranged for a proprietary program stream for its NPR clients that is somewhat between the full "rich mix" Americas program stream and the BBCWS News internet program stream, one of two internet streams that the WS itself provides from its web site. The second internet stream the WS provides is a full "rich mix" program stream that is identical to the stream provided to Europe via shortwave, satellite and local MW/FM placement. Since XM has exclusive rights to the Americas stream, Sirius Satellite Radio (before the merger with XM) secured exclusive satellite rights to the PRI stream. As Travis already stated, the Sirius/XM internet service also carries the PRI stream. (Why isn't exactly clear because it seems that since Sirius now owns XM it apparently could have put the Americas program stream on the internet UNLESS its contractual arrangements with either the BBC or PRI or both dictate otherwise.) Among other differences, the PRI stream carries only the first hour of Sportsworld on Saturday while the Americas stream carries the entire program. Consequently, Sirius (again before the merger with XM) arranged for carriage of up to six EPL soccer (excuse me, football) matches each weekend (via BBC Five Live and BBC Local Radio), as well as the sportstalk show Radio 606 (via BBC Five Live) on a separate channel(s). The relationship between Sirius/XM and the BBC is further underlined by the former's carriage of BBC Radio 1. If you listen to WS on BBC Radio 4 overnights, you'll note that the feed there is the European stream advanced one hour to reflect the time difference between the British Isles and the continent. Seems more complicated (and probably more expensive) than it needs to be. But I guess it keeps the bean counters happy or it wouldn't be this way (John Figliozzi, Halfmoon, NY, ibid.) ** IRAN [non]. Radio Zamaneh is using twitter (alas in Farsi), with over 4,000 tweets, at http://twitter.com/radiozamaneh English site at http://www.zamaaneh.com/enzam/ (Ron Howard, Asilomar Beach, CA, Aug 20, dxldyg via DXLD) ** IRELAND. EUROPirates: 3910, Reflections Europe, IRELAND, 2121-, 16 Aug, English, religious propaganda programs; 45433; \\ 6295, 12255. 6255, Reflections Europe, 2122-, 16 Aug, cf. \\ 3910; 44444, bad modulation thence poor readability; \\ 12255. 12255, Reflections Europe, 2125-, 16 Aug, cf. \\ 3910; 35433; \\ 6295 (Carlos Gonçalves, Portugal, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ISRAEL. Re 9-061: The IDF resolved the stability issue with this transmitter no later than July 28, and 'IDF Waves' has since been rock steady on 6973.005 kHz. 73, (Brandon Jordan, TN, Aug 19, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 15785v, Galai Zahal, Tel Aviv, was still OFF air on Aug 11, 12 and 18 (Wolfgang Bueschel, Stuttgart, Germany and Anker Petersen, Skovlunde, Denmark, DSWCI DX Window Aug 19 via DXLD) Galei Tsahal has returned to 15785 kHz. Heard as I'm writing this (Aug. 20th, 0722) with telephone interview about politics in Hebrew. Good signal and modulation (Robert Foerster, Germany, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 15785.00, Galei Zahal army forces radio service in Hebrew, seems back on 19mb again. Noted today Aug 21 around 1130 UT for the first time since approx. July 27th. S=5-6 only, deep fades (Wolfgang Büschel, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 15785.0, Galei Zahal, 2115-2155, Aug 21, local pop music. Hebrew talk. Weak but readable. Better on // 6973.0 (Brian Alexander, PA, DX Listening Digest) ** JAPAN. For all you young DXers out there (Are there any?) Radio Japan has an interesting musical programme called "Pop Up Japan." It's MC'd by Pack'n Mack'n. No, this is not the same someone who showed up at a recent Town Hall Meeting on health care. Actually, it is two YMs, one Pack and one Mack. Every week the show features J-Pop tunes, musical guests, unique elements of Japanese culture, and the latest Tokyo fashions. If this is not your pint of ale, let your children give a listen. 11705, RADIO JAPAN at 1410 Sat 22 Aug, English, "Pop Up Japan" - two YMs playing J-Pop music. VG signal (Richard Bianchino, Las Vegas, NV USA, Kaito KA1103, 32' longwire antenna, indoor, ABDX via DXLD) 11705 at 1400 is both direct AND via CANADA; which was better there?? You should be getting quite a pre-echo from Yamata, as often audible even here. Pop Up Japan is the feature on all the UT Saturday English broadcasts thru 2420 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** JAPAN. Historias de Radio --- Se ha cargado un nuevo episodio del programa Historias de Radio para este sábado 22 de agosto. Esta semana retrocedemos en el tiempo hasta mediados del siglo pasado para conocer el rol de Radio Tokio durante la II Guerra Mundial. Igual que sus ejércitos, las ondas de radio cubrieron los cielos de Asia y el Pacífico (Daniel Camporini, Villate 4534, B1605EKV Munro, Tel.: 1561573411. http://www.dxradiomonitor.freehosting.net http://www.historiasderadio.podomatic.com Aug 21, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** JORDAN [and non]. After two days off air via 11960, JOR had returned today (22nd), but there is still no trace of KWT 11675, or any alternate frequency. This transmission should be the 0315-0900 (or was it til 1000) service in Arabic // 13650 - that one is still on air. Is anyone hearing 11675 in DRM at 2200-0300? (Noel R. Green (NW England), Aug 22, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** KOREA NORTH. 6070, free of CFRX QRM so now the big roar from Pyongyang`s ailing transmitter can be heard in the clear, Aug 22 at 1204. Hardly any program modulation makes it thru the self-inflicted QRM, but heard a bit of music and 1210 traces of talk. Per Aoki, This is VOK`s Japanese service at 0900-1250, 125 kW, 109 degrees from Kanggye, which no doubt has an audience in Japan of approximately zero. How many poor North Koreans are starving because of this waste? (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 6070 is obviously the same transmitter as Joson Jung-ang Pangsong on 6100, listed to have a break from 0630 to 1330 which would make it possible to run the complete Japanese program block from 0700 on 6070. So it would be a good idea to confirm the current use of both frequencies. Extensive monitoring by Olle Alm revealed years ago that 6070/6100 does not appear to be co-located with any other SWBC outlets from the DPRK. Furthermore at this point it had a rather soft and clean modulation, unlike other North Korean transmitters. Together with the in-band frequencies this strongly suggests that 6070/6100 are run with one of the old transmitters North Korea bought from Switzerland. All the other foreign service frequencies appear to originate from another site, presumably indeed all from the same one, judging from mixing products as well as identical signal characteristics and operation routines. This transmitter plant appears to be located at some distance from Pyongyang, since some of the quality issues (like non-linear distortion) appear to be related to longer cable circuits. Also the use of back-up feed frequencies (3560 and 4405) speaks a clear language, and I think it had already been observed how they indeed put these shortwave signals on air, with all the static and fading etc. As well-known, 6070/6100 is listed as Kanggye while the foreign service frequencies are listed as Kujang. I have not seen evidence of the location of the transmission facilities so far, so basically we still know not much more than what the monitoring indicated (Kai Ludwig, Germany, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** KOREA NORTH. Saturday 22.08.09: The politically pompous Voice of Korea threw me for a loop this a.m. when I came upon their broadcast in French. The male announcer was actually speaking credible French and the dialog was sans the insane communist slant. At least it sounded that way but, then, I don't understand French. The only improvement would have been a female announcer. 11710, VOICE OF KOREA (DPR) at 1407 Aug 22 in French, OM straight talking without the usual pomp & ceremony. G-VG signal (Richard Bianchino, Las Vegas, NV USA, Kaito KA1103, 32' longwire antenna, indoor, ABDX via DXLD) ** KOREA SOUTH. RESULTS OF "A SURVEY ON GLOBAL CITIZENS' UNDERSTANDING OF KOREA" - A special poll conducted by KBS World Radio to commemorate the 64th anniversary of Korea's liberation & the list of winners: http://world.kbs.co.kr/english/event/poll_2009/index.htm (via Alokesh Gupta, India, dxldyg via DXLD) Note that KBS published email addresses of all the winners. Now the lucky winners can expect not only their prizes but also tons of junk emails. That's why it's always a good idea not to use your primary email address when contacting the stations (Sergei S., ibid.) Yes, I was very upset to see this, although I was not a winner. I sent them an e-mail explaining about automatic "harvesting" of e-mail addresses, told them they should be ashamed of themselves, and asked why they didn't use just the winners' names (or a least spell out the e-mail addresses, though this is not a good idea, either). (Saul Broudy W3WHK, Philadelphia, PA USA, ibid.) Actually KBS seems to have published the winners' names as well. But in Korean transliteration only. Go figure. At least they used a format that won't be as easy for email harvesters to access. But technology these days I don't think it will be a major barrier. I hope you didn't use your main address for sending your strongly-worded email to KBS. Better safe than sorry! (Sergei S., ibid.) ** KOREA SOUTH [and non]. KBSWR, 9650 via Canada, paused in bandscanning Saturday Aug 22 to listen to a few minutes of Worldwide Friendship mailbag show. At 1248 the YLs were reading some listener comments from website, but I heard no apology for publishing contest winners` full e-mail addresses. 1251-1254 weekly listening tips from Kevin O`Donovan in Farmington NM: LRA-36 currently being heard in Europe; Brunström heard RAE 15344; Willie`s Place (Nelson) is on Sirius 64 and XM something this weekend. If KBS is not enough for you from Korea, TBS-EFM is a 24-hour English station from Seoul, with Korean and Western pop music, some live news and talk shows, such as 11-13 UT ``In Town`` hosted by Sue Pa[r]k of KBS itself with pop hits and messages, webcast via http://tbsefm.seoul.kr Checking that website, they case it ``tbs eFM``, and the show is axually ``M-Town``, the hostess a.k.a. Park Su-yeon, http://tbsefm.seoul.kr/efm/pro_main_mtown.jsp?id=mtown So what does M stand for, music/messages? BTW, TBS stands for Traffic Broadcasting System, so no doubt we will also know all about the latest jams. Contact Kevin at dxshow @ gmail.com Back to Seoul for the last few minutes, some KBS program previews for following week, but unfortunately ``today`s program highlights`` has been eliminated from KBS website in all languages; why? However, little by little they are enabling streaming to work on Macs, and also are twittering the latest news in English every minute (?!) via http://twitter.com/kbsworldradio I notice KBS just refers to `Korea`, not `ROK`, or `South Korea`, as if there were none other. Probably by executive fiat (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) See also NETHERLANDS [non] ** KURDISTAN. 4795.00v, Voice of Iranian Kurdistan, Salah Al-Din, Northern Iraq (presumed), 0223-0300, Aug 05, Kurdish (p) talk, Middle East music and song, at 0235-0300 on 4790.96, jammer followed frequency change! Also heard on Aug 08 at 0255-0310 on 4795.97, but had moved to 4790.02 at 0335-0345, 14232. On Aug 18 at 0335-0345 it was on 4798.97 fading out (Anker Petersen, Skovlunde, Denmark, DSWCI DX Window Aug 19 via DXLD) 4798.97, 0335-0345 fading out 18.08, Voice of Iranian Kurdistan, Iraq (p) Kurdish (p) talk and song 33333, jamming and heterodyne. 4789.96, 0245-0300, CLANDESTINE, 20.08, Voice of Iranian Kurdistan, Iraq (presumably), Kurdish (presumably) talk, 33333, jamming (Anker Petersen, on my AOR AR7030PLUS with 28 metres of longwire in Skovlunde, Denmark, via Dario Monferini, playdx yg via DXLD) ** KURDISTAN. Arabic speakers please help: Iraqi station Radio As- Safir --- I'm requesting help in translating this audio file: http://www.intervalsignals.net/sounds/irq-radio_assafir_210809.mp3 Sixteen seconds from the start, a location in Iraqi Kurdistan and AM and FM frequencies are announced - could an Arabic speaker kindly translate? I'd also like to know what "As-Safir" means. There's a Lebanese newspaper by that name, and whilst foreign-owned radio stations are not uncommon in Iraq, it'd be unusual for there not to be a "mother station" of the same name in the home country - which there isn't, AFAIK (David Kernick, UK, Aug 22, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Hello, DXers, al safir means the ambassador in Arabic. In that clip, the lady is saying from the mountains of Kurdistan to the palms of Basra, this is Safir radio; the OM was saying an Iraqi station with Egyptian flavor; wonder why, maybe most of the songs they will play will be an Egyptian songs. The frequencies given are as follows: 935 AM and 89.4 FM. I'd really like to know what's the output of their MW station, as they say it's covering from Kurdistan to Basra. All the best (Tarek Zeidan, Aalborg, Denmark, ibid.) WTFK? So was this recorded from a webcast, URL? Or which frequency. I was hoping for shortwave, but unseems (Glenn, ibid.) Thanks very much for your help, Tarek! The clip was taken from a live stream on this website: http://www.aliraqnews.com which has been around for five or so years but have only recently added streaming. So I suppose with a web stream they'd have no difficulty at all in covering "from the mountains of Kurdistan to the palms of Basra"! ;-) (David Kernick, ibid.) ** KUWAIT. Saturday 22 Aug: Peculiar: 7250, R Kuwait, 0935 in Farsi with talks by YL. Keeping radio on and listening at 0958 I heard ID as of R Kuwait, then national anthem. ID at 1000 in Arabic then ID with hymn with talks mixed with English and Tagalog (presumed) language. At 1102 with qura`nic psalms. Re-tuning on 1005, frequency was vacant!!! 24x23 (Zacharias Liangas, Litohoron, Greece, Aug 23, using the PL550 radio connected into the mesh window fence, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** KUWAIT [and non]. After two days off air via 11960, JOR had returned today (22nd), but there is still no trace of KWT 11675, or any alternate frequency. This transmission should be the 0315-0900 (or was it til 1000) service in Arabic // 13650 - that one is still on air. Is anyone hearing 11675 in DRM at 2200-0300? (Noel R. Green (NW England), Aug 22, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** LAOS. 6130, Lao National Radio, 1140-1215 Aug 20. Lao vocals hosted by M past ToH, then dead air, seemingly, from 1203 to 1210; tuned back in time to hear the usual ToH gongs at 1211, followed by possible ID and news. Fair signal in the band noise (John Wilkins, Wheat Ridge, Colorado. Drake R-8, 100-foot RW, Cumbredx mailing list via DXLD) ** LAOS. 7145, Lao National R, Vientiane, External Services back as mentioned already some weeks back with schedule as in WRTH 2009. Best 1200-1400 with French 1300-1330, English 1330-1400 with good, clear signals. LF reception is so good with no sunspots and the Solar Flux in the 60s. I heard them with the 0530-0630 transmission at noon here, never before. Even though I am a radio amateur and know 7145 is not a morally correct operation for Laos, I love to have this rare DX continue. Here is South and SEAsia the new band extension is hardly used (Victor Goonetilleke, Kolamunne, Piliyandala, Sri Lanka, Aug 17, DXplorer via DSWCI DX Window Aug 19 via DXLD) 7145, Lao External Service in English quite well heard from about 1332 tune-in, with a gradual weakening signal as my local sun rises. Same woman, difficult to copy due to her monotone and accent. Seems like a lot of short stories, with same short musical bridge between stories. Became pretty useless by 1354, but I anticipate this to be a good catch as fall approaches. Rock solid transmitter too. Should get out very well (Walt Salmaniw, BC, Aug 23, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 7145 is listed as only 10 kW, while the domestic service on 6130 is 50! Something awry there. No sign of any plans to replace 7145 with something outside the hamband (gh, DXLD) Hi Walt, Good to see your postings again. Always enjoy knowing what you are hearing up in B.C. Was surprised to find that your reception of Laos (LNR) was apparently not as good as it has been here in Calif. The format for the English segment starts with ID, followed by “local news”, with music bridges between items. At about 1350 they end the local news, then another ID and starts “international news”. They are not very consistent regarding their timing. Often they start English anywhere between 1327 and 1333. Sometimes they end transmission after the news, but many times they continue on with their local programming in Laotian (usually with a singing station jingle, ads, pop songs, etc. till off about 1402 or so). I find their French segment (1300-1330) to have the best reception. As you say, this should be outstanding during the upcoming DX season! Certainly hope so! Best regards, (Ron Howard, Asilomar Beach, CA, via DXLD) ** MADAGASCAR. (presumed) 7105, Radio Madagasikara, Ambohhidrano, Aug 23, 0455 - transmitter on at 0455, but only barely threshold audio only heard just after 0500 UT, woman talking, instrumental music bridge, fading. Very presumed. Although this is almost 2 hours after transmitter sunrise, no idea who else this could be (Brandon Jordan, Memphis, TN USA, Microtelecom Perseus SDR, Wellbrook ALA100 4m x 8m delta loop, Aug 23, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MALAYSIA. 6049.64, Asyik FM (presumed) 1236-1300+ Aug 19. Vocal music, YL announcer past ToH. Fair at best on LSB. 7295, Traxx FM, 1245-1312 Aug 17. Pop music, YL between selections; "Traxx FM" jingle at ToH, followed by 1+1 pips and presumed news; back to music at 1311. All in English. Fair signal but rough copy due to 7300 splatter (John Wilkins, Wheat Ridge, Colorado. Drake R-8, 100- foot RW, Cumbredx mailing list via DXLD) Before 1230 I can often hear the het against HCJB 6050.0, but that`s it (gh, OK, DXLD) ** MALI. Re 9-061, Mali on 41 m uses 7284.6 kHz (Robert Foerster, Germany, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 9635, RTVM, *0801-0835, Aug 21, sign on with about 30 seconds of flute IS & into vernacular talk. Rustic tribal music at 0826. Poor in noisy conditions (Brian Alexander, PA, DX Listening Digest) Radio Mali has returned to 9635 kHz, heard today, Aug. 23rd, with good signals at 0830, with fine Kora music. 73s, good DX, I hope you have a good weekend (Robert Foerster, Germany, Aug 23, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MALI. 5995, Radio Mali, Bamako, Aug 23, 0556-0800* - noted transmitter on but couldn't make out much audio until signal peaked from 0620 UT, woman monologue in French until the bottom of the hour. Male talking in language, then a capella vocals. Clear and slowly fading, still hearing weak audio when RA's Waltzing Matilda started up at 0758. (Jordan-TN) (tentative) 7285.75, Radio Mali, Bamako, Aug 23, *0658 - just threshold audio amidst DRM noise at 0700, talk by man in possible French. Moderate QRM from New Zealand DRM on 7285, approximately 40 minutes after Bamako sunrise (Brandon Jordan, Memphis, TN USA, Microtelecom Perseus SDR, Wellbrook ALA100 4m x 8m delta loop, Aug 23, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MAURITANIA. Even with average condx on the medium wave band, 783 remains a good performer almost on a daily basis since a couple of weeks or so. Here's a sample with interesting music: http://www.quebecdx.com/mauritania_783a.mp3 (08-17-2009 00:59 UTC) Actually, the long wave band is performing better with Poland and Iceland showing up lately (Sylvain Naud, Portneuf, QC, Canada, http://www.quebecdx.com MWDX yg via DXLD) 4845 & 7285, R. Mauritanie, Nouakchott, remain silent; \\ 783 is well audible though (Carlos Gonçalves, Portugal, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) MAURITANIA. And BENIN, BURKINA FASO, CHAD,: All missing on their usual frequencies in the evenings during all my observations in the past three weeks or so. 73 (Thorsten Hallmann, Münster, Germany, http://africalist.de.ms Aug 20, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MEXICO. 6185.006, R Educación, México City, 1015, Aug 19 - good signal, monologue by man, Radio Educación mention toward bottom of the hour (Brandon Jordan - Memphis, TN, USA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MEXICO [and non]. 6010.00, Radio Mil, Mexico City, 0740-0800, Aug 23, Spanish pop music. Some Spanish versions of US pop music. “Radio Mil” IDs at 0745, 0751, 0759. Poor to fair. Very weak co-channel QRM (Brian Alexander, Mechanicsburg, PA, Equipment: Icom IC-7600, two 100 foot longwires, DX LISTENING DIGEST) R. Mil, 6010, in the clear with fair signal, Aug 22 at 1200 with SEP PSA, ID for XEOY 1000 only, jingle and into music show, where Mexican music lives. RASA Mérida, 6104.7, Aug 22, must have intuned just in time at 1205 as heard ad in Spanish strangely giving website ending in .uk, but big het from 6105.0, and also squeezed by stronger 6100 and 6110 signals. In next few minutes, could not pull any further audio from XEQM, which faded down quickly, but still able to het. 6100 is CRI in Russian via Beijing site; 6105 is Taiwan in Cantonese via Kouhu; 6110 is ChiCom jamming/VOA Tinian (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) See also UNIDENTIFIED 6045 ** MEXICO [and non]. 1700, XEKTT Tecate, BN, (San Diego), 0100 Aug 22 with p-b-p coverage of Little League World Series, with California whipping some serious knots [?] on Kentucky. I think Kevin Redding would vouch for me there is usually no co-channel station with "San Diego 1700" here in the middle of Arizona, but I was hearing a co- channel mixing with oldies pop-format, once nearly burying San Diego with "Give Me One More Chance" by Jacko-5. also heard Michael McDonald cut. Would love to know who has that format! (Rick Barton, Arizona, 02 GMC Sonoma dashboard rig (MW), Sangean ATS-803A (SW), NewTronics 1C- 100(S) antenna (SW), 73 and good DXing to ALL ! :D, ABDX via DXLD) Brownsville? ** MEXICO [and non]. The state of U.S. geography education..... I've been digging gradually through official Mexican documents looking for information about TV stations there. Just located a folder-full of documents addressed to Kevin J. Martin, who was at the time Chairman of the FCC. When a new FM or TV station is proposed within 400km of the border, it must be sent across to the other administration for approval. These documents are the Mexican responses to U.S. proposals. Some are approved; some are denied. Two in particular are interesting. In one, Mexico objected to a proposal for a LPTV station, ostensibly in San Diego. They noted the proposed coordinates were in the Pacific Ocean! -- 112 km off the Baja California coast (30-00-33N. They probably meant 33-00-33.) In another, they indicated they couldn't offer an opinion on a proposal for the use of channel 21 for a LPTV to serve Las Cruces, New Mexico from 34-12-46N/118-03-41W. The coordinates are 1,069 km from Las Cruces (they're near Lancaster, California). COFETEL writes Martin "if the Commission is still interested in this proposal, we ask that you correct the proposed parameters"... (paraphrased from Spanish) (I have no idea where the applicant/FCC got those coordinates. Las Cruces is roughly 32-30-00N, 106-55-00W.) (Doug Smith W9WI, Pleasant View, TN EM66, WTFDA via DXLD) Doug, it sounds like you have a large, time-consuming task on your hands. As SCT is also a government agency, why does their list not contain all stations that are in the COFETEL documents? Why is there no accurate, easy to find list? Thanks for tackling this job (Danny Oglethorpe, Shreveport, LA, ibid.) ** MYANMAR. Monitoring of Myanma R in Sri Lanka with some schedule changes observed as of Aug 17: 5915 observed 2300-0530, 1000-1535 5985 2300-0130, -0930-1535 [means +0930-1535 ?] 7200 0030-0230 9730 0300-0700 (Nay Pyi transmitter) 9730.8 0730-1130 (Yegu transmitter) 5915 all the time and 5985 at 2300-0130 appear to be from the new capital (Nay Pyi). 5985 and 7200 appear top be from the old location (Yegu) in the evenings as well as the 9730.8 Sometimes 9730.8 runs // 5915 around 1000-1130 (Victor Goonetilleke, Kolamunne, Piliyandala, Sri Lanka, DXplorer via DSWCI DX Window Aug 19 via DXLD) ** NETHERLANDS [non]. Hearing RNW in Dutch where I should not: 6225, Aug 22 at 0521, quite readable as BONAIRE leapfrog of 6165 over NHK relay this semihour only on 6195. Also as soon as KBS via Sackville [see KOREA SOUTH] quit 9650 at 1259 Aug 22, RNW IS and Dutch announcements for Indonesia via Tinang, PHILIPPINES in clear for less than a minute until Sackville came back on with CRI relay. Sack is switching from 268 to 240 degrees during this break, and CRI does come in a bit stronger here, but RN continues audible underneath until 1330 at varying levels depending on day-to- day propagation fluxuation (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Anybody else notice some sort of buzzing/jamming under Radio Netherlands 11660 kHz for the 1900 UTC English to Africa? 73 (Mick Delmage, Sherwood Park, Alberta, Aug 23, HCDX via DXLD) RN via Issoudun, FRANCE, perhaps the `best` frequency left for us in NAm (gh, DXLD) ** NETHERLANDS [non]. The Happy Station Show for August 20, 2009. 0100 UT - http://www.radio4all.net/files/kperron@gmail.com/3101-1-happy_station_082009_0100utc.mp3 1500 UT - http://www.radio4all.net/files/kperron@gmail.com/3101-1-happy_station_082009_1500utc.mp3 My guest for the transmission at 0100 August 27th will be Canadian jazz vocalist Anna Jacysyzn (Keith Perron, Taiwan, Aug 21, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Try these links : The Happy Station Show for August 20, 2009. 0100 UT - http://tinyurl.com/mb9pzu 1500 UT - http://tinyurl.com/m5tyus (Alokesh Gupta, New Delhi, India, ibid.) I wonder whether there is a single site to search and download all of the previous shows (Walt Salmaniw, Victoria, BC, ibid.) Yes! Go to http://www.radio4all.net and search either Keith Perron or The Happy Station Show. If you go here and have itunes you can download them directly (Keith Perron, ibid.) Keith: With all due respect I personally do not use itunes as it changes file formats to aac and ruins a playlist and its store is not a free service at all. I did download the two latest editions of The Legendary Happy Station show! I enjoy the great music. 73's, (Noble West, TN, ibid.) I did a search in Itunes and found no listing for Keith Perron or the Happy Station Show. NO PODCAST, NO LISTEN! Five downloaded HS show are hidden somewhere a Playlist of my Ipod Touch. I have over fifty podcasts subscribed to, including World of Radio and DXPL; if a program is not on the Podcast 'page', most likely I will just forget about it. I wonder if Keith knows about Podcasting? (Larry Nebron, CA, ibid.) It's very easy to subscribe to a podcast of THE HAPPY STATION with Keith Perron. You only need to copy-paste the link and to subscribe to a podcast IN YOUR FIREFOX OR OPERA BROWSER! That is what I recommend. Even if you don't want to be subscribed, you only need to visit a podcast and to see download links. Here are the examples: http://kepfeltoltes.hu/090822/OPERA_2009-08-22_www.kepfeltoltes.hu_.png http://kepfeltoltes.hu/090822/FIREFOX_2009-08-22_www.kepfeltoltes.hu_.png Oh, and HERE IS THE PODCAST LINK: http://radio4all.net/responder.php/podcast/podcast.xml?uid=3101 Regards, (Dragan Lekic, Serbia, ibid.) Thanks for the info. The Podcast link DOES work for the Happy Station Show on my IPOD Touch. I'm just a little puzzled why it's not listed in Itunes. Thanks (Larry Nebron, ibid.) HI Everyone, Hope you`re all keeping well. The German magazine Radio Journal http://www.radiojournal.de is publishing a short about Happy Station for next month`s edition. Just had the proof copy sent today; thought you might find it interesting. Hope some of you can at least speak German. Also another interesting development. Starting October 1st, Happy Station will be flying at 35,000 ft. Kind of! China Airlines will carry a specially monthly produced two hour edition of the show as part of the in-flight entertainment international channel for long haul flights to San Francisco, New York, Manchester, Stockholm, Amsterdam, Luxembourg, Vienna and Frankfurt. Regards, (Keith Perron, Taiwan, Aug 24, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** NEWFOUNDLAND [and non]. CANADA, 6160.9 (!) CKZN, St. John's NF, 2250-2300 (when blocked), 18 Aug, English, interview in unidentified program; 35422; it was blocked by a station on an adjacent channel, RNW 6165, but that was more than enough to choke the otherwise quiet signal that was only plagued by fast QSB. This was found parallel to Gander 1400 kHz, rated 33442, QRM de GRD (Carlos Gonçalves, Portugal, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) GRD must refer to Harbour Light of the Windwards on 1400. Could we do without the obscure ITU country abbrs., many of which are not even based on English names? (gh) CANADA. (tentative) 6160.88, CKZN, St. John's, 0700, Aug 19 - poor carrier-only signal with high static levels, but briefly strengthening at 0830 UT with a few minutes of weak audio with accented English talk by a man and woman. Couldn't make enough out for an ID, but enhanced reception corresponding to St. John sunrise gives me more confidence than simply presumed (Brandon Jordan - Memphis, TN, USA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Big het between 6160.0/6160.9, Aug 20 at 0549 with CBC in English. As Carlos Gonçalves just reported from Portugal, CKZN is off-frequency, and here it clashes with CKZU, the two about equal level and inseparable [the only spelling accepted by MS Word]. Normally they are never zero-beat, but maybe 15 Hz apart producing a fast ripple SAH. Still at 0606; I should have checked during CBC News on the hour when they would have been // but unsynchronized. Someone must have bumped the transmitter in St. John`s. Hope they get this fixed quickly but not counting on it (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) I also heard this signal, but at around 0645 UT for a short time on that same day [as Carlos]. It was weak and with splash from ORF 6155. But it was definitely in English, and off frequency on the high side. And there was a heterodyne - now what would that have been caused by? Unfortunately all had disappeared when ORF had their transmitter break just before the hour. There's been no trace of any signal at this same time since then. Interestingly - maybe - I could hear aircraft calling Shanwick (Shannon) at very good strength from locations at around 20degW and at around 50-53degN on 6622 that morning. Shanwick was weak and difficult to copy. Possibly skip distance at 6 MHz was the reason why CKZN was briefly heard? (Noel R. Green (NW England), Aug 20, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Further to other reporters, I found Radio Netherlands programme at weak level on 6160.88 kHz at 0416 UT on 19 August, putting a bad heterodyne on 6160 kHz. "CBC Radio One" identification heard at 0500 just as frequency was smothered by Radio Netherlands 30 minute transmission on 6165. The off-frequency signal was readable again at 0531 when a Radio Sweden identification was heard. Checking CBC's website I concluded that I was hearing CKZN off frequency. BUT, the odd thing about this reception for me was that 6160.01 seemed to be carrying the same programme. CBC News was audible on both 6160.01 and 6160.88 at 0600 UT 19 August but I had to curtail listening at this time. I accept that CKZU Vancouver usually puts in the stronger signal here, but need to check again to satisfy myself that there are different programming streams on both the frequencies (Bryan Clark, Mangawhai, Northland, New Zealand, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) CKZU should not start CBC Overnight WRN relays of other stations until midnight local = 0700 UT, four hours later than CKZN starting at 0300, or rather after the news. However, the CBC news on the hour (only) should be parallel on both stations, altho not exactly synchronized (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) And the first hour of CBC Overnight is BBC (gh, later) CANADA. 6160.881, CKZN, St. John's, 0440, Aug 21 - poor to fair signal with CBC program, talks by men and woman, brief music clips. Noisy crowd in this part of the band and the fun ended at 0559 when R Nederland appeared on 6165 kHz. Carrier-only 6160.021 kHz should be CKZU Vancouver? (Brandon Jordan, Memphis, TN, USA, http://www.bcdx.org Perseus + Wellbrook ALA330S, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) CANADA: CKZN 6161 or so at 0045. Faint and difficult to tune --- frequency may be a bit higher but 6161 sounded fairly accurate. Tnx to Glenn for mentioning this earlier. 22 August (73/Liz Cameron, MI, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) CANADA. 6160.88, CKZN, St. Johns, Aug 23, 0120 - poor to fair with CBC Radio One's Saturday Night Blues program (Brandon Jordan, Memphis, TN USA, Microtelecom Perseus SDR, Wellbrook ALA100 4m x 8m delta loop, Aug 23, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** NIGER. Re 9-061: (back!) 9705, La Voix du Sahel, Niamey, 1805-1851, 15 Aug, Vernacular, news (presumed), talks; 24442, but improving; adjacent QRM de ETHIOPIA 9704.2. Also observed on 18 Aug: 2132-2300*, vernacular, talks, French at 2145 for newsbulletin until 2151, tribal songs, TS for 2200 after which the Tuesday evening program "Musique Moderne du Niger" was aired; 45433 but slowly deteriorating. 73, (Carlos Gonçalves, Portugal, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) A programme in French is s/on at 1857 UT Aug 19, pips and gong at 1900 UT and news in French usually until 1930 or earlier on 9705 kHz, as it was observed 17-19 Aug (French is not at 1800 UT). Tonight close down at 1901 UT probably due to the transmitter problems, Aug 19 (Rumen Pankov, Bulgaria, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Aug 22 via DXLD) 9705, ORTN at 2110 UT on Thur Aug 20, signal rate S=9+5dB, but low audio in Vernaculars, not in French (Wolfgang Büschel, Germany, ibid.) 9705 is active every day, but times vary widely. Heard sign-off at 0700 several times. On Sunday, sign-on was at 0600 and continuing after 0700. Heard several times until 2100 or later, but yesterday sign-off was at 1901, even earlier some other days. Seems to run also in the afternoons around 1600. 73 (Thorsten Hallmann, Münster, Germany, http://africalist.de.ms Aug 20, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 9705, La Voix du Sahel, Niger, head daily but even here with strong whistle from 9704 Radio Ethopia. 1759, 22/08/2009, confirmed parallel with MW 1125 (James MacDonell, NW Nigeria, Aug 23, DX LISTENING DIGEST) La Voix du Sahel, heard today, Aug. 23rd, at 0820 on 9704.99 kHz with continuous talk in French and vernacular language, suffering heavy QRM from Romania on 9700 kHz. Hum present in the modulation. Noted again 1544 with vernacular talk and folk music until covered at 1555 by KBS Seoul on the same frequency. Signal strength a bit stronger than in the morning, about S 3 to 4 (Robert Foerster, Germany, Aug 23, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** NIGERIA. 6025, Radio Nigeria Enugu, seems to be off air once again. 4770 Kaduna heard daily (James MacDonell, NW Nigeria, Aug 23, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** NIGERIA. 15120, 15.8 1820, Voice of Nigeria, Lagos med ”African Safari”, ett musikprogram med olika afrikanska stilarter och artister, bl a Miriam Makeba. Rekommenderas. Hördes kanon, S 5! (Björn Fransson, Sweden, SW Bulletin Aug 23 via DXLD) ** NORTH AMERICA. PIRATES. 6934.8v AM, Radio Appalachia, Aug 23, 0058 - nice bluegrass music, ID's. (Jordan-TN) 6925 USB, Wolverine Radio, Aug 23, 0140 - good signal with a nice Led Zeppelin set, 'Wolverine Radio' ID at 0147 UT (Brandon Jordan, Memphis, TN USA, Microtelecom Perseus SDR, Wellbrook ALA100 4m x 8m delta loop, Aug 23, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** OKLAHOMA. Enid`s part-15 (presumably) faux radio station, ``WECS`` 97.7 has been missing all summer, upon periodic chex as we drove by Emmanuel Baptist kilo-church on West Garriott, but heard back on the air Aug 20 afternoon with usual loop of about a minute, mentioning Emmanuel Christian School term is rebeginning, birthday wishes, but this time voiced by an adult/teacher rather than a child/pupil. Audible only within a few blox on the caradio (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** OKLAHOMA. KGOU has opportunities to begin serving the communities of [linked, with spex and amounts needed to be raised] Woodward and northwest Oklahoma Ada Chickasha In Woodward and Ada, KGOU has received permission from the FCC to build new stations, with federal grants available for partial funding. In Chickasha, permission has been granted for a translator, a smaller type of station that reaches a smaller geographical area. http://www.kgou.org/expand_campaign.php (KGOU newsletter via DXLD) ** PAKISTAN. RADIO PAKISTAN LAHORE GOES SILENT ON MEDIUMWAVE [not] http://blogs.rnw.nl/medianetwork/radio-pakistan-lahore-goes-silent-on-mediumwave Instead of upgrading the equipment and replacing the old transmitter of the Lahore station, one of the major mediumwave stations of Radio Pakistan has been shut down completely on the directions of Director General Murtaza Solangi. This mediumwave station on 630 kHz [100 kW] had been working since 1937. It played a key role in the wars of 1965 and 1971 by broadcasting patriotic national songs. Interestingly, besides closing the chapter of Lahore Station, Mr Solangi also sealed another major news and current affairs channel of Lahore Station that was being listened on 1332 kHz [100 kW] for the last 4 years. It is pertinent to mention that 1332 kHz was established by investing almost five hundred million rupees. An official of Radio Pakistan disclosed that the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting was keeping mum over the solo initiative. The source further says the federal ministry is authorised to establish or close any Radio Pakistan station, but it has remained silent over this solo step for various reasons. The DG of Radio Pakistan is of the view that the closed station was too expensive to operate. Moreover, the old infrastructure was not fulfilling the modern requirements of broadcasting. For meeting modern needs, on the further directions of the DG, a new FM channel on 93 MHz has been established, but it only covers a radius of 30-40 km. Newly appointed Lahore Station Director (SD) Sardar Ali said the station had been ``bearing a huge loss monthly including 1 million rupees`` for electricity bills besides other expenditure. He said ``the new FM service was receiving enormous response from the public. The government has just changed the medium. All the programmes of the station are broadcast on FM now,`` the SD commented. Another senior official says that citing the old transmitter as an excuse is not a suitable justification for closing the whole station. He said India has established more than 100 new mediumwave radio stations along the border for propaganda purposes. ``There is a need to erect new broadcasting channels along with upgrading old ones to meet present day requirements; but the government`s attitude is beyond reason.`` Source: The News) Andy Sennitt adds: This interesting story was very badly written, confusing kW and kHz throughout the story - fortunately I was able to piece together what the article was actually trying to say (August 20th, 2009 - 9:52 UTC by Andy Sennitt, courtesy RN Media Network weblog, via MWN via DXLD) The original, or similar, also confusing kW and kHz: http://www.nation.com.pk/pakistan-news-newspaper-daily-english-online/Regional/Lahore/20-Aug-2009/Radio-Pakistan-Lahore-goes-silent (via Jaisakthivel, Chennai, India, dxldyg via DXLD) The Pakistan Broadcasting Corporation (PBC) has clarified a news item published in a section of the press that Radio Pakistan Lahore has gone silent. The transmission of age old mediumwave transmitter which aired programmes on 630 kHz has not been shutdown but its hours have been reduced due to lack of its reach in the city of Lahore and also due to its old age technology and huge cost of operation. As soon as a new transmitter is available, it will be replaced, said a statement issued by PBC. That said, this transmitter still airs its daily programmes Punjabi Darbar without fail which is heard in parts of Indian Punjab. Radio Pakistan Lahore is now transmitting its programmes on a 5 kW FM transmitter and is heard loud and clear in the city of Lahore. The broadcast hours of Radio Pakistan Lahore have been increased from 110 to 154 weekly and it has started new creative programmes to cater to the changing needs of Lahore populace. The statement termed the reports about sacking staffers and announcer as baseless and said on the contrary Radio Pakistan Lahore intends to hire more staff to meet the programming needs as it will soon broadcast 22 hours a day. PBC has also denied the report of closing down of 100 kW mediumwave transmitter on 1332 KHz and said transmitter is down because of malfunctioning of some of the components of this German made transmitter. The engineers are working to fix the problem and expect resumption of transmission fairly soon. The PBC said the problem related to this transmitter could have been fixed earlier had the previous administrations planned and procured the spare parts of the transmitters (Source: Associated Press of Pakistan) (via MN blog Aug 22 via DXLD) See history in DXLD issues of late January 2006 (Wolfgang Büschel, dxldyg via DXLD) ** PERU. 4790.1, Radio Visión, Chiclayo, 0540-0620, 21-08, locutor, comentario religioso, canciones, programa "La Voz de la Salvación". 15321 (Manuel Méndez, Lugo, España, Grundig Satellit 500 y Sony ICF SW7600G, Antena de cable, 8 metros, Escuchas realizadas en casco urbano de Lugo, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PHILIPPINES. 9395/11720/15190, R Filipinas, Overseas Service, Tinang, 1740-1926*, Aug 09, Tagalog and English, relays a FM program from DWRB “Business Radio”, Manila on 104.3 MHz. The programme was “Business talks” with IDs at 1755 and 1812. At 1825-1830 “PBS news from the PBS Centre”, then again FM relay from DWRB with many reports, popular and international music. At 1926* sign off with ID “Radio Filipinas” and frequencies. 15190 fades out here at 1800, 11720 at 1825 and 9395 heard till 1926*. S 2 with fading. Thanks to Bueschel for informing me! (Roland Schulze, Stuttgart, Germany, DSWCI DX Window Aug 19 via DXLD) ** QUEBEC. TQS network name change --- The new owner of TQS (one of Quebec's TV networks) has announced that it will now be called "V" as a reference to French words that reflect the new programming: Vedettes (Stars) - Vitesse (speed)- Victoire (victory) - Vice... etc.... Personally I could add "Vile". It should appeal to the basic instincts of their viewership; I'm not making that up, they more or less said that, not in so many words but that's what they meant! In any case, you can see the new logo here: http://www.radio-canada.ca/nouvelles/societe/2009/08/19/001-call-tv-decision-conseil.shtml Try this link for the new "V" logo: http://www.tqs.ca/ 73, (Charles Gauthier, Brossard, QC, Aug 19, WTFDA via DXLD) ** ROMANIA. 7305, August 20 at 0547 M&W in English concluding ``Society Today`` program discussing probation, RRI ID. Not listed here in PWBR `2009` and RRI uses so many frequencies I don`t have them all memorized. This is the only semi-hour per day RRI is on 7305, 0530 via Galbeni, 300 kW, 300 degrees to Europe, and incidentally North America beyond (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** RUSSIA. 12040, VOR via Moscow, 1658, 8/22/09. 1812 Overture IS to TOH. English ID, "This is Moscow" at 1700:03 into English nx read by YL. Poor signal. 12065, VOR via Chita-Atamanovka, 1250, 8/23/09. End of listed Vietnamese service. Mostly Jazz music. Usual IS to TOH. English ID at 1300:04. English news read by OM. Fair signal (Jerry Strawman, Des Moines, IA, Drake R8B, Par EF-SWL 45' Random Wire, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 13870 with fairly good signal in Russian, Aug 20 at 1358, Arkady with schedule announcement, including 22 meters, 1400 6-pip time signal with some character, not just pure tones, and accurate compared to WWV a few minutes later; Golos Rossii ID. Per Aoki it`s Moscow site at 190 degrees, 12-15 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SAIPAN. 11650, KFBS, 1030 Aug 22 with Russian talks, IDed as 'Radio Hent' [??] then with ID and frequencies (Zacharias Liangas, Litohoron, Greece, Aug 23, using the PL550 radio connected into the mesh window fence, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SERBIA [non]. 9675, IRS reconfirmed in English at 0037 Aug 20. From past week`s monitoring, it may or may not be on, and even less likely at 0100 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Glenn, I did catch IRS a little after 0100 on 18 AUG 2009. It's still there, but does not seem to be regular nor does it seem like it's up for the full 0000-0130 block as I had checked earlier at 0000 and at 0030 and heard nothing. Best (Jeramy A. Ross / W5XTL, Aug 20, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SLOVAKIA. Hello Glenn, Radio Slovakia International, scheduled 0800 to 0830 in German, is heard regularly on 11840 kHz in addition to scheduled 5920 and 6055 kHz. It appears to be the second harmonic of 5920 kHz with a weak but stable signal on a clear channel at that particular time, noted Aug. 21st at 0815 with interview, S=2. 73s & good DX (Robert Foerster, Germany, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Hi Robert, Very interesting, especially since I would guess you are at a rather close skip distance to Rimavska Sobota to be getting such a weak signal on 11 MHz. Just wondering where in Germany are you, and how far from R.S.? As I have with WWCR harmonics on 25 m, I am wondering whether it is the receiver at fault rather than the transmitter. Is 5920 extremely strong when you get 11840? (Glenn to Robert, via DXLD) Hi Glenn, indeed, it is very interesting to observe how such a relatively low signal can be heard at such a distance. But as I regularly work QRP on the ham bands, I am sure that propagation, amongst other factors as soil conductivity etc., plays the most important part in such a phenomenon. First some details about my QTH. I am located in the most western part of Germany. My geographic coordinates are 50 50’13.91” N, 6 16’01.58” E, all according to Google Earth. The Maidenhead locator for my QTH is JO30du. Height above sea level is 165 m. Talking about soil conductivity, it must be quite good. When in the 50s the Deutsche Bundespost looked for a site for the new Shortwave Station for Deutsche Welle, and, by the way, also for the Foreign office transmitting station, they found it some 20 km from here in Juelich, still a well-known transmitter site. They certainly have conducted soil conductivity evaluations prior to erecting their project. The G. C. for Rimavska Sobota are 48.23.00.04 N, 20.01.06.09 E, again according to Google Earth, Locator KN08AH. The distance between us is 1029 km at a bearing of 100 . Of course, as is usually the case when one wants to make exact measurements, this morning, Aug. 22nd, the signal on 11840 kHz is so weak that I am unable to measure it. The 5920 kHz QSA is about 60 dB on the Collins with deep QSB periods, and S5 on the more “generous” Kenwood R-600. But one thing is for sure: Yesterday, 5920 kHz was about 1 S stronger (at least) than today, and 11840 kHz gave about 30 dB on the Collins. So what conclusion to take? First, I think I have the chance to live in an environment that is excellent for SW (and MW) reception. Another example: For years, I regularly hear the harmonics of a French station on 7020 kHz in the middle of the 40 m CW HAM band. I informed the “DARC Bandwacht” about that phenomenon, coming, of course from 1404 kHz (x5) MW. In their reply, they stated that no one, except me, had ever complained about that and that they were unable to hear anything. Secondly, we had had intense Sporadic-E these past days, extending yesterday to 6 meters in the evening. Under such conditions, I regularly hear Czech and Slovak signals on 31 m and above with incredible field strengths, as if they were coming via ground wave from Juelich. So I don’t think it is a receiver mixing product or similar, as I always check on several different rigs. From Juelich, I have heard harmonics in the 10 m Amateur band. When I phoned them, their first reaction was to doubt my receiver, but then, after measuring, they had to admit that some microwatts had found their way to my receiving setup of which they then admired the sensitivity, hi. I hope I didn’t take too much of your time, but these things are always very interesting to analyze. 73s, good DX and good weekend (Robert Foerster, Germany, Aug 22, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Hi Glenn, Today, Aug. 23rd, I was able to make some additional measurements on the Rimavska Sobota [11840] signal present at around 0810. Signal strength as measured on the Collins was about 30 to 40 db, the Kenwood R-600 showing S 2 to 3, both with good readability. On 5920 kHz, the respective values were 80 dB and S 4 - 5. So, as you presumed, this confirms the relation between signal strength on 5920 kHz and on the harmonic (Robert Foerster, Germany, Aug 23, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Very good, but I thought ground (soil) conductivity altho critical on MW, had little bearing on SW efficiency (gh, DXLD) ** SOUTH CAROLINA [non]. 9385, Brother Scare via WWRB as I tuned by Aug 20 at 1342 was offering DE-15 shortwave radios for a $75 donation. But it`s been sold by Amazon for less than a month at $49.99. Is only one semi-inch ``think``: http://www.amazon.com/Degen-DE15-Ultra-thin-Shortwave-Radio/dp/B002ITQB9U But will it pick up WWRB spurs? At 1345 was hearing het on approx. 9452 against Thailand 9455, previously tracked to 9385, but too much noise now to be sure. Line(?) noise level has increased, perhaps tnx to lightning disturbing the transformers. Altho storms are still coming and going, today`s logs are on the outside antenna between them 13845, WWCR with very poor signal at early hour of 1235 Aug 22, not Brother Scare but certainly someone else preaching on The Overcomer Ministry, for // 3185 WWRB, but 13845 a few sex ahead of 3185 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 13845, USA, WWCR Nashville, TN, 2000 Aug 22, Brother Scare had been preaching to the choir before TOH; ID by male at 2000, then joins Pastor Scott already in progress. I have been trying to figure out the new sked on WWCR since Stair went there on 13845, sometimes monitoring mobile during my workday. I think at some point I told Glenn Hauser I can`t figure out what they are doing at WWCR if they don`t know what they are doing, themselves. The schedule is very helter-skelter as to when Stair hands off to DGS (Rick Barton, Arizona, 02 GMC Sonoma dashboard rig (MW), Sangean ATS-803A (SW), NewTronics 1C-100(S) antenna (SW), 73 and good DXing to ALL ! :D, ABDX via DXLD) ** SPAIN. See COSTA RICA ** SUDAN. 7200, SRTC, Omdurman, Aug 23, *0236 - on with Qur`an recitations and initially very strong ham QRM from AD8P on 7202.2 LSB. Later in the clear with Sudanese vocals, Arabic talks. Very strong peak noted at 0338 UT. 5+1 time pips with echo efx at 0500, ID mentioning as-Sudan into news bulletin (Brandon Jordan, Memphis, TN USA, Microtelecom Perseus SDR, Wellbrook ALA100 4m x 8m delta loop, Aug 23, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** TAIWAN. 9735, RTI Japanese service reactivated, Aug 22 at 1317, poor signal, no spurs today on 9730 or 9740. This is the Tainan transmitter that was blown off by typhoon, and temporarily replaced by 7130 from another site, where nothing was audible today. FE reports indicate this came back several days ago but first time I`ve heard it again (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** TAIWAN. R. TAIWAN INTERNATIONAL TRANSMITTER SITE USED TO SETTLE TYPHOON MORAKOT VICTIMS --- I'm a bit late in reporting this item. Item came from RTI English news monitored earlier this past week. Apparently one of RTI's transmitter sites in Pingtung County is now being used to settle 100's of homeless victims of Typhoon Morakot. As there were two MW transmitter sites located in this county and that the site of Changchih is no longer listed in WRTH 2009, I'm assuming it is this site rather than Fangliao that is being used for settlement. Counties of Pingtung & Kaohsiung (and Taitung) in southern Taiwan were the worst affected counties of the Typhoon two weeks ago. A "whole village" disappeared under a landslide and with it potentially 100's of peoples` lives. RTI continues with news reports of this tragic event along with its blog site, as accessed via its website: http://rti.com.tw [Later:] Yes, my assumption of the former MW RTI transmitter site of Changchih is correct according to the French & German RTI webpages. 300 families will settle on the 7 hectares site (I .Baxter, Australia, Aug 22, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) However, the German item http://german.rti.org.tw/Content/GetSingleNews.aspx?ContentID=85074 refers to "the transmitter site in Changchih", not a "former" one. And in the "MW by region" list both 927 and 1521 kHz still show up. So what's up with this facility? See also http://www.waniewski.de/id266.htm Telefunken built not just the antennas but the complete station, including the transmitters, a pair of S4006 for each frequency, as it is the case with 1314 kHz in Norway. These transmitters are kind of a mediumwave version of the S4005 shortwave transmitter, case and many parts are identical (Kai Ludwig, Germany, Aug 23, ibid.) Ch'ang-chih TX site area, 350 x 220 meters wide. 22 41'33.79"N 120 34'48.30"E http://maps.google.de/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=de&geocode=&q=22%C2%B041%2733.79%22N++120%C2%B034%2748.30%22E&sll=51.151786,10.415039&sspn=20.585961,56.733398&ie=UTF8&ll=22.692715,120.58008&spn=0.007374,0.013851&t=h&z=17&iwloc=A TWN Ch'ang-chih 4-mast array for 1521 kHz 1200 kW, Telefunken 22 41'43.80"N 120 35'01.35"E 4 x 92 m masts at 330 degr main lobe http://maps.google.de/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=de&geocode=&q=22%C2%B041%2743.80%22N++120%C2%B035%2701.35%22E&sll=51.151786,10.415039&sspn=20.585961,56.733398&ie=UTF8&ll=22.695501,120.583706&spn=0.003687,0.006925&t=h&z=18&iwloc=A TWN Ch'ang-chih 4-mast array for 927 kHz 1200 kW, Telefunken 22 41'22.48"N 120 34'36.91"E 4 x 180 m masts at 310 degr main lobe http://maps.google.de/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=de&geocode=&q=22%C2%B041%2722.48%22N++120%C2%B034%2736.91%22E&sll=51.151786,10.415039&sspn=20.585961,56.733398&ie=UTF8&ll=22.689577,120.576915&spn=0.007374,0.013851&t=h&z=17&iwloc=A Taiwan will be built up 300 houses for 400 families on temporary basis, some prefabricated houses will be built up. Alone China mainland will donate 1000 modular housing units. According to G.E. image of 2005, the area around the both antenna arrays is approx. 2 x 2 kilometers farm land. Spanish website mentions 17 hectáreas. http://english.rti.org.tw/Content/GetSingleNews.aspx?ContentID=85072 "RTI's branch station in Changchi in the southernmost Pingtung county was used to temporarily house some 300 people left homeless by the storm" http://english.rti.org.tw/Content/GetSingleNews.aspx?ContentID=84795 http://french.rti.org.tw/Content/GetSingleNews.aspx?ContentID=84807 http://french.rti.org.tw/Content/GetSingleNews.aspx?ContentID=84808 http://spanish.rti.org.tw/Content/GetSingleNews.aspx?ContentID=85081 "centro de alojamiento temporal" --- "más de 17 hectáreas a campo abierto podrá ser usado a tiempo indefinido para la construcción de un alojamiento temporal." http://spanish.rti.org.tw/Content/GetSingleNews.aspx?ContentID=84778 Notaufnahmelager - emergency hospitalisation http://german.rti.org.tw/Content/GetSingleNews.aspx?ContentID=85074 http://german.rti.org.tw/Content/GetSingleNews.aspx?ContentID=84820 RTI Indonesian and Vietnamese MW services changed from Chang-chih 927/1521 kHz to Minhsuing Mia Xiong 1422 kHz a year ago. Also Lukang and Fangliao are used for Chinese services instead. 73 wb (Wolfgang Büschel, Aug 23, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) See also CHINA, re Sound of Hope ** THAILAND. R. Thailand, which on Aug 17 was in English by mistake at 1330 on 9455, did not manage to check it on 18 or 19, but Aug 20 at 1345 confirmed back in Thai; het on 9452 may be the spur again from WWRB, see SOUTH CAROLINA [non] (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** TIBET. 60 meters, 22 Aug: 4820, CHINA/TIBET, Lhasa, Xizang PBS; 1201z M in Chinese with announcements, 1207 Chinese operatic/choral song. Fair 4905, CHINA/TIBET, Lhasa, Xizang PBS; 1204z W in Chinese? Tibetan listed, with news, //4920. Fair 4920, CHINA/TIBET, Lhasa, Xizang PBS; 1204z W in Chinese? Tibetan listed, with news, // 4905 better, P-F with terrible ute QRM 73's de (Steven C. Wiseblood, AB5GP, Brownsville TX (2 miles from Boca Chica Beach, GULF of MEXICO), Radio Shack DX-399, 150' center fed LW, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) and more under CHINA China Tibet PBS now on the internet. From my contact at China Tibet PBS in Lhasa I learned that their website was launched on June 3. It is at: http://www.en.tibetradio.cn and the English-language programmes "Holy Tibet" can be heard by clicking on "On Demand". (Maarten van Delft, Netherlands, Aug DSWCI SW News via DXLD) ** TIBET. 7350, CNR-11 (Tibetan Service), 1430, August 22, special "Holy Tibet" program entirely about the Shoton Festival, held from August 20 to 26 in Lhasa, which is one of the most important Tibetan festivals. Consists of singing competitions, Tibetan operas, Buddhist painting displays, Lhasa International Half Marathon Challenge and yogurt banquets. In the Tibetan language, “Shoton” means “yogurt banquet”. Have updated the audio file at dxldyg “File > Station Sounds” (Ron Howard, Asilomar Beach, CA, Etón E1, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 6050, 22/08 2045, TIBET, PBS Xizang, em Chinese, desde Lhasa, com 100 kW, curta fala de YL entre bonitas musicas orquestradas, inclusive algumas ocidentais, (lembrando do artigo do colega Wilson Rodrigues no ATDX impresso, realmente uma programação agradável do outro lado do mundo em um idioma difícil e a "agradável" escuta característica de OC), durante a agradável escuta ouve-se de vez em quando o canto de pássaros, 34333. 73 (Jorge Freitas, Feira de Santana Bahia - Brasil, HCDX via DXLD) ** UGANDA. (presumed) 7194.98, R Uganda, Kampala, Aug 23, *0601 - novelty log. Noted weak carrier at 0601 UT on, only 15 dB above noise floor. Surely Uganda, a little over 2 hours after Kampala sunrise (Brandon Jordan, Memphis, TN USA, Microtelecom Perseus SDR, Wellbrook ALA100 4m x 8m delta loop, Aug 23, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** UKRAINE [and non]. Radio Ukraine - 7440 - Kharkov, Ukraine - 0214z 22 Aug, Continues this hour unnoticed by AOKI or EiBi on old reliable frequency. Vocal music and weekend programming. Lower in 41m Russia is on about a dozen different freqs fighting with Hams. Wasteful. Why not pick just one and in the clear? http://www.mediafire.com/?wwmtdnjadzm (Terry Wilson, MI, Aug 22, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) along with several other `audio logs` In Ukrainian. EiBi does have it but Aoki shows a gap 01-03. HFCC shows 7440 LV continuous 23 to 04 (gh, DXLD) ** U K [non]. BBC via MEYERTON, RSA was peaking to S7 on the meter this Saturday morning at 0630+ with WS English to Africa. On the 21/08 there was a positive signal audible on 9860 also, but still too weak in local noise to be certain that it was BBC MEY. Today there was only a trace of something. As with our weather, no two days propagation is the same! (Noel R. Green (NW England), Aug 22, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 22 Aug 09, UK (non): BBC WS via Ascension, 17640 at 1545z (250 kW at 114 degrees) much better than // 17830 (250 at 65). I guess this shows the front to back ratio is less than front to side (my bearing from Ascension is 302). (Jerry Lenamon, Waco, Texas, Drake R8B, sloper, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A [and non]. 15475 kHz, IBB/HCJB DRM noted from 2018 to 2200 UT on Aug 19, although very weak and only a few brief audio decodes. 9405 kHz, IBB/HCJB DRM noted from 2352 UT on Aug 19 and ongoing at 0240 UT with VOA Music Mix, light pop, rap and hip-hop. Decent signal and solid decode. Music Time in Africa would be much nicer. 73, (Brandon Jordan, Memphis, TN USA, WinRadio G313e +ALA330S + DRM decoder, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) DRM noise was also audible here in the NW of England on 15470-75-80 at around 2100UT+, but the signal was hardly bothering the S-meter, so may have been difficult to decode by those with necessary equipment (Noel R. Green (NW England), Aug 20, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 15470-15475-15476-15480, finally able to detect the DRM test from Greenville with 8 kW, Aug 20 at 2005, only S6-S9 peaks, but plenty enough to impossiblize any reception of LRA36, the poor unique Antarctican SW station which don`t get no respect from the big guns (partly Argentina`s fault for not registering its M-F 18-21 usage with HFCC --- if it`s not in HFCC, everyone not paying attention may assume it doesn`t exist; or if they are paying attention, may still pretend it doesn`t exist). The DRM sked is 20-22 UT, started in honor of HFCC Dominican Republic which is about to wrap up, but it seems the IBB/HCJB DRM experiment from Greenville is supposed to continue indefinitely; after all, this one is aimed at Europe, not DR, nor is the 9400-9405-9410 test, aimed NW, not a direxion the regular antennas at Greenville are designed for. While I was at it, looked for other DRM at 2005: 15275-15280-15285 HCJB with S9; nothing on 17865-17870-17875 from Guiana French. Greenville analog on 17895 was only poor vs previous log of weekend Music Time in Africa, which was probably sporadic-E enhanced (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Reception reports mostly from Europe of the IBB/HCJB DRM test from Greenville on 15470-15475-15480 http://www.drmrx.org/forum/showthread.php?t=2141 Strangely enough, no one complains about it blocking LRA36 Antarctica --- but who cares, that`s only in analog (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) IBB/HCJB DRM - 9405 - Greenville, NC - 0115z 22 Aug --- VOA Music Mix again, with ghastly headache-inducing "music," despite IBB/HCJB banner. http://www.mediafire.com/?imnj1gmtqgk Lots of decode dropouts. Sounds like a corrupted low-quality mp3. All hail digital! Had enough patience to hang on for one VOA Digital Test Transmission picture. http://www.mediafire.com/?atjzmwy5ry5 (Terry Wilson, MI, Aug 22, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) along with several other `audio logs` ** U S A [non]. VOA via SAO TOME on 12080 was also a better than usual signal at around 0655 with some sort of pop or rap 'music' programme until sudden stop at 0700 when ID was given, followed by Yankee Doodle. Parallel 15580 via BOT was very weak and only peaking occasionally to audibility. 6080 via SAO is difficult due to DRM from 6085 and splash from D.Welle via WOF 6075, but there appeared to be something on the frequency (Noel R. Green (NW England), Aug 22, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 9490, Aug 22 at 1225 M&M conversation, sounds like a mix between Korean and Japanese --- maybe Korean with a Japanese accent? That must surely affect some individuals with a cross-cultural background, but would not expect to be heard on VOA, which this turned out to be per schedule, Korean 1200-1300 via Saipan (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Glenn, After listening to the latest edition of World of Radio last night (WWCR 15820), I thought I should send some observations from my location in north-west Nigeria. I checked out the VOA clash with itself on 17585. 22/08/2009, 1400- 1430, 17585 VOA English (Greenville) did indeed go silent at exactly 1430. BUT at tune-in at 1428 I heard the other transmitter (Thailand or Botswana?) already on air with the VOA sign-on playing Yankee Doodle until 1430. So for at least a couple of minutes there is a mess as the signals strengths were about equal here (James MacDonell, Nigeria, Aug 23, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Another check of VOA Greenville 17585, Aug 23 at 1417: continuous jazz, but not // 9760 Tinang which was as usual in news during this hour. Why isn`t that on 17585 too despite being a Sunday? Cut off without any announcement at 1430:00 as IBB has finally learned to do at Greenville to make way for Botswana`s takeover of same frequency, inaudible. However, James MacDonell in Nigeria tells me that as of Aug 22, Botswana was still coming on at *1428 with Yankee Doodle Dandy sign-on routine, overlapping Greenville. It takes a while for instruxions to filter down to where they are sorely needed in the IBB bureaucracy (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. PICTURES OF VOA BETHANY AND DELANO During my websurfing I discovered some fresh new pictures. VOA Delano - antenna farm (July 25, 2009): http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:2009-0725-CA-Delano-VOArelay.jpg or directly [4.6 MB]: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/79/2009-0725-CA-Delano-VOArelay.jpg Ted Landphair's visit to Bethany [long story, with illustrations]: http://tedlandphairsamerica.blogspot.com/2009/07/our-temple-of-radio.html New pics of VOA Bethany Park: http://voapark.blogspot.com [and OLD pix, from when it was under construxion] (Dragan Lekic, Serbia, Aug 22, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. FORMER VOICE OF AMERICA OFFICIAL CHARGED By DEVLIN BARRETT, Associated Press Writer – 1 min ago WASHINGTON – A former top official for Voice of America was indicted Friday on corruption charges, accused of taking thousands of dollars in concert and sports tickets in exchange for favors to disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff. Horace Cooper, who is also a one-time aide to former Republican House Majority Leader Dick Armey, is accused of defrauding the government after getting choice seats to see N'Sync, the Dixie Chicks, and Bruce Springsteen, among others. The indictment charges Cooper agreed to use his position at Voice of America — and his subsequent job at the Labor Department — to advance the interests of Abramoff and his clients.. . http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090821/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/us_abramoff_voice_of_america_2 (Aug 21 via DXLD) See also Department of Justice press release via TPM, 21 August 2009. http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/2009/08/doj-former-voa-chief-of-staff-indicted-in-connection-with-abramoff-investigation-1.php And Cooper bio at GOPUSA. http://www.gopusa.com/commentary/hcooper/bio.shtml Posted: 22 Aug 2009 (kimandrewelliott.com via DXLD) He likes cigars, and black cars (gh) ** U S A. VOA PAKISTANI REPORTER RELEASED AFTER 10 DAYS OF DETENTION BY US IMMIGRATION "U.S. immigration officials released a visiting Pakistani journalist employed by the U.S.-sponsored Voice of America news service Wednesday, 10 days after taking him into custody on his arrival at Dulles International Airport. Rahman Bunairee, 33, was hoping to find refuge in the United States after receiving threats in recent weeks from Islamic militants displeased with his reports about their activities in Pakistan's restive North-West Frontier Province. ... Concerned for his safety, officials at VOA quickly arranged to bring Bunairee to the United States on a J-1 visa, often used by research institutions to sponsor scholars on temporary exchange programs. Bunairee was to work on expanding VOA's Pashto language service, which serves the Afghanistan-Pakistan border region." Washington Post, 20 August 2009. See also VOA News, 19 August 2009. And McClatchy Newspapers, 18 August 2009. "While welcoming the news of Mr. Bunairee's release, the BBG also expects that Mr. Bunairee will in due course be able to undertake the assignment at VOA for which he has come to this country. His work and that of his colleagues at Deewa Radio is critical to advancing U.S. strategic interests in the struggle against extremism. The BBG wishes to thank Paul Virtue, an attorney with Hogan and Hartson in Washington, who has worked pro bono to provide Mr. Bunairee with expert legal counsel." Broadcasting Board of Governors press release, 19 August 2009 (kimandrewelliott.com via DXLD) "Advancing U.S. strategic interests in the struggle against extremism"? What about reporting the news, which is what reputable international broadcasters do? In any case, if Bunairee can't resolve his US immigration issues, perhaps he can go to Prague to work for RFE/RL's new service for the Afghanistan-Pakistan border region, created to duplicate VOA's Deewa Radio. The two US-funded archrivals will be raiding each other's talent pools as a matter of course (Kim Andrew Elliott, ibid.) "'CPJ is relieved that Rahman Bunairee has been released,' said CPJ Deputy Director Robert Mahoney. ... 'We hope that his status in the U.S. will be resolved quickly so he can resume his work as a journalist.'" Committee to Protect Journalists, 19 August 2009. See previous posts on 16 August and 12 July 2009. Posted: 20 Aug 2009 See linx: http://kimelli.nfshost.com/index.php?id=7170 (ibid.) ** U S A. This week`s first SW airing of WORLD OF RADIO 1474 confirmed on WRMI 9955, UT Thu Aug 20 at 0531, mixing with DentroCuban pulse jamming; tnx a lot, Arnie! WRMI, 9955, with (temporarily?) expanded schedule, to include at least part of WRN relays which are on the webcast M-F at 16-24 = 40 hours per week: poor but audible Aug 20 at 2004 with English news from Poland (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. The other night I observed that WRNO was still on the air only three hours a day, 0100-0400 on 7505; as if to prove me wrong, UT Aug 20, 7505 was still on the air at 0545 with, what else, gospel rock; S9+22 signal, and still at 0604 but VERY undermodulated: I could turn the volume control wide open and that was about right, but perilous when ontuning. Next check at 1335, still/again on the air, 7505! Now the modulation is OK with music, and at 1337 live DJ announcement from Taylor Duncan, with CDT timecheck, date August 20, and said from next week WRNO would start simulcasting on web via http://www.wrno.org which we may already check; webcast would be 24 hours, and SW would be 12 hours a day. I thought that was the URL he said, but no works; instead still http://www.wrnoworldwide.org/ which certainly has a new look since last I checked, and link to 24 hour program schedule, claiming 7505 is 24 hours at http://www.wrnoworldwide.org/wrnoradio_Schedule.htm which includes 30- or 60-minute newscasts at 0400, 1600 and 1700! Homepage also has news from BBC with their logo. Plus CNN, ESPN and others; and a new blog since Aug 12, but trying to read the posts gets a 503 error. [later: seems these are nothing but twats.] Recheck at 1609, no modulation but carrier +USB, no LSB on 7505; not sure what that is. WRNO, 7505, with (temporarily?) expanded schedule, as in previous report, even more: Aug 20 at 2003 check there is music on frequency, must be WRNO. Not clear what span their ultimate 12-hour-per-day SW service will encompass, but would expect it to be mostly night hours if still avoiding 15590. OTOH, 7505 can reach a certain one-hop radius all day, tho liable to lose out to absorption around noon. 7505 is supposedly available only between 22 and 16 per A-09 version 2 FCC listings (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 7505.7, WRNO New Orleans LA (presumed); 1302-1315+, 20-Aug; Jeezus pop music; no announcements. S20 peaks; audio all over the place; barely audible to blasting (Harold Frodge, Midland MI, USA, Drake R8B + 125 ft. bow-tie; 85 ft. RW & 180 ft. center-fed RW, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 7505.7, WRNO New Orleans LA (presumed); 2204-2211+, 20-Aug; Jeezus pop music; no announcements. SIO=554 with S20 peaks. I'll bet this format is really raking in the dough (Harold Frodge, MI, MARE Tipsheet via DXLD) O, I had not tried to measure if it was off 7505.0 (gh, DXLD) WRNO must have been testing longer hours on 7505v, but Aug 22 at 0515 it was off as usual. Propagation was a bit strange, but surely would have heard some sign of it if on. Also at 0510, 0515, WEWN absent from 7555 and 11870, but they have been missing quite a bit of airtime lately. At 0515, usually dominant WYFR was JBA on 9680 and 9715, even less on 9355 and 9385, but good on 7730, so the MUF had plunged to between 8 and 9 MHz (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. WEWN - west antenna field http://www.panoramio.com/photo/5842721 (Ian Baxter, Australia, shortwavesites yg site Aug 20 via BC-DX via DXLD) ** U S A. A few weeks ago I found a time when World Harvest Radio was axually broadcasting DXing with Cumbre on SW, Sunday 1200 on WHRI 9410. The online schedule still shows it also Saturday on same, so finally checked for that Aug 22: NOTHING, not even on the air at 1223, so WHR`s fantasy scheduling is reconfirmed (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. For the third day, WWCR on 15820 instead of 15825, Aug 20 at 1404 check, just barely audible with no Es-enhancement. WWCR still on 15820 ex-15825, Aug 21 at 1339 with gospel music, good signal. The transmitter schedule on website still shows 15825, but the home page has this: ``NOTICE!!! As of 18 August, 15.825mHz frequency will temporarily move to 15.820mHz for testing.`` The first WWCR airing of WORLD OF RADIO 1474 confirmed on new experimental 15820 ex-15825, Friday Aug 21 at 2029:30 (rather than starting as early as 2028:30 sometimes), only fair signal here in the skip zone with no Es to help. Also Aug 22 at 1238 still on 15820, for how much longer? poor with preacher (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Still on 15820 Aug 23. See also SOUTH CAROLINA [non] ** U S A. WTJC 9369.91 in Arabic at 0016. Not // WBOH 5920. 22 August (73/Liz Cameron, MI, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Unusual! (gh) WTJC, 9370v, still accompanied by spurs. Aug 23 at 0514 during omniscient preacher, ratchety distortion matching 9370 modulation peaks heard centred about 9340 and 9400. Correlate with strong S9+20 signal on fundamental despite nightmiddle propagation (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. WINB 9264.97 with religious program at 0020. Not a common catch at my QTH. 22 August (73/Liz Cameron, MI, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. 13110-SSB, Aug 20 at 0535, Perfect Pauline still has not learned not to say ``nautical smiles`` but certainly brought a smile to my non-nautical face; marine weather for Atlantic, no doubt influenced by H. Bill; 0537 ID as WLO & KLB, ``now standing by for calls, end of broadcast`` but nothing further heard on this frequency next couple minutes. I`m never sure whether I am really hearing Mobile or Kent transmitter, but I suppose at this hour Washington would be more likely to propagate on 13 MHz (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. 580, KSAZ, Marana, AZ, 0130 , 0140 , 0145, 0200 UT Aug 23 rechecks showed only strong open carrier, not a hint of modulation or usual Spanish programming. Recheck after dark showed a Spanish station there, but could have been DX by then (Rick Barton, Arizona, 02 GMC Sonoma dashboard rig (MW), Sangean ATS-803A (SW), NewTronics 1C-100(S) antenna (SW), 73 and good DXing to ALL ! :D, ABDX via DXLD) ** U S A. KFWB 980 AM HD is now in STEREO --- Well, today I checked KFWB 980's AM HD [IBOC] signal again, and to my surprise (after sending an email to their CE last week), they actually FIXED the audio - it's now in full stereo (first time ever). This is certainly a rarity nowadays, but proves there are some broadcasters out there that really DO believe how their signal sounds to their listeners actually matters. This makes 5 out of 6 AM HD signals in L.A. now operating with full stereo. The only holdout is --- well, the first cutting-edge L.A. AM station to ever go stereo in 1978, and stay that way through three different stereo broadcast standards over 23 years, consistently ranking in the top 3 on AM AND FM combined, with BIG, solid, undirectional coverage --- yet is the very SAME station that has entered the 21st Century world of broadcasting in digital WITHOUT attention at all to stereo. That would be KFI 640 (which you wouldn't expect, seeing as their studio and STL were stereo-wired all along). Weird. Also, their HD text constantly displays just the word "TALK" (no-duh) - there's no station slogan or information scrolling across the display with their call letters as with the other stations. There used to be three other HD AMs on the air in L.A. - KLAC 570, KABC 790, and KTNQ 1020 - but they were all mono and sounded rather gritty and metallic, too, so no big loss on those (Darwin Long, CA, Aug 23, ABDX via DXLD) ** U S A. SAN DIEGO PIRATE NOW ON 96.9 MHZ --- According to an informed source, a new pirate operation has sprung to life in San Diego on 96.9. The pirate is reportedly interfering with the fringe- area reception of K245AI which is KRTM's translator on Mt. Woodson. The new pirate may be associated with (or the same as) the old 106.1 MHz pirate that went dark in March 2009. The new signal is said to be strong at 3020 Monroe Ave, San Diego (the transmitter site of the old pirate - see CGC #897). The old coax was reportedly cut when 106.1 went dark (CGC #898), but now a new run of coax is reportedly in place. The pirate is not on the air all the time and may switch frequencies again. The FCC is aware of the situation; what will happen next is unknown. For a picture of the old (106.1) pirate installation, see the bottom three photos at the first URL below. The second URL takes you to the new pirate's Web page: http://earthsignals.com/add_CGC/San_Diego_Pirate.htm http://www.livestream.com/extraradio (CGC Communicator Aug 23 via Kevin Redding, ABDX via DXLD) ** U S A. Glenn, You may recall that I am one of the "graduates" of Ivy League college radio, having been chief engineer of WHRB back in the very late 1950's and early 1960's. As it happens, so is one of the other partners in Hatfield & Dawson, Tom Eckels, who was chief engineer of WDCR AM & FM about 10 years later. He has forwarded to me correspondence with other ex-'DCRers about an effort to get the AM back on the air. Evidently the trustees asked for permission for the AM to remain silent a year ago, and, under the FCC rules its license is automatically forfeited if it's not back on in one calendar year. So a group of them have or are about to put it back on for at least one day, using a temporary STL because the phone line is not operational (or was discontinued) and a genset because the underground utility feed is defective as well. WDCR is actually licensed to Dartmouth College itself, in contrast to some of the other Ivy League stations. (WHRB, WYBC, WPRB, WVBR, WBRU are licensed to student organizations, but like WDCR, WKCR is licensed to Columbia U itself, WXPN to U. of Penn.) (Ben Dawson, WA, circa 1900 UT August 20, DX LISTENING DIGEST) WTFK? WDCR is on 1340, 1 kW non-direxional from Dartmouth College, Hanover NH, which is near Lebanon and White River Junxion in the middle of the western border with Vermont. It seems they hoped to be on the air today Thursday August 20, from 9 am to 10 pm EDT [1300-0200 UT Friday], but not yet confirmed. If not today, then has to be on Friday, or Saturday last ditch day to meet the deadline. There are lots of other 1340s in New England and New York, so DXing this extremely rare station will be a challenge, day or night (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) I spoke to someone directly at Dartmouth College and they assured me the station WILL MEET the deadline and be back on the air. Most likely simulcasting WebDCR.com or WFRD 99.3, Dartmouth's 6000 Watt Commercial FM rock station -- Sincerely, (Paul B. Walker, Jr., 1955 UT Aug 20, IRCA via DXLD) No confirmation yet if and when it was really on (gh) ** U S A. 1660 WFNA Charlotte NC --- Members might be interested in the story of the WFNA call sign change. Barry Davies alerted me to this change back on 3rd August when it was reported that WFNA had changed to WBMX, but then only a few days later the call changed again to WBCN, with no format change throughout. The change has been brought about because WFNA is owned by CBS, who have been reshuffling their FM stations, far away in Boston MA. On 98.5FM in Boston, CBS owned WBMX (Adult contemporary format). Meanwhile on 104.1FM in Boston, CBS announced the closure of classic rock station WBCN from 12th August 09. Following the closure of WBCN, WBMX was set to take over the 104.1 frequency, moving there with its AC format. To “park” the WBMX call pending the change, WFNA’s call was changed to WBMX on 29th July. The WBMX call was then transferred to 104.1FM following the closure of WBCN on 12th August. WBCN’s now-redundant call was then transferred to 1660 AM. 98.5FM is now providing a new CBS sports service to Boston , “The Sports Hub” with the call sign WBZ-FM. This leaves WBCN 1660 still airing sports and still simulcasting with WFNZ-FM. It’s not clear to me why they needed to do this, because 98.5 became WBMX-FM on 29th July, the same day that WFNA became WBMX-AM, before 98.5 changed to WBZ-FM on 12th August. You might need to read this a few times… Sources: CBS web sites for all stations, FCC AM query and Wikipedia. 73 (Andrew Brade, UK, MWC via DXLD) ** U S A. 1710 Russian --- It's been a while since anyone has mentioned anything about our Russian station. I'm listening to it now, and it seems to have drifted up slightly from previously noted frequencies (used to be just under 1710 as I recall). Tonight, I'm measuring it on 1710.004 at poor to fair level at 0202 UT, at least 90 minutes before dark here in Victoria. Best signal by far on my large diameter Conti South direction corner fed array with Russian Protestant spiritual female vocals. Has anyone knocked on the door(s) yet of the establishment, or received a QSL??? (Walt Salmaniw, Victoria, BC, UT Aug 23, IRCA via DXLD) Walt, The Seattle area Russian station on 1710 is fair at times tonight at 0415 UT. Signal fluctuates a lot from nothing to fair. Noise level here is S-3 and their signal peaks at S-5 (Dennis Vroom, Salmon Creek, WA, JRC NRD 545, ewe NW, ibid.) Also decent here at times, fades up and down, 0515 UT. Best I've heard it in quite a while. The usual high nighttime static tonight though not continuous like most recent nights, so better tonight (Steve Ratzlaff, NE Oregon, ibid.) Usual fade up and down signal here on the coast. I have gone by 1710 often and it is a regular here. I still hear the carrier during the middle of the day off the NE EWE. 73, (Patrick Martin, Seaside OR, Aug 23, ibid.) ** U S A. On my old 12-inch Zenith B&W TV, I still occasionally tune thru the channels looking for analog signals. With some tropo enhancement, OK LPTVs on 17, 19 and 21 (two of them, ah, good old CCI) occasionally make it, and our local KXOK-32 is still on --- which I always check to be sure the antenna is still connected. One can also tell whether the channel is bearing a DTV signal with ``brighter snow``. Aug 20 around 1445 UT I found one such on channel 45, which used to be occupied and blocked by a KSBI translator in Enid scarcely a bikilometer away. Switching to DTV, 45 turned out to be KSNW-3 Wichita KS, less than 200 km away and of course formerly a fringe-area signal on analog 3. Antenna still pointed at OKC, however. Altho signal meter showed a few others, KSNW-45 was the only Wichita station occasionally decoding, with NBC Today Show. No sign of a virtual 3.2 or any others from them (Glenn Hauser, Enid, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. Wichita's first full-power Spanish language TV station is on the air --- KDCU, channel 31.1, affiliated with Univision, and licensed to Derby, KS. And our local news media was the very last to tell about it! (Jeff Altmann, Aug 22, ABDX via DXLD) ?! That could be a problem for our peanut-whistle KXOK-LP-DT-31 in Enid, tho it has a CP to increase power somewhat. FCC TV Query shows KDCU as 1000 kW ERP on RF 31! Some 200 km away (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. SHAMELESS SELF-PROMOTION --- DXer on ``MILLIONAIRE``! Yours truly was in New York City a couple of weeks ago. I was a contestant on "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire". My episode airs tomorrow night, Sunday the 23rd, at 8 pm ET/7 pm CT on ABC. One of the questions on my interview form was: "Are you a member of any unusual organizations?" Yes, WTFDA was my response. Any other WTFDAers ever been on a game show? I'm curious. I've been a fan of game shows ever since I was a kid so it was a dream come true to be on one. It only was about 2 weeks between first getting called and taping the show; everything happened very quickly. More details appear on my web site (see link below; I've written up a detailed story on the event). (Matthew C. Sittel, Bellevue, NE, http://www.mcsittel.com/html/gspt1.htm Aug 21, WTFDA via DXLD) Two questions: 1. Did you win the $1,000,000 ? 2. If so, can you lend me a few bucks? (Mike Bugaj, Enfield, CT, ibid.) Congrats! I suppose we'll know how well you did tomorrow night(grin). (oh, FYI, page 4 returns a 404 error) FWIW as one might have guessed there are technical reasons for some of the clothing restrictions Matt mentions. - High contrast (white shirts, black suit jackets) is difficult to reproduce and tends to suppress detail. - Narrow vertical stripes generate a "square wave" signal which can be mistaken by TVs as a color signal. It results in spurious waves of color on the screen. At certain other "zooms" of the camera, they can potentially reach subcarrier frequencies and cause serious buzz in the audio. I suspect some of you have seen (/heard!) this in your local newscasts. (both of these problems have become MUCH less troublesome now that things are digital, but there's still a risk the show will have to traverse an analog path somewhere) I'm surprised Matt doesn't mention highly-saturated colors, especially yellow and red, as a problem. They too tend to suppress detail. I suppose few men would wear bright yellow or red clothes! (women, on the other hand, seem especially fond of bright red...) There is no technical reason for not having visible logos on clothing, but I would imagine the shows' advertisers would be unhappy if a contestant were promoting their competition! ====================================================================== Kinda begs the question: if one won a million $$ and had to spend it on the VHF/UHF DX hobby, how would one spend the money? (I think I might start by buying all the FM translators in Clarksville and Hopkinsville and surrendering their licenses for cancellation...) (Doug Smith W9WI, Pleasant View, TN EM66, ibid.) ** URUGUAY. 1927-28: CWOA, inicios de la emisora estatal del Uruguay - Horacio A. Nigro (compilador) --- Mi más reciente trabajo de rescate histórico. En adhesión humilde al 80 aniversario del SODRE. http://www.calameo.com/books/000080198216c0dcdd382 73 de (Horacio A. Nigro, Montevideo, Uruguay, Aug 19, DX LISTENING DIGEST) It`s in Flash page-turning format, apparently 9 pages (gh) ** VATICAN. Hi Glenn. Having difficulty with reception in Japan. 4005.1 kHz, Vatican Radio. Received at 1921-1951 UT August 20. Here it is 0421 JST early in the morning. Light music flowed, and 1929 did not have IS, and a French program started. This is the reception sound. http://sky.geocities.jp/peace_jju_ujjj/2009/090821_0429_4005.1kHz_Vatican_Radio.mp3 At 1949 UT, only one time the IS sounded. Now this frequency slips off. In addition, I hear Mystery Radio at this time, too, 6220 (Sony ICF- 2001D, Amp and Micro-Loop, from near Tokyo, Japan) Thank you. C ya! (^-^)/ (Y. Oohashi [peace J] from near Tokyo, http://www.peace-j.net/ DX LISTENING DIGEST) 4005v is axually from VC, not extraterritorial SMG (gh, DXLD) ** VENEZUELA [non]. Sunday Aug 23 check for Aló, Presidente via RHC: At 1401, found open carriers on 11690 making a SAH with HCJB, and on 12010 aside the RTTY 12015. But nothing on 13750 which, when on, is the big signal for that service. 1413 recheck: same. 1414, also found OC on 13680, which on weekdays is regular RHC with big signal until 15. At 1416 weak OC on 17750, which is the fifth scheduled A,P channel. So some transmitter operators are expecting something to come thru. At 1430, however, no longer any carriers audible on any of them, nor at 1454, so word must have come down by then that Hugo would be a no- show this week. Another check at 1539 reconfirmed nothing was on. But the secret mid-day extension (or rather repeat) of RHC`s own programming was underway on 11760, 11800 distorted and 13760. No further chex made past 2000, tho they could have faked me out with a later start (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** WESTERN SAHARA [non]. 6300, La Voz de la República Árabe Saharaui Democrática, via ALGERIA, Aug 20 at 0607 with soporific wake-up chanting, usual ute beeps on low side. About equal level with Equatorial Guinea 6250, a neat pair, but not always both on and in at same time. As we are getting closer to equinox than solstice, reception should be holding up a bit later (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 6300, RASD, Tindouf, Aug 23, 0550 - strong OC until NA at 0600:30 UT, brief s/on announcement by woman and directly to Qur`an recitation. Suddenly off at 0610 and not back on until 0621 with nice North African style vocals, but signal had faded somewhat by this time. Transmitter sunrise was at 0505 UT (Brandon Jordan, Memphis, TN USA, Microtelecom Perseus SDR, Wellbrook ALA100 4m x 8m delta loop, Aug 23, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ZIMBABWE. (tentative) 3396.000, Radio Zimbabwe, Gweru, 0411, Aug 21 - they perhaps have the stability issue under control as they have been right on 3396.0 all evening. Mainly carrier level and transmitter dawn enhancement did initiate weak audio level beginning just after 0405. African pop vocals, not quite Hi Life. Signal really faded quickly after 0418 UT Gweru sunrise (Brandon Jordan - Memphis, TN, USA, http://www.bcdx.org Perseus + Wellbrook ALA330S, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. 1172, 0653+ August 23, 2009. Huge, seemingly AM carrier with no audio right on 1172 and on all radios. Still there just pre- sunrise, gone later. Who, what, where, why? (Terry L Krueger, Clearwater, Florida USA, 27.55.83 N, 82.46.08 W, Aug 23, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. 1439.92, 0612-0619 August 23, 2009. Whosis? Nothing amounting to more than a carrier, LSB used. Seemed to vary just a little (Terry L Krueger, Clearwater, Florida USA, 27.55.83 N, 82.46.08 W, Aug 23, DX LISTENING DIGEST) See CUBA for disclaimer UNIDENTIFIED [and non]. unID MW harmonics in the northeastern US --- Tonight I noticed a few more MW harmonics that I have not heard before. 2020 and 2910 kHz. Both are weak and have only occasional fragments of audio here, in-between the summer static crashes. Does anyone know who these stations are? The regular harmonics on 2130 (WEPN) and 2730 (WSBA) are giving vaguely reasonable audio, though. The Colombian harmonic on 2980 kHz (Radio Vida Nueva, 1490 x 2) is even coming through now at 0530 UT on Sunday August 23 2009. I am also seeing carriers on 1720 kHz (an out of band pirate?), 1760 kHz (no idea whether this is a harmonic or an airnav beacon), 2480 (unknown 120m broadcaster or harmonic?), 2619.98 (2x 1309.9?), 2830 (not an MW multiple, maybe Varna Radio Coast Guard?, got some audio but not nearly enough) and 2939.8 kHz (2x 1469.9?). I have no idea whether any of these are actual MW harmonics, any clues would be appreciated. Not a bad night here in New Hampshire (Rik van Riel, Aug 23, harmonics yg via DXLD) UNIDENTIFIED. EUROPirates: 1566.7, UNID Greek station, 2214-, 18 Aug, Greek songs; 23441, adjacent QRM (Carlos Gonçalves, Portugal, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Note this correlates with previous unID on 4700 = 3 x 1566.7, close enough to 4700.1? (gh, DXLD) Viz.: ``UNIDENTIFIED. 4700, 1733, Jul 26, songs non-stop. Good at tune-in, but became much more weak by 1746. Might be an image or harmonic, but I could not manage to find its fundamental. Not parallel to Greek pirates above 1610 kHz (Dmitry Mezin /Signal, Kazan, Russia, on holidays in Montenegro, DSWCI DX Window Aug 5 via DXLD 9-056) 1566 - 2/3 x 3?`` UNIDENTIFIED Re: 4800, UNID, 2330, Aug 07, weak signal with Mexico silent on this frequency (Bob Wilkner, FL, DSWCI DX Window via DXLD) No doubt Voice of China! (DSWCI Ed. Anker Petersen, ibid.) 4800 is Geermu in western China, next to Tibet, 95 degrees east where time *should* be UT +6, so around local sunrise there (gh, DXLD) UNIDENTIFIED. 5985: Aug. 21, 1830-1857, unID weak signal. Only a bit of music at 1845 (East African?) and some talk a few minutes later. Nothing listed at EiBi, nothing heard there previous evenings. 1857 CRI closes the channel. Worth trying again. 73 (Thorsten Hallmann, Germany, Aug 21, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Maybe V of Tigray Revolution shifted up from 5980 as listed in Aoki until 1900? (gh, DXLD) Quite unlikely, much much weaker than the usual signal from VoTR's old transmitters. Though they were missing yesterday on 6170; 5980 has not been reported recently, but irregularly 6170 instead (Thorsten Hallmann, ibid.) Maybe 5985 was a mixing product, got the impression yesterday. 73 (Thorsten Hallmann, Aug 23, ibid.) UNIDENTIFIED. Shortly after I tuned in 6045, Aug 22 at 0529, BBC Hausa via Ascension went off abruptly while still talking, but before it did I was noticing a fast rippling SAH, like we used to get from slightly off-frequency and very low-powered XEXQ San Luis Potosí, which has not been reported in months. And I never hear any trace of it around 1200/1400 when frequency is clear. However, after BBC off there was no audio to pull. Could also have been the new Uruguayan; nothing else scheduled, but bears further investigation 0530-0600 before 6045 is blocked another hour by KBSWR via Sackville (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. 6950-7000 approximately, over-the-horizon radar pulsing / clicking, presumably China, at 1214 Aug 22. Then also heard a matching segment 6800-6840 peaking at 6820 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED [non]. Hola a todos, llevo varios dias escuchando una emisora musical con comentarios y noticias en italiano entre las 05 y 07 UT por los 7550. Se identifican pero imposible saber que dice. Alguien sabe algo? (Antonio Madrid Gutiérrez, QTH: Rubi, Barcelona (España), Rx: Kenwood R5000+Degen, Ant.: Doble Hilo de 25 mts, Web: http://www.elradioescucha.tk Aug 23, noticiasdx yg via DXLD) Radio Amica, see EUROPE (gh) Pirate Radio - Radio Amica. Bologna zone website: http://www.radioamica.splinder.com/ (Leo Peppe, logsderadio yg via DXLD) UNIDENTIFIED. 11890, re 9061: This is a common procedure at transmitter sites done by the engineers, to prepare the transmitter and feeder path for the nexxxt transmission, which is due on schedule, in this example for DWL via Woofferton UK, - I guess taking the available BBC program on air. 11890 1700-1759 37S,46N WOF 250 170 FRENCH G DWL Same behaviour noted also on IBB sites at Biblis and Lampertheim Germany. Two decades ago we discovered the anti-Iran clandestine "South Azerbaidshan" broadcast came really from Yavne Tel Aviv, which did broadcast few minutes the real Kol Israel program (Wolfgang Büschel, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) BBCWS news in English previously heard until 1406* on unlisted 11890, so checked earlier Aug 20: nothing audible at 1356. Wolfgang Büschel suggests it was Woofferton tuning up for DW using handy BBC audio, i.e. DW scheduled in French from 1700 on 11890 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. 15215 KTWR (but see at end!) 1226 Aug 22 giving address in India, in a language similar to Tibetan. TWR's music IS and sign off. But Eibi and Aoki write this is FEBA via Dhabbaya !! (Zacharias Liangas, Litohoron, Greece, Aug 23, using the PL550 radio connected into the mesh window fence, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED: OM in Spanish on 15780 at 0036+. One way conversation, apparently a religious spiel as I heard "Por Jesús" once. Frequency wandered down to 15779.99 for a while then back to .00. 22 August (73/Liz Cameron, MI, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Has me stumped. Nothing listed, does not work out as a harmonic. Maybe mixing product as yet unequationed. Or some station newly on there deliberately or by accident. Unoccupied channel temptation. Anything following days around then? (Glenn Hauser, DXLD) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ UNSOLICITED TESTIMONIALS ++++++++++++++++++++++++ This is given to support World of Radio in memory of Michael Ketter, from Larry and Jane (Larry Will, with a donation via PayPal to woradio at yahoo.com) Hello William Hauser, Stephen Kellat just sent you money with PayPal. RADIO EQUIPMENT FORUM +++++++++++++++++++++ Re 9-061, PUBLICATIONS: IS AOKI REALLY UPDATED EVERY DAY? Not every day, but almost every day. I have seen it go at least a couple of days without showing a new date in the file. It's not necessary to dig through daily issues manually, just run diff in linux or cdiff in Windows. I used to do that regularly to see what the differences were. Never saw a file date change without some actual changes in the data. Sometimes a lot of changes, sometimes very few (Dan Ferguson, SC, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Dan, How do you run CDiff? I am not familiar with that (Chuck Bolland, ibid.) Actually, it's CSdiff, from http://www.componentsoftware.com/products/freetool.htm df (Dan Ferguson, ibid.) Dan, you have no idea how you made my life easier with CSdiff! MANY MANY THANKS! 73 (Dragan Lekic, Serbia, ibid.) DEGEN DE-15 ULTRA-THIN: see SOUTH CAROLINA [non] A LIFE DEDICATED TO SHORTWAVE RADIO by Michael LeClair, 08.20.2009 The role of shortwave radio has been much debated by members of the U.S. international broadcasting community. Among those with a strong interest in the topic is George Woodard. I spoke with him about his life and experiences working with shortwave radio as both a manufacturer and an engineer for U.S.-sponsored broadcasts. Woodard started out with Continental Electronics in the early 1960s in the midst of the Cold War, when shortwave radio was on the rise as a means to provide an alternate news source for people in the closed Soviet Union. He'd been drawn to radio as a boy, attended Texas Tech and received a degree in electrical engineering in 1962. During his years with Continental, he helped develop many of the high- power shortwave transmitters that were an important part of radio and politics in that uneasy era of simmering conflict. Years later, in 1985, Woodard left the manufacturer to become associate director for engineering for Radio Free Europe/ Radio Liberty and was promoted to VP of RFE/RL Engineering in 1987, just before the conclusion of the Cold War. After jamming of shortwave broadcasting by the Soviet government ceased in 1988, Radio Free Liberty reached a peak of nearly 35 million weekly listeners, bringing news about the West and democracy to the countries of the former Eastern Bloc. Woodard eventually worked his way up to director of engineering for the United States International Broadcasting Bureau. He returned to Continental as its vice president of engineering in 2000 and retired from the company in 2003. He now lives in McKinney, Texas, with his wife Christina. He continues to play an active role in the broadcast industry through his research and writing. Interview follows at: http://www.radioworld.com/article/85754 (via Mike Barraclough, dxldyg via DXLD) Excellent article, illustrated, must reading for better understanding of the history of SW transmitters employed by the USA and others. And concludes with: (gh) Q. Why is shortwave still important and what should we be doing today to preserve it? That is a very good question that our leaders in Washington should instead be asking. The immediate preliminary answer is that it’s not as important as it once was, though still very important. Our leaders in Washington have been unable to get beyond the first half of the above answer since 1989 and the collapse of Soviet-style communism. It is still very important. Washington, driven by incompetent technocrats and bureaucrats at the IBB and the U.S. Department of State, who are experts at saying what they perceive people want to hear rather than the truth, has taken a wrong turn on shortwave broadcasting since about 1989. The result has been a kind of self-fulfilling prophecy. As we close down most shortwave broadcasting to parts of the world, it is no surprise that 20 years later we find fewer people are listening! My advice is to pursue vigorously all new technological means to communicate accurate world news to the parts of the world that do not have that blessing of their own. Expand Internet, TV, local AM and FM, Wi-Fi and cell phone broadcasting, but do not significantly reduce shortwave. In many instances, as has been recently seen in Iran, Belarus, Georgia, Pakistan and other places, and chronically seen in parts of Russia, China and North Korea, increased shortwave capability is critical. The cost of shortwave broadcasting is often brought up as a concern. Let me close with some perspective on that argument. The cost of operating a nominally large shortwave station is approximately $15 million per year. Ten stations cost about $150 million to operate annually. With modernization and a degree of automation, it could be reduced to approximately half that. If shortwave broadcasting could contribute to reducing our global military effort by just 1 percent, we, as a country, would still save approximately $4.85 billion annually, assuming a $500 billion annual military budget, not to mention the lives of American soldiers. I think it would perhaps be wiser for the American government to spend the little money on shortwave to help keep us out of shooting wars (via DXLD) CONTROL YOUR JAPAN RADIO COMPANY NRD-545 USING AN EXCEL SPREADSHEET I've created a quick and easy way to set the frequency of your NRD-545 from an Excel sheet. You can also manage your radios memories using this spreadsheet. Simply download the most recent version below, enable macros when loading the file in Excel, then point and click. It's that easy. August 17, 2009 - Version .10 released. Click here to download: http://www.billcarney.com/shortwave.htm Why did I create this? After purchasing my NRD-545 back in 2000, I set about writing a tuning and database management application using Micro-soft's Visual FoxPro. It worked great, but I never really "finished" the project. Since then, VFP was upgraded three times, and then finally End-Of-Lifed by Microsoft. It was time to move on to a different programming environment. One issue with computer control via an application is that most apps require the data to be in a particular format. It can be frustrating and time consuming to convert the various data layout formats into a single structure. I decided to create a "mini-app" that runs in Excel, and the only data requirement is that the frequency be the first cell in the row - you can store whatever other data you want in the other columns. This will allow simple cut-and-paste operations from most online databases. How to set up the file: Download the file to your local machine. Unzip the file and load it with Excel. ENABLE MACROS when prompted. Go to the sheet called Config, and enter the COM port that is connected to your NRD-545, and if you use the CHE-199 extender board. How to use it I wrote the application to follow my DXing "style" - the primary sheet, "Frequencies", is my scrapbook where I paste in DX tips from various locations. The sheet Memories is where I manage the radio's memory banks. The sheet Presets is where I make quick frequency and mode changes - con- sider these "shortcuts" to various bands. The rest of the sheets are various databases that I've come across on the net and have found useful - from SW list to VOLMET stations to Non Direction Beacons logged in North America. To use, simply select one of the sheets, and click on a cell. Your radio will tune to that frequency automatically. I find it handy to simply use the UP and DOWN cursor keys scrub up and down each list. I hope you enjoy it (Bill Carney WC8GOP, MARE Tipsheet 21 Aug via DXLD) KAITO CEO REVIEWS HIS OWN PRODUCTS ON AMAZON Some news about a US distributor of China-manufactured portable shortwave receivers, recently published on my weblog: "Kaito CEO reviews his own products on Amazon" http://cobaltpet.blogspot.com/2009/08/kaito-ceo-reviews-his-own-products-on.html :: w (Weatherall, San Francisco, DXLD) Walter Zhao in LA, trying to disguise his identity. He likes them to a 5-star level without fail (gh, DXLD) DIGITAL BROADCASTING --- DRM See ANTARCTICA; DOMINICAN REPUBLIC; ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ ERITREA; GABON; KUWAIT; MALI; USA DIGITAL BROADCASTING --- DTV ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ OKLAHOMA INNOVATIONS is an almost-hour weekly radio show about applied science, carried on KRMG Tulsa, KTOK OKC and the KCCU network from Lawton, all of which webcast, I believe and you will find listings in MONITORING REMINDERS CALENDAR, Sat 1000 and 1100 UT, Sun 2200+. But you may also download mp3 of each show, and/or read complete PDF transcripts. Found this one of particular interest here, not only because of the DTV transition, but going into the early history of TV in OK: February 1, 2009 (rebroadcast from 11-2-08) --- Beginning February 17, 2009, all U.S. television stations will be required by federal mandate to broadcast using digital technology. Hear from OETA station manager Bill Thrash why the change is being made and how it will affect you. Listen to Radio Show http://www.ok.gov/ocast/documents/OI081102.mp3 Read Transcript of Show http://www.ok.gov/ocast/documents/OI081102.pdf (via gh, Enid, DXLD) see also U S A: KSNW FCC BLEW IT WITH ANALOG, NOW DTV CHANNEL ALLOCATIONS INGORING TROPO DX George Munsch, W5VPQ, who lives in Medina County just west of San Antonio, Texas (EL09ok) sent comments responding to Pat Dyer's (WA5IYX, who is about a dozen miles east of W5VPQ, in EL09ql) remarks about digital vs. analog television as VHF propagation indicators. George wrote, ''I have not had the pleasure of meeting Pat Dyer, but have followed his exploits on monitoring commercial signals for many years. Some early background on TV allocations may give some perspective. Back after WW2, Ken Bullington's 1947 smooth earth models were just about all the FCC and anyone else had to use for VHF propagation predictions. Ham reports of extended propagation were dismissed, or downplayed as rare. So the initial table of VHF-TV allocations was developed. After a few stations were finally constructed along the Gulf coast, the extent of commonplace temperature inversions and thus extended VHF propagation became horribly evident. Florida stations were often stronger than ''local'' Texas stations. So, the ''Freeze'' happened. No new VHF TV licenses were issued for several years in the 1950s until a new allocations table could be worked out. Even so, interference problems continued to July 2009. I would occasionally catch UHF openings where EVERY UHF channel (except 39) displayed a signal of some kind, and VHF interference could make the low channels unusable. In the early days of (ham) VHF-FM, one Saturday I listened to a new repeater being set up, and mobiles going out to range check. I called in from my mobile and told them they were full quieting in San Antonio. This kind of broke up their party, as they were in Ft. Walton Beach, FL. Fast forward to DTV. I have a converter which scans the spectrum and records station information whenever it is ''off''. (Hisense DB-2010) So far, several New Orleans stations have appeared on the list. I haven't tallied the list lately, but many of the VHF and most of the UHF channels are now represented. Houston stations are regularly seen, and often in the mornings, local stations do not manage the 15 dB margin over the distant signals, and are unavailable. I thought that the locals were having transmitter problems until I fired up the spectrum analyzer. Big noise there, but the TV refuses to present a picture. Again, the FCC ignored the real world in developing the allocations table, putting too many co-channel stations in ducting range of each other. Since I have an unamplified 10 way distribution system off my antenna, I don't have quite the sensitivity that Pat does, but I still see a lot of out of area digital stations''. Thanks, George for the fascinating comments. I tried responding to George, but unfortunately the address that his arrl.net email address forwards to is rejecting incoming email. George refers to ''Ken Bullington's 1947 smooth earth models'', and this was an early model describing a simplified method for calculating propagation over a theoretical smooth spherical earth on frequencies above 30 MHz (QST de W1AW, Propagation Forecast Bulletin 34 ARLP034, From Tad Cook, K7RA, Seattle, WA August 21, 2009, To all radio amateurs, via Dave Raycroft, ODXA yg via DXLD) BACKUP ANTENNAS AND TRANSMITTERS Backup antennas are relatively rare at TV stations, and it's not at all unusual for stations to not have a backup transmitter. When I was in Madison, WISC was the only station in town that had a backup transmitter, and *nobody* had a backup antenna. Backup transmitters are somewhat more common now with digital. A fair number of stations that had been running low-power DTV transmitters under Special Temporary Authority early in the transition relicensed those transmitters as auxiliaries after they got their full-power rigs going. And to a considerable degree, backup transmitters are less necessary at stations that have solid-state transmitters. (I would presume *all* VHF DTV stations are solid-state) Solid-state transmitters generally use several power amp modules -- and several power supply modules -- rather than one large amplifier. Several of these modules can fail without taking the transmitter off the air (indeed, you can completely remove two modules from the WSMV-DT transmitter and the power meter doesn't even move). Doesn't help though if something that's common to the whole transmitter fails (the low-power exciter, the link to the studio, something like that). Also, to my knowledge most UHF DTV stations of substantial power are still using tubes. -- (Doug Smith W9WI, Pleasant View, TN EM66, Aug 18, WTFDA via DXLD) DIGITAL BROADCASTING --- IBOC See U S A: KFWB+ +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ PROPAGATION +++++++++++ HF Propagation Software from VOA All, A few days ago I asked the list about propagation software and Mike Andrews suggested the VOAProp software. I've installed VOAProp along with the underlying, required VOACAP. VOAProp provides a fairly friendly interface to VOACAP, a package developed by the Voice of America. VOAProp is an interesting graphical presentation which, using historical data to predict propagation from present conditions, essentially shows one's chances of hearing things from far away. I like the presentation; pick a month and year, pick a time, guess at a radiated power, pick a band (one can choose between the ham bands and HF broadcasting bands) and a forecast appears, showing likely signal strengths. Pretty neat. Also a bit disheartening: I am quickly shown that NWIH will I hear anything from Australia for a few hours and a I wander off and do something else. Gotta watch the last part and keep trying. It's all free; download VOAProp and, once installed, it will take you to where VOACAP hides. Thanks, Mike! (Ronald J. Hunsicker, P.E., Wyomissing, PA, Aug 21, swl at qth.net via DXLD) TIPS FOR RATIONAL LIVING ++++++++++++++++++++++++ BRAND NEW TRAILER FOR MICHAEL MOORE'S 'CAPITALISM: A LOVE STORY' Friday, August 21st, 2009 --- It's here! Check out the brand new trailer for Michael Moore's 'Capitalism: A Love Story.' http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IhydyxRjujU Mike is premiering the film at the oldest film festival in the world, the Venice International Film Festival. Next he heads to the Toronto International Film Festival where 'Roger & Me' won the festival's People's Choice award 20 years ago. 'Capitalism: A Love Story' opens nationwide October 2nd. Can't wait for you to see it! (Webmaster http://www.MichaelMoore.com Aug 21, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ###